WHEN THE FAIRIES COME TO LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1044, 6 February 1911, Page 9

WHEN THE FAIRIES COME TO LIGHT.

:(By Amuri Rutherford.)

' ' - . ' CHRISTMAS MAGIC.

. One morning as I was busily writing in my room .a card was brought me bearing tho magic words "Father Christmas. I have many times seen our New Zealand lather Christmas, but the real English one seemed to impress me more Clad in flowing crimson robes, his ruddy Cheeks.and long white beard mado him look very benevolent, and I am not surprised that all the children love him and Jook forward to his annual visit, ' Ho explained that he had heard from 13 Victoria Street, that I was in London, and he hoped I-would be able to visit tho Christmas shops and Fairyland with him. 1 hastily cast aside all prior engagements and was soon speeding towards Fairyland. . All too soon we readier Arcadia. 'Thero happy throngs of children were congregated to sec the fairies, seated in swanboats, harnessed with ribbons, delivering wonderful presents, in exehango for sixpence, and Juiubo in another corner was kept busy trumpeting, and offering pretty lads and lasses boxes of chocolates. lii this childhood's paradise were the largest stuffed elephants; ieddy hear chauffeurs at the wheels of minaturo'motor-cars, a snow man who looked like Peary; Caesar, tho late King's dog, and many images dressed to look like Father Christmas, but they looked most ordinary compared with my pilot. There'were'cows, with real skins, and donkeys, too. Forest Treasures. Then we passed on to the Magic Fo'r•est. Filtering the room I found myself— not in the midst of a heterogeneous collection of stalls—but in a real forost. The floor was covered with soft green felt, from which, on all sides, sprung real trees, all green and growing. It was quite simply arranged and was found to lie the most effective in charming both hearts and pockets! The lives were grown in tubs, but they wcro so bestrewn with gifts 100 largo to hang on tho trees themselves that no olio thought of such prosaic tilings as tubs! There was one tree growing nothing but dolls—big dolls, little dolls. Queen dolls and peasant dolls, and from the uppermost branch a large stork

looked do\'vn, holding, in its mouth, a baby doll. Apart from the novelty, tho forest, with .its setting of green, and its woodland effect, was a most restful room for busy shoppers, and judging by tho geniality of. the crowd, other people onjoyed themselves as much as I did. While many of tho window displays were elaborate, it was noticeable that cotton-wool snow, and festoons of gaudy paper were not prevalent. In Bond Street we saw olio tlorist . had dovotwl half his window space to a representation of "Tho Fairies Christmas," which never 'ailed to catch the. attention of the passer-by, young and old, with its frosted fir trees, grotto and coloured electric light's, not forgetting a "sham" Father Christmas, driving his sledge down from the snowclad heights.

Crowds of eager, happy faces heading towards a large dollcry in Regent Street next drew our attention, and when we entered Father • Christmas was asked to preside at a "mysterious" stall." I looked on with keen interest and much amusement. At first the children thought that he was "only a "make-believo" but when they learnt the truth, their excitement was unbounded. "When they -give him sixpence he handed them a parcel, which he aslced them to open. Then came the troublo; tho string wouldn't untie, ,it wouldn't break, and the flushed faces, the hot trembling fingers bore witness to the agitation that'was beginning to master them till Father Christmas came to the rescue with a pair of gold scissors! v ' ./ At Liberty's. Another' Regent Street shop we visited was Liberty's, so well known all over tho world—a ' place in-'which .everything is beautiful, nud so artistic that one can but choose acceptable gifts. Stepping into a room set apart just now for an exhibition : and sale of rare Stuart relics, iv. lite' stepping into another age from ours. To most colonials anything in tho nature of an antique is irrestiblo. For the past year Liberty's have been collecting the rarest specimens in the market, and they really havo a magnificent collection, which cannot fail to appeal to all who are interested in old-time needlework. I have never seen such a gorgeous collection of cushions—one of vellum-coloured satin (an ideal background for rose silk and gold thread) is about three feet long, edged all round with a deep silk fringe. Very quaint are the needlework pictures, many mounted on the old-fashioned black and gold glaze. Besides these there arc all kinds of bewitching old samplers, ecclesiastical embroideries, etc. Then the Stuart caskets must not bo forgotten, with' their raised figures on the lids, and little doors, lined with satin, containing original bottles, and many ' secret drawers. Liberty's have, too, exquisitely graceful scarves, made of soft and light silk, with delicate surface resembling crepe do chin?, the designs and colours reproducing the subtle richness and charm of the famous old l'orsiau fabrics. There is a revival of tho old Venetian methods of leather ornamentation. The designs are applied entirely by hand, upon a groundwork of. leaf gold, which does not tarnish, and the effect is extremely rich and pleasing. Tho silve'r and.enamel work is truly beautiful, some of the dressing-table sets being exquisitely dainty. There is a new shade, like slightly milky water, the blue being just a little dull, and it was in this department that wo .saw so much pewter ware. It is very much sought after, just now.

, Thjs-is ray first Christmas' in England, and, although to-day is but December 18, the hotel is decorated with holly,' and visitors continuo to arrive in scores. At night crowds'of .small boys sing carols out in the gardeu—they don't mind "these clear, frosty nights, ?o long as they '.mate a few pence wherewith to purchase Christmas cheer.