SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 74, 21 December 1918, Page 9

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

ALIVE IN WELLINGTON

TRADE REMARKABLY BRISK

, (By Sylvius.) Chrishnas is here! It's spirit is sim- . ply permeating the air. Ono cannot Eay whether it is directly communicable ' or atmospheric, but that it is violently infectious was apparent to all who paraded- the ioity itreeta in the lhellow sunshine yesterday afternoon. Warehousemen, tradesmen, biff and little shonkeep- ! ers, and the multitude of other folk who depend on what they call "the Christmas trade" to briek up their annual returns, ■were a month ago in a stale. of nervous trepidation lest the epidemio . and its woeful effeots were going to kill trade during tho festive season. But King Christmas is the hardiest of annuals who takes more than <i passing epidemic to elay, and.his clamant advance guard, olothed in the gayest panoply befitting the festal week, has : , already arrived; Yesterday tho streets were joy parades. Thousands of children were escorted into those glittering halls of mystery where Father Christmas, stores his stocks of wonders, and found the venerable old party to whom the children make pretty obeisance, deploring, through his whiskere, the .influence of. war on his munificence. Be that ns it. may, he and'his' minions were kept going at high pressure throughout the long, hot afternoon, and few there were who' failed to carry away some trophy of the times. The fears of local shopkeep-, ers that trade would be dull in view of the recent saddening scourge, have not been justified. The writer mado a few casual inquiries in the proper quarters, and was told that trade was surprisingly good. One business man stated that he believed that his 'Christmas, returns wonld be eo good that the loss sustained during/'Blaok November" would be fullymade good. Prices were high, he said, but the people appeared to have the money,,and were spending $.■ His belief was that a spending public made a progressive people, as the more that was spent the greater facilities for trade, and trade was ths benefactor of all classes. . Tb.e_ long-delayed ..summer has made its presence folt' during the present week, and ■ the whole world' of femininity has rushed' the . tlrapere' shops to catch up to the season. Visions of girlieh beauty, with all the charming insolence of youth, took part in yester- ' day's joy parade, giving a touch of grace and animation to the scene. And somewhere down among the skirts and silk stockings buily little Tommy blew his trumpet, and- Gertie nursed her sixinoh doll, oblivious to everything saye the. satisfying sense of possession, eo . native to Christmastide. ■ Mothers and fathers, urban, suburban, and rural, did their.best to keep' their exoited broods off .the tramlines, and had hot, anxious moments as motor-cars whisked by inches away.. '

Poor old paterfamilias may have felt the experience a frying one, but compensation was his in,the delight and laugliter of the pride of liis, eyes. Many will remember the first post-war Christmas if it. is only owing to that inexpressible sensation of relief which accompanies the thought that, ns far ns our own ate 'concerned, the guns are not. firing, and King Death. :'s spelling after hie fearsome labours. That is the '' one thought which must make this Christmas extra gladdening to the British peoples, no matter whore they: be. Topsy-turveydom may have descended npon the crazed nations on the other side of the world; crowns may fall and thrones topple, but with us Christmas is Christmas still.'

The eveninE service'at Weelev Chnrch, Taranaki Street, on Sunday will be of a special mueical character. Selections from the "Meßaiah" will be rendered by a large choir.

PAINS AND, ACHES IN THE BACK. People who euifer ' from, acnes 'and pains in the. back often imagine that they have kidney trouble, and are needlessly alarmed. It is a peculiar thing that real organic kidney disease may have progressed to a critical point without developing a painMn the back. Doctors detect its presence by the excretions of the kidneys themselves. Pains in tho back <=lould always lead the sufferer to look to the condition of the blood. Every muscle of tho body needs a supply of rich, red blood in-pro-portion to the work it , does. The muscles of the back are under heavy strain and have but little rest. When the blood is thin they lack nourishment and rebel. The result is a sensation of pain in these muscles. • It will be'found in most cases that, tho use of Dr. Williams'-Pink Pills to build up the blood will stop the grumbling of the ill-nourished muscles of the back. How much better it is to try Dr. Williams., Pink Pills for the blood than to give 'way to unreasonable alarm about your kidneys. If you suspect your kidneys, any doctor'can make tests in ten minutes that will set your fears at rest 'or tell you the worst. All dealers sell Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. "Diseases of the Blood" is a booklet full of useful information. So is the pamphlet on "Nervous Diseases." x Tliey are 6ent free on request by the Dr. .Williams' Medicine Co., Bos 845, G.P.0., Wellington..