FRIDAY NIGHT IN TOWN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 11

FRIDAY NIGHT IN TOWN

"This/-mid-summer Christmas is a fearful mix-up, don't you think so, my dear?" And Mrs. Barr, fanning herself vigorously with her. handkerchief, sat down with a sigh of relief. ■ "I don't know," said her easy-going friend, Mrs. Johnson, "lam rather thankful that we have no snowstorms to mako -us shiver over the fire as they will bo doing at Home; or, what is worse, as our poor soldiers are doing in the trenches in France and Flanders." "Well, perhaps so. . Anyway, this is Christmas Eve, and goodness only knows how we are going to do everything wo have to do. I suppose we will have to forego our visit to Shortt's Picture Theatre?" , "My-, dear! Certainly not this week. They are showing a splendid drama, called : A Builder of Bridges," and Charlie Chaplin, in the Mde-splitting . farce, 'A Night Out.' And we must on no account miss the big military drama on Monday, 'High Treason,' which I Thear is one of the finest photo-plays the people have yet produced. Have yoii much to do?" : "I have quite a lot of shopping to do at the Wairarapa Farmers', on the Quay. I thought I would get everything done earlier in the week, but it has been sncli a rush. I was in their shop yesterday, and felt quite bewildered by the variety of ■ Christmas goods—hams, puddings, Christmas. Tiampers, Christmas stockings, crackers, and I don't know what else," "I bought some delicious dessert fruits there the other day—raisins, almonds, and figs." ■ v I ' "I see that people are beginning to talk about the' cost of living, as. if there was no war. I wonder what a. vegetarian diet day after day would be like? Of course, we like it very much when we go to the Sanata'riuin Health Food Cafe for an occasional, lunch." "I know a good many vegetarians. They have- all sorts of- substitutes at the, Health Cafe, you know, such as malted nuts for cow's milk, nut butter, almond meat, nut meat, nut cheese, and so on, and tliey speak well of, them," ."I met an old friend of mine yesterday —she and'her little girl are down for the holidays. They were down last year, and she . told me then how backward the' little: girl was at school—such a bright little thing she was, too—so I persuaded'ier then. to go along to - Spear, the Optician, in Willis Street, and see if her eyes were the trouble. That was the whole trouble.' Her little girl passed at the top of her class at the examination.By the way, I want to get a box of handkerchiefs as ,a Christmas present for her." "I saw somß lovely ones at Lees , and Church's, in .Cuba Street, yesterday. They were done up in fancy boxes of half-dozens and dozens, and . they seemed to me to be ideal Christmas presents. I also saiv some pretty patriotic handkerchiefs and others with suitable Christmas greetings on them for children." "Hnve you ever thought of a pair of shdes as a Christmas present?" ■ "Yes, but the fitting-on Is always,.an obstacle. Of course, one could always change .them." "I wanted to surprise Milly with a nice pair of Goer's single-bar white buck shoes -at 17s. 6d. Of course I know her size and foot. J happened to look in Goer's window as I was coming down Majoribankß Street , this morning, and the th'oufeht struck me. I saw such a nice pair.' of whito button boots at 12s. 6d.". "Have you seen those beautiful ostrich feathers in Stamford's wiudow in Cuba Street this week?" "Yes—exquisite, aren't they?" "They have just- been landed from South Africa, they toll me, and it struck me {hat here I could solve 1 at least one of my . Christmas present worries. You know, my, dear, a good ostrich feather is really'a splendid asset. It is the crowning glory of a good hat, just as people say that the crowning glory of a woman is - her .hair." . "While we aro on the subject of hair, I must mako a note to get a bottle of Galvin's Hairaid for Molly., You remember how thin her hair used, to be. and what a different-looking girl she is now? Well, it was simply Hairaid, and constant, regular attention that did it,and although wo hare settled Molly's hair troubles, yet I believe in a bottle in tho house as an occasional tonic, for anybody." . , . "Oh, by the way, my sister's family arc all going to be photographed at the Trovor Studios next week." "A lot of soldiers go there, judging fcj their framed exhibits. You know, there Is ,a big difference between a photograph which aims at making the most of your good looks, and a photograph that catches your natural expression—your personality —and that is where I think tho Trevor. Studio is so successful, ■ By' tho .way, I - want you to have ! lunch with me at the Tyrol Rooms, in Manners Street, to-morrow." "Delighted. The service is very good, and clean, and the cooking is excellent. We will have a three-course lunch—it is only a shilling—and I'm-quite sure I shall onjoy it." . "Yesterday, Ihnd a lovely fruit salad, perfectly delicious. Wo must have tea there some day to try their fried fish, which they servo beautifully."—(Published by arrangement.) .