CHRISTMAS TIDE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 8

CHRISTMAS TIDE.

THE SHOPKEEPERS' CARNIVAL. The streets of the.city presented to thoeyo a brilliant spectacle on Saturday night. Christmas was in thb air, and in the shops there- was high carnival. The magic of Christmas unloosens purse-strings, and gladdens tho heart of the shopman. Other hearts aro gladdened, too, but wo are concerned for tho present with tho seller of toys, books, ornaments, and other articles. A sparklo of anticipation lights up his eye, as ho decks bis wares' in seductive array in windows, and embellishes' tho show with tinsel and ribbon paper. If he be enterprising, he will havo procured an effigy of that idol of juveniles,: Father Christmas, in his red suit, fur trimmings,' and patriarchal beard, and installed him. as a piece do resistance in tho centre of his exhibits. Of course, thoro aro wiiidows, aristocratic windows, where tho effigy or tho tinsel and ribbon paper may not appear. In some cases Father Christmas is accommodated with a room to himself, whore, surrounded by rocking-horses, steam engines, books, drums, "squeakers," and tho like, he is monarch of all ho surveys. .Woe-bo ,to tho purso of the indulgent.paterfamilias who suffers himself to be inveigled into this domain. The carnival will be at tho flood-tide to-morrow evening, Christmas' Evo f and thoro is every indication that tho season's display in the shops, and'tho. circulation of current- coin of the realm will bear favourable comparison with other years. Tiio jewellers' shops are ablaze; and it is quite evident that tho proprietors are admirable judges of human naturo. , Engage-, mout and wedding rings are, 'displayed temptingly in tho foreground, for tho springtime of his fancy being now past, our young man has probably made up his mind to take tho plunge." - ' \ •''. ' Even "John" knows his " Eulopean," and a wonderful variety docks, .with unaccustomed splendour the shop windows of. the heathen Chinee. The drapery'establishments afe decked in gorgeous array, and tho "season's costumes arc something for Woman to admire and Man to reflect upon in terms of compound addition and subtraction, or will it bo extraction? "Christinas comes" —you know the rest of the platitude; against this the fortitude of man is not proof. The grocers of the city have looked to their laurels, for their shops are a sight to behold. Christmas hams,, ; hampers, crackers, and a surfeit of gob'd 'tilings aro there, to remind us of tho Christmas dinner that is to be. Other establishments have achieved distinction in window displays, and Christmas Eve in town promises to be a gay carnival.