A PLEA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12995, 24 December 1907, Page 6

A PLEA.

"Wβ would not abate oroe jot of all the old Christmas customs that are possible in a country where Chmtmas fells in midsummer. They are a pleasant link with the past which wo would not

lightly lose. But there is no need to exaggerate them, and loyal observance of am ©Id-ttme custom becomes a nnri6ance when it destroys the sloop of peaceful citizens. Itesearchce into tho literature of Christmas customs reveal nothing justifying the practices of thoso modern "waits" who inflict themselves the whole livelong night upon a town that desires to sleep and bo at rest. The evil, we admit, is not so great as it used to he, but there is no reason ! why it should exist at all. There should be * close eeason for weary householdors even on Christmas Eve. The averago family, especially If it is a young one, can be relied ou to salute the happy morn quite early enough, without any assistance from itinerant bands. The performances of the latter can hardly be profifablo to ♦iho.mselves, since the very kst thins the average man wants to do to the disturbers of his rest is to give them money. They certainly give no pleasure to others. They provoke, indeed, the most feelings, and have led to one particular hymn being held in detestation by whole streetefull of people. Tho reasons, therefore, for the oontinimnoe of the practice are hard to sock. We trust that this year all good bandsmen will be asleep by midnight at latest on Christmas Eve, and that tho bad ones wiFl receive that attention from the police that they deserve.