December 15, 1916
Christmas Buyers Fill the Stores

The bracing of the air of the past few days, coupled with the snow which fell yesterday have served to turn the thoughts of the people towards Christmas. It required something like this, that Christmas is at hand, so close that it will be here before they know it.

The downtown stores are doing a big business. Buyers are crowding the shopping district and indulging in a buyfest which is gladdening the hearts of the merchants and indicates that the season will surpass in volume that of any previous shopping trade.

There was a time when people thought it was necessary for them to do their shopping in larger cities such as Philadelphia or New York. However, Williamsport has advanced to such an extent and conditions have been so changed that persons now come to this city from other places to buy many of their Christmas commodities, for Williamsport stores are selling goods of the best quality and greatly reduced prices.

The stores these days are the showplaces of the city. The value of the merchandise of which they were equipped with the extraordinary demands of the Christmas shoppers was enormous, but not too big in the opinion of the retailers to fulfill their desire to provide everything a shopper might want. Early buying of holiday gifts made some inroads in the huge stocks of these establishments, but stocks have been replenished.