"WILL THEY GIVE ONE?"

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1907, Page 8

"WILL THEY GIVE ONE?"

THE CHRISTMAS BOX. IS THE CUSTOM DYING OUT? Once move people are figuring out the cost of "Christmas boxes." Christmas does expand the heait, by force of habit, old associations and appeals, but deep down in the bosom of most people there is a dislike for the annual toll of presents, however much cordiality may be put into the actual giving. Among friends and acquaintances the old custom is as strong as ever. The trf'lo done by the people who deal in •".jiick-knacks, silverware, dressing cases, and other things deemed to be acceptable to man and woman shows that the Christmas box, in spite of its years, has not begun to moulder. Among tradesmen time has brought a change. Who does not lemember the days when nearly every shopkeeper distributed r.lmanacs or some other token to his customers to embody his gratitude for past favours, and a hone for their continuance. There must bo at least a few rnen-~not middle-aged — in Wellington, who can recall the- untruths which they put into the- ears of shopmen at Yule-tide long ago. They assured tradcis near and far that their mothers wrro regular customers, and were therefore entitled to an almanac. Sometimes tho very cleverness of the bluff appealed to the adult behind the counter, and was rewarded with a picture. In time, when the stress of competition became keener, it might have been expected that the Christmas bonus system would become more marked, but the, matter came before tho dealers' eyes in a different light. They began to feel the burden ot it, and decided to toss it aside. "I think tho custom has quite died out," ran a comment to-day by Mr. H. Seaton, chairman, of the Wellington Shopkeepers' Association. '"I think tho old-time habit of giving an almanac or some little thing like that has absolutely passed away." Of course, he added, some shopkcepeis might hand out little toy balloons or other trifles for children. This topic had never been discussed by the association in this or any other year. The members were left to their own devices. Personally, he considered that the people did not look for Christmas boxes from shopmen nowadays. They went where the goods were cheapest and best, and had a suspicion that a Christmas box would be a thing, for which the giver would recoup himself. A matter which interested shopkeepers far more than Christmas boxes, continued Mr. Seaton, was tho everlasting demand for gifts by the promoters of sports and picnics. "Theso canvassers have become an absolute nuisance," ho declared. "Somo days we get more people begging than customers. To a great extent, I believe, the shopkeepeis have put their foot down, and I think the Wholesale Association has resolved to act similarly." There is another aspect of the Christmas, box. People following certain callings aIP look for a recognition of their usefulness. Little gifts have been bestowed on them in, previous years, and there is no evidence to indicate that thin year will be different from predecessors. It is another of the customs which makes Christmas expensive