HOLIDAY IDEALS

Evening Star, Issue 20057, 24 December 1928, Page 4

HOLIDAY IDEALS

BEACH, FARM, OR HIGHWAY ? DUNEDIN FOLK DISCOURSE ON RELAXATION The Christmas holidays are upon us. Now is the time to find out how the city is going to relax after a strenuous year of business, industry, and study. It was with this object in view that a 1 Star 1 reporter recently interviewed those whom he considered as being representative of the main groups in metropolitan life. • . WILLOW THE KING. First of all ho persuaded Master Stumps, a small boy who had lived through about thirteen cricket seasons, to unburden his mind with regard to his holiday prospects. It cost three ice creams and a couple of orange squashes to loosen his tongue, and the interview ended on a note of gastronomic triumph. , , ~ “ Ho you know what?” remarked the lad in a confidential tone alter the second fequfisb had been disposed of. “1 reckon it would bo a hangishm' good idea if Dad took me to Australia these holidays to see a test match, it shouldn’t cost much, and Ive # never seen a test match. But I s pose Dact will just stay at homo and dig in the garden, and I’ll have to stay, too. Anyhow, some other chaps and I are going to liaVo a great time at St. Clair,” he added more brightly; ‘‘and when it’s raining we’ll have a dip in the teps. Perhaps we’ll go to Warrington or Brighton for a week or two, and that won’t be so bad. Then, of course, there are cricket matches now and then, but I only wish I could go to Australia. I would learn something before 1 start at the High next year.” Here Master Stumps lapsed into a meditation so profound that the ‘ Evening Star ’ had to draw him out with a vital question, / “What is your favourite sweet?” Master Scamps was asked. “ Oh—aw —chocolate fish, I think.” “ Good. And you like cider to drink, perhaps?” “ You bet 1 do,” “ That’s great. I’m sure you will do well at the High School,” said the reporter. Master Stumps again became thoughtful. CAREFUL SELECTION NEEDED.

An exclusive interview with. Miss Silkhose, aged seventeen,- was obtained at the price of tea for two. In her opening remarks Miss Silkhose stated that she was awfully glad to have been approached on the subject, because she had such lots to say. She just adored holidays. They were so restful somehow, and yet they were quite thrilling. Sho>did not know exactly what to say about them—she meant to say that she did not know where ,or how she was going to spend them. Last year sho had had such a good time at Karitniio -with Algy Honker. He had a motor car—a Sedan or something, ft had been great fun; but then Algy had sold his car six months ago, and she had had to go out with somebody else. This was Mcrvyn Riche —such a nice boy. Ho was allowed to drive his car when his father wasn’t using it. The only trouble was you couldn’t depend on always getting it. It was stunning, though, when Merv. got it. Sho might go out a lot with Merv. during the holidays, to the beaches and-all that.. Then there was Norman Breakneck, who had a pillion seat arid a inotor bike. She used to be a wee bit frightened of pillion riding, but she was getting used to it now. The trouble was that Norm, was always having trouble with his generator or Iris mag. or something. Still, it'was perfectly gorgeous sailing along on a pillion seat. She did not know whether she would go out with Merv. or Norm. It was_ sucli a bother having to think about .it and decide. She [Owing to pressure on space it has been found necessary to cut short the further remarks of Miss Silkhose.—Subeditor.] CALL OP THE WILDS. - A youth who had just left High School ami was about to enter the University was located outside a tourist office. On being questioned concerning the holiday he regretted that lie was unable to give much information. All he knew was that he and some other fellows were gong to don the oldest rags they could find and go on a walking tour away up through Central Otago and over to the Sounds. In fact, they might be able to pick up a job over there as tourist guides. It was a dandy wheeze. Students did it. And he would bo a student next year. Ho reckoned tiiat when ho was in his second or third year at ’Varsity he would be able to grow a beard away outback. In the meantime ho might try his hand at cultivating a moustache. Ho would bo greatly obliged if his name wore kept out of the paper, 1 because he did not want his girl to know. It would be a bit of a surprise for her when ho came back. TWO OF A KIND.

The search for average people of all ages continued into the evening. At about dusk the reporter was fortunate enough to meet a young couple who had recently committed matrimony—the wife being an ex-shopgirl and the husband an industrial worker. They were happily united and full of enthusiasm for everything. They both talked at the same time. As far as could he gathered the facts are: The young wife had given up worrying about where she would spend her holidays or which seascape would suit her bathing costume best. She was quite content to settle down with Jim and do whatever he thought tit. Jim, for his part, wondered what he had ever seen in bachelor’life, even in a crib down the bay. This marriage business would do him. He had a good girl ,and he knew it, and he was going to stick to her through thick and thin. They couldn’t afford a holiday . this year, but he’d see thqt she got a real good one next Christmas. THE MIDDLE AGES. “By .Gad, I’m getting right away from the mouldy old office this Christmas,” quoth Mr Makem, the successful business man. “ I’m going to get into old togs, run the car out, load it

up with fishing gear, and spend an extended holiday touring the country. By Jove, yes, and -Fm going to give the wife and kiddies a treat, too. I’ll motor them up as far as Palmerston, and drop them with a friend who has a small farm. What the wife needs is a rest, and plenty of milk will be good for the kiddies. I’lM’eturn to town and pick up three jaded old crocks like myself and we’ll do the Southern Lakes, the Canterbury trout streams, and Taupo. Expect to wots in a bit of golf and bridge en route. We’ve made up qur minds to read nothing in the papers but sports news, and to forget all about the Stock Exchange, politics, and luncheon addresses. In fact, we’ll all be boys again together.” iMrs Busy, an enterprising housewife, stated that she was sending her husband and children away to the. seaside for a while, the older girls to keep house. She herself preferred to remain in .town for a complete rest. With everybody out of the place she would find it easy to carry out what should have been spring cleaning, and she would also get the year’s jam made in peace and comfort. She had been to the seaside before with the family, but sho had had to work ten times as hard while there as at home. One never knew where to find things in a strange house. It was a dreadful nuisance. DABBY AND JOAN. There isn’t a great deal to say about elderly people. They don’t seem to move around much. One old gentleman who was interviewed stated that ho would just spend the festive season quietly in his garden. He would also try to evade the noise made by motor cyclists. Now and then, when he was feeling particularly energetic, he would pop into the Athenrcum for a game of chess. His wife was very good with the grandchildren, bless hpr, and she would probably spend the holidays looking after them.