CHRISTMAS 1917

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 78, 26 December 1917, Page 6

CHRISTMAS 1917

SHOPPING, CELEBRATIONS AND FEASTING CHRISTMAS EVE SPENDING IN WARTIME Very many people, especially the Leads of largo juvenile families, will have cause to remember Christmas Eve ol 1917. As predicted by the Government Meteorologist, the weather so i'ar has beon extraordinarily licklo, Monday (Christwas Eve) dawned grey and blustery, and as the day wore ou tiio gloom auuvo deopened, and the atmosphere became muggy. Soon after midday, rain came down. ,■ During the afternoon, when people as a rule begin to wonder what the little stockings might contain after the delightfully mysterious nocturnal chimney visitation by the breezy old gentleman with enow-wliite whiskers, the rain thickened up and became a real soaking downpour, with-a result that may, be easily imagined. The streets were crowded with eager shoppers, most of them, perliaps, a little irritable owing to meteorological influences, but still struggling to do their duty, for the little <ones. Paterfamilias, laden with dozens of elippery parcels, and looking as though another one would be the last straw, found himself in the unaccustomed precincts of toy shops, fairy caves, and magic palaces, stocking up with those trifles without which Christmas morning would • lose its charm, and Father Christmas would suffer some depreciation of his prestive glory. Mother invariably did the bargaining, and father paid out, like the good Britisher he was and ie. One heavily-laden parent, who was doing his level best to imitate an overworked, but amiable, pack-horsej . slipped off the kerb in Willis Street.and landed his load of comforts into the ewilling glitter. He picked himself up with, some difficulty, wiped the perspiration from his brow, and .then, seeing his Christmas spoils spread out over the .muddy wood-blocke, snw humour in the incident, and roared with laughter as loudly as anyone, gathered up Ins stores, and fell into a trnmcar—still laughing. The saving grace of humour. Roaring Trade in the Shops, The shops apparently did a roaring trade. People were only too glad to seek any sort of sanctuary out of the wet and crowded sidewalks, so that the staffs in the toy, fancy goods, drapery, book, and jewellery shops were kept going throughout the dreary-afternoon, in a valiant endeavour to find "just the thing" for a boy of seven or a girl of ten. For all that the shopkeeper's heart was sad, because he felt that the woather -would sadly affect bis evening returns. But he was not going ,to be let down. About 5 o'clock there came breaks in the leaden dome overhead, the rain gradually ceased, and by 6 o'clock a lovely cool southerly swept all mngginoss from the air; tiie westering sun dyed the green, dripping hills'a maze of delicate colours, rosy with promise of better things. The change held. The real Eve proved a lovely, cool, olean-skyed,. star-spangled night—ideal for walking and shopping, and thoroughly refreshing to all who had felt "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" in .the afternoon., The streets were filled with gay Christ-mas-infected throngs, with khaki playing ; a prominent part _ therein. The stores wero thronged with people pa red to part with their money to provide happiness for others. It was true that prices were high, and treble prices were ' asked for many lines ■ compared "with what they brought three years ago. ' But that did not appear to worry many people, and if it did they diet not choose to show it at such a time.

A Japanese Christmas. From a trade point of view, it was a Japanese Christmas. With the world at war no nation other than Japan is capable of supplying—or at least in finding shipment for—those myriads oil toys, fancy goods, and drapery favoured for presents. Everywhere was to be found the brands, "Made in Japan," "Tokio," VNippon," and on all Bidea quaint little "Jap" faces adorned the dolls, looked out from pin-cushions, work-baskets, trick boxes, as though they were saying: "Buy me—you oant do (otherwise I" And it was even so. There were "Charlie ChapUns" of plaster, with his splay feet and funny little cane, but hie features were given an'i Oriental twist that was ever so far away from the, real charlie Chaplin, and oven the "Jap" kowpies had almond oyes, and were more like miniature Buddahs than the real pink celluloid original. One could even buy "Jap" stockings, "Jap" underclothing, and "Jap" bathing gowns. A "Sohor" Eve. Largely owing to recent legislative enactment, the Christmas Eve of 1917 was probably the most sober one for years in "Wellington. According to the police there were only half a dozen arrests altogether, day. and . night, which is distinctly significant.

CHRISTMAS DAY . DELIGHTFUL WEATHER. The weather yesterday was as near perfection as anyone could desire. In the earliest morning the carol singers had cause to be dubious about the day, but the packed clouds round the distant mountain-tops were merely the shrouds of the night. When the sun began his work in earnest they disappeared, leaving a cloudlefiß sky, a brilliantly clear atmosphere, and & gentle southerly breeze to temper the heat of the sun. It was a perfect Cliristmaß Day. At the Hospitals. ,

The spirit of Christmas is a gentle leaven in the abodes of suffering: No effort ie spared in the local Hospttul to administer good cheer before and after meale. That was the case yesterday. After a day of especial relaxation aud unusually good fare there were Christmas trees, tantalisiugly hung with wonderful toys that glittered and smiled and squeaked and whirred ]uat tho way children would have them. There was an especially fine tree in the Children's Ward, and a delightful time wti3 spent last evening 'handing round the toys to each damp-eyed little inmate, each one being keyed up to the occasion by that wonderful specific, the spirit of Christmas. There was also a noble tree in tho Infectious Diseases Hospital; another in the Diphtheria Ward, and itill another for those poor little mites who are suffering from infantile paralysis. The stripping of the trees last evening wns, the best or medicine to all concerned. Nor were the adults neglectsd. Christmas fare was served out with a lavish hand, and the male inmates who were equal to it stood up bnivfly to a diet of cigars, cigarcttes,\chocolates, and dainties not as a rule included in the dietary scale. Those who were fit were allowed to bo present at the Christmas tree function in the Children's Ward, whilst a large attendance of relatives of the juvenile patrona swelled tho number of thoso present. In the morning (and on the Evo) the nuraeg sang, carols, and in every way helped the matron to make "he Hospital a pleasant place. At tho Ohlro Home. The inmates of tho Ohiro Home were given a good Christmas dinner yeater-

day in honour of the day, and last evening, the old people tendered themselves a concert, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Messrs. D. Campbell (chairman of the Charitable Aid Conimitteo) and Mr. Geo. Potherick (11 member of that committee) represented the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. At various other charitable institutions good cheer was provided for tho festive eeason. The inmates of the Home for the Aged Needy were entertained in the good old-fashioned way, and Christmas in" their little place of abode was an occasion to be looked back upon with joy. The coming of the day was heralded in tho many ways in which Christmas is everywhere introduced, and for . pome time ahead preparation was _ afoot. Yesterday the inmates of tho institution sat down raorrily to a real good Christmas dinner, for which they were truly grateful. The pleasures of the day were added to by those who were thoughtful enough to send preeentn along to the borne. On Christmas Eve the matron of the General Hospital and nurses visited the home atsd sang carols. Yesterday there were many visitors. • . r

At tho Home of Compassion, Island Bay. the little children who excite pity in all who visit the home wore entertained by the devoted nuns who tend them ,year in . and year out. Ynrioira outsiders were thoughtful enough to remember ithe little inmates. Sad though the casee_ of these children, tho Sisters contrived to mnke Christmas brighter than other days, and all pnssqd off well. Those who spent. Christmas in the homes run by the Salvation Army were catered for in a manner which showed, that the officers had carefully planned to make Christmae 15)17'happy and bright for those in their care. . Excellent dinners were served nnd in various other ways much was done to help the inmates to enjoy the festive season.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CHURCHES Christmas was celebrated in very much the usual way by the churches of Wellington yesterday, except that special prayer was offered.up for tlie soldiers at 8 a.m. At St. Paul's in the morning tbe,. Rev. A. M. Johnson officiated, and was assieted by the' Rev. W. J. Durrad, of Melanesia, and the Rev. G. N. Turner. There was a large number of communicants. At midday the Bishop of Wellington addressed a very, large congregation upon the message of Christianity ae compared with tho message of Mr. H. G. Wells's "God,,tbe Invisible King." 'There was,a short service in the evening.- • Holy Communion was, held at St. Peter's in tbe morning, and the Rev. H. Watson spoke from the text; "The light shineth in the darkness." There was a choral celebration at jmidday, and evensong and carols were sung in the evening; Communion services at 7 and 8 a.m. wore 1 held at St. Mark's. At 11 o'olock the Rev. C. S. Astew spoke from the text. "Peace on earth." , Service with carols was.held in the evening.

The Rev. W. Fancourt, assisted by Archdeacon Fancourt, presided over four communion services at St. Thomas'e in the morning, and addressed a largo congregation. at 10.30. Carols and evensong were sung ft night. At St. John's Presbyterian Clrarch the Rev. James Gibb, D.D. 1 , preached in the morning to a large congregation. The text of the discourse was from St. Luke—"And they all wondered " The musical portion of the service was appropriate to the ('ay and. the Beuson.

Special Christmas services "ere also held at the Taranaki Street Methodist Church, the Thorndon Methodiet Church, and the Northland Mothodist Cl.r.rch. - . •

Three masses were held, ai the Sacred Heart Basilica in the morning. At the third. Solemn High Mass, the Archbishop assisted, and preached an elociuent sermon upon-- the feast of the day. The choir gave a very fine ren«' dering of Gounod's "Messe Solennelle." In the evening there was rosary, followed by solemn benediction. Most of the churches were decorated for the occasion.