CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 December 1913, Page 5

CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS

AT THE ACADEMY

Each year ®ee§ new creations in most lines of goods sold by Masterton shopkeepers. This is specially noticeable at this season of the year, when every firm makes a special display ,of tempting goods to fill the bill Christmas and New Year gifts. In pursuance of their established customMessrs McLeod and Young, of "The Academy," are at present making their annual display of new season's books, etc. A representative of this paper strolled through' the firm's spacious departments (which,; by the way, are 100 ft in. depth), and was delighted with: the preparations made for Christmas trading. The counters and stands everywhere are ladened with pretty books, calendars, Christmas cards, fancy goods, and toys. Speaking of the, books, the firm have a really wonderful collection of beautifully bound books. The coloured illustrations and dainty text of the books on view are most tempting. In standard writers, one finds a great variety of editions, and so cheap. Prose and poetry, grave and gay, embracing the works of all the

most popular present day writers is found. Books on gardens, books of drawings by Harrison Fisher. Howard C. Christy, and other popular artists are included in the display." Reproductions of the great masters of j painting are charmingly done in handy volumes of surprisingly low prices, '■ Bibles, prayer and hymn books, church services and devotional books can be seen ta please the most fastidious. In children's books, the firm are showing a, tremendous range, from tho popular "Boys' and Girls' Own," "Chums,?' etc., down to the 3d coloured picture books (which, by tho way. are retailed at the English published price to buyers). One must see tho collection to believe that any firm in Masterton carries and disposes of such huge stocks. No one need go outside aur town to buy books, a fact that they will be convinced of if they pay a visit to McLeod and Young's. But books alone do not comprise the whole stock carried. There are beautiful stocks of ladies' handbags, tourist cases, attachable cases, dressing cases, pocket wallets, fancy goods, photo frames, pictures and Japanese goods. All have a special place in the. firm's display. Coming to the toy department, the* firm are legitimate dealers in toys, and keep a regular department. The children know where to find these aad quaintly vote this section "the place where Santa Claus lives." This year special arrangements have been made to satisfy evei-y buyer, | young or old, in ''toy land."