MODERN SANTA CLAUS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 20

MODERN SANTA CLAUS

Wellington Societies Which Play father Christinas To The Needy

TT seems that children no longer believe in a benign and bearded Father Christmas, who rides through space on a jingling sleigh drawn by a team of reindeer. Perhaps it is the narrow chimneys built on modern bungalows that give the ancient fairy tale a hollow ring. Whatever it is, many children no longer believe in Father Christmas’ And yet the kindly Christmas saints is a bigger reality in people’s lives to-day than has ever been the case before.

TpOR poor people, sick people, old J people, and homeless little people especially, there is a Father Christmas who does not come down the cnimney, but who nevertheless brings just -'as many liberal gifts as-ever the old man in the myth did, for at Christmas time every year charitable institutions bring happiness and cheer into thousands of poor homes.

There are parties and presents for poor children, grocery orders and hampers for needy families, entertainments fo r prisoners, gifts for sick people. This twentieth century Father Christmas seeks out chimneys that are most in need of him.

The Smith - Family, -Toy Spreaders, who do so much for poor people all through the year, makes n special effort at Christmas time. Over 600 families are given grocery orders varying in size according to the needs of the family. Contributions are made to hospitals. the Crippled Children’s Society, the social club for the blind, the Citizens’ Day Nursery, and other societies which use the money for playing Santa Claus to those in need. Working in conjunction with the Metropolitan Relief Committee, the Smith Family also distributes clothing and toys. All through the year there are people making things to be given away at Christmas time. This year one man made IS dozen little brown an<i white wooden rabbits on wheels that have been given away at Christmas parties. Girls at the Technical College have made friendly little toygout of scraps of material. These arrived at the office of the committee in big boxes which were opened to reveal little rabbits, koala hears, kangaroos, pussy cats and all manner of other arrivals, just, sufficiently unlike the real thing to be related to fairy tales.

In another secondary school there has been a notice in the hall, “Remember toys for the poor children,” and underneath a basket for the parcels. The Salvation Army has an extensive Christmas programme, providing for men, women and children. There will be several parties for the children in their orphanages, and every child will be given presents. They estimate that on Christmas Day they will provide more than 2000 Christmas dinners. At their men’s home a meal of soup, roast beef, vegetables, Christmas pudding, a mug of tea and a mince pie will be given to all who ask for it. Their bands will visit men’s and women’s prisons and give concerts, after which there will be a special Christmas supper, and the prisoners will receive gifts of sox, soap, tobacco and handkerchiefs.

Another place where the poor are always sure of assistance is.the City Mission. This Institution is in touch with hundreds of poor families to whom at Christmas time they give something extra in the way of food or clothing. Parties and outings for children who have very little fun during the year, presents for prisoners and Christmas parties for boys and girls in industrial homes are brought out of the sack of this liberal-handed Santa Claus. People in hospitals and homes are specially looked after by the Red Cross Society. They visit people all through the year and so they know just which people will not be getting Christmas presents. The Returned Soldiers Association works with the Red Cross Society looking after ex-soldiers in hospitals, and in addition they provide for any returned soldiers and their families that are in need. They invite hundreds of children at a time to wonderful Christmas parties at which there are games and singing, all the exciting food that the very young associate with special occasions, and a Christmas tree from which everyone receives a present. They organise picnics to which more than 1000 children come, and they give' away hampers of Christmas cheer to needy families. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is another group of people who, working all the year to help needy families, know just which chimneys will not be visited by any other Santa Clans. They help those in need and they, too, give parties for children. Orphanages tune in to the charitable rays of a great many people, but their most substantial Father Christmas is the Commercial Travellers' Association. These people started to collect funds during the war for patriotic reasons, and since then they have devoted their energies to charity. They provide parties, picnics, bus rides, and presents for hundreds of grateful little children for whom .Santa Claus would otherwise be a very unsubstantial myth. The Commercial Travellers’ Association also has a fund for blind soldiers and sailors and at Christmas time they give them not only Christmas cheer, but also a gift that must bring pleasure all through the year-books in Braille.

The Rotary Club also plays Father Christmas to children. They give parties. and every year they invite hundreds of children to a cinema. When they have money to distribute they give it to the health eamp or to the Crippled Children Society. This by no means exhausts the efforts made at Christmas time to help those in need. Hundreds of clubs and societies all over New Zealand are making presents for poor people and concocting little plans to bring a little of the colour, romance, and glamour of a festival that is half-Christian. half-pagan, into the lives of people who for 364 days in the year lead a colourless existence.

Individual people also are playing

Santa Claus. In a book published 15 years ago there is this recipe for a happy Christmas. Buy all your presents early and don't buy anything that you wouldn’t like to receive yourself; buy a present for someone who doesn t expect itt give as much as you can af-fdi-d to a charity that appeals to you: buy yourself a present. This is a very good recipe. To dress up in a white beard and a red flannel dressing-gown and be Father Christmas at a party is groat fun, but to qualify as a genuine, twentiethcentury Santa Claus you must come and go unseen, like the legendary saint, leaving onlv happiness and unexpected pleasure to’show that you have called. —M.J.

Woman to Woman

For Mutual Help

All readers who require help in any matters of household management, cookery, etiquette, needlework, or dress may make use of this column for their inquiries. There is no charge, the onlv condition being that the full name and address is given. This is not for publication, but for record purposes only. Those requiring a reply by ■ post are asked to send a stamped and addressed envelope. A prize of half-a-crown is given each week for. the best housewifery hint received for this column by "Women’s World Competition.” The prize this week has been won by “Elizabeth,” Ashhurst. Renovating Shoes.

When navy kid shoes go a patchy colour from cleaning with creams, take the cork from a blue-black ink bottle and rub well. You will have a newlooking pair of shoes. This has been tried with excellent results. — “Elizabeth,” Ashhurst.

Sinews from Turkey Legs. In reply to “Madeline’s,” Waipawa, request as to how to draw the sinews of turkey’s legs, I think she will find our method is very successful. Cut the skin and fleshy part at the joint of the leg to be removed, but do not cut the sinews. Place the foot end of the leg (the part to be removed) in a strong door, the lock part of which is best, close the door and pull the leg firmly but carefully, and the sinews ought to draw out. For a turkey it sometimes requires ont person to keep the door tight on the leg, while another pulls.— “ Elinor,” Foxton. Silver Cleaning Hint,

When cleaning silver and electroplate ware, use spirits instead of water to moisten your plate powder with. You will find that the result will be wonderful; your silver will stay clean and bright twice as long.— •Erica,” Martinborough.

Preserved Home-made Butter. ' Take 11b. of loose salt, Joz. saltpetre, 2oz. castor sugar, loz. boraelc acid. Roll these out, and mix thoroughly, and add loz. to each 11b. of butter that has already slightly salted, and work the mixture well in and pack the butter as tightly as possible in stone jars and \over closely. It will keep for months.— “ Elinor,” Foxton.

New Flavouring for Game. For something really new in flavour for your Christmas poultry, try adding a few raisins to the stuffing.—Mrs. L.G.T., Hastings. For the Sick Room. Place a rubber mat on the washstand in the sick roopi; it will prevent clatter of glasses, spoons, medicine bottles, and so on. — M.J.R., Strathmore. Dripping in Cakes.

If you use dripping for your cakes, you will not notice the flavour if you add a few drops of lemon essence.— Mrs. LG.T., Hastings.

Hint for Jam-makers. When jam-making it is a good plan to screw a small cotton reel to the handle of the wooden spoon. The reel rests on the edge of the pan and will support the spoon safely, with no danger of it falling into the jam— P.B., Napier.

A Request. I would be glad if any reader could tell me how to remove fly marks from curtains without rubbing, as very often a hble is. the result of rubbing. I would therefore be glad to hear of a way of soaking them out. I am sure many besides myself would be glad to know some method not damaging to curtains of removing this trouble;—

Vinegar for Brightening. A little vinegar in the water used for rinsing table glass gives it an extra brightness.— “ Madeline,” Waipawa. A Good Hint for Christmas Hams. Before cooking your Christmas ham, insert a sharp knife in several places, and sprinkle a little gelatine in the cuts. As the ham cooks the gelatine melts and spreads through the meat, thus making it set well. It is then easy to slice thinly. This is a professional method used when preparing ham for shop and hotel use.— Miss S., Napier.