CHRISTMAS BELONGS TO THE CHILDREN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 8

CHRISTMAS BELONGS TO THE CHILDREN.

How long since you listened for Santa, Claus? How long since you thrilled as you lay breathlessly waiting to hear the clatter of his reindeer's feet on the road, and tho shir-r-r-r of his sledge? Perhaps you are up-country born, and pictured the bright blot or colour his red coat made as he came dashing across tussocky ways, and wondered it still kept its gay red, and he his snowy 1 board, through tho sooty ordeal of sliding down endless of the wideopen log-fire kind, that offered no strain on credulity as to that kind of entrance: or perhaps you are town-bred, and still remember the dread that, .with so many houses to visit, he might forget to call at number three, where your stocking was hanging hopefully beside j the grate—hung there with secret misgiving that, after all, the fireplace, even open to its widest limits,, might be too small altogether, or that the bulky pack you hoped ho was bringing might have to be left on the roof as no scrambled painfully down. Christmas belongs to the children, to tho children in years, and to those frown-ups who are still children at eart—what does it matter that we do not literally hang up our stockings en Christmas Eve. so long as the inner meaning, the real spirit, erf the sweet old custom is not lost.

One of the nicest things about Santa Claus was that he always brought us the things w© wanted most—he'd had time to find out; that is where ho has such a huge advantage over ordinary mortals in choosing Christmas presents —he probably thinks of nothing elso all tho year through, whereas most busy peoplo hare to crowd their Christmas shopping into few hours. This is where ' the chance comes in for Reece's Hardware Store, in Colombo street, to be,the (greatest help imaginable, a chance it takes full advantage of. Perhaps it is to be Silverware—the busy person has only to walk into this department to see from every case and counter the most tempting solutions of the "What shalL it be? dilemma. Things for the table. Manicures. Vases for flower lovers, Mirrors ana Brushes in ebony and silver— all in Reece's reliable quality. IXoulton Vases, Tea-sets, Bowls. Something in, Leather? From tiny purses of trining cost, to beautifully-fitted Bags, Sewingcases, Vanity-cases, etc., etc., all inviting, all well-finished and lasting. Every woman knows tho charm of dainty Toilet Accessories. Perfumes from Roger and Galet's' Works Did English Lavender Water, Lavender Satchets, Petal Dust Satchets liko i Queen Alexandra uses—they aro all to be found in Reece's Toilet Department. The very practically-minded often, look for their gifts the worksaving household lines; from rustless, stainless knives to dustless mops, Bissell sweepers and rubber gloves, there is a wide cholco.

For men-folk there are Pipes, Safety Razors, Tobacco Pouches, Wallets, Silver-mounted Match-stands; for littlo men there are Pop-guns. Meccano Sets, •Safety Hatchets, Tabio Games, Cricketbats. Tool-sets; for gardening enthusiasts there are all the latest gardening tools and devices.

For each and every ono some appropriate Christmas present may be bought at Reece's, and the good-will that is tied up in the parcel -will help each recipient to recapture something of' the old Santa Clans thrill, from the days when the greatest of all Christmas joys came "down the chimney." 1