"DO IT NOW !"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 136, 5 December 1935, Page 19

"DO IT NOW !"

CHRISTMAS IS UPON US

Men and women are funny people —as the schoolboy said in his essay on "Man," and a truer generalisation was never penned, states a writer in the "Sydney Morning Herald." For instance, every year Amanda Cobblestone, . who is otherwise a perfectly sensible, agreeable young woman, makes a resolution that nothing shall be allowed to prevent her making an early purchase of her many Christmas presents. The, matter is then entirely forgotten, until towards the end of November Amanda suddenly realises that Christmas ■is hot upon her heels and not a single present is in hand.

And this continues, with Amanda putting it off until tomorrow and gradually acquiring nervous prostration over the, whole affair until Christmas Eve. • Then she makes a last desperate resolution. and rushes into town, perambulates the streets and stores till she is ready to cry with vexation and hope : deferred, and gradually \accumulates a collection of parcels that hang all; over her and her unfortunate husband: (whorh she invariably cajoles

or compels to accompany her, poor wretch!), until the pair look'like nothing- on earth but animated Christmas trees.. ■ Now there are, I suppose, ten thousand Amandas in this- city who, if they are not careful to avoid her procrastmatory :habits, ujill certainly suffer a similarly sad experience. But they cannot say we didTiibt give them warning. And the remedy is so simple that 'one hardly needs to write it down.' In the old days,- which our grandparents are wont ..to,: describe as '.'good," but which—like pur grandparents themselves—were probably no better than they should have been; in those old days when electoral reform was still in the clouds.and electoral rolls were non-existent; voters were at times cynically urged to "vote early—and often!" It was advice which has these latter days naturally fallen largely into desuetude, particularly as to the latter portion of it; but it is advice that might well be followed by shoppers. The "often" is a matter of personal choice or pecuniary ''fixings"; the "early" should be compulsory upon every citizen. . For; like mercy; its quality is "twice blessed." "It blesseth him that gives and him that takes"—both the shopper and. shoppee. To shop.early is consistent not only with comfort and common sense; it is the only really effective method of producing- satisfactory results for both parties to the transaction. It enables the shopßer to receive more studied attention-.and .to-get the pick of the goods; it enables .the shopkeeper to avoid that haste and hurry which are the particular curses of the congested shop; and —which is a particularly beneficient and meritorious result—it saves the girl behind the counter endless work and worry. It saves not only time and temper, but it also saves money; for a careful choice following upon 'a clear and careful survey of the goods submitted must necessarily result in better value being obtained than can possibly be the case when the frenzied shopper, racing against closing time and struggling against a thousand envious clutching hands, is forced-hastily to a decision that can: hardly be considered worthy of the term "selection." , So, we hope, Amanda, that this year you and your sisters will remember your good resolutions, arid carry them into effect. Christmas is upon us— get to your shopping early and get it over before the last mad rush sets in. In other words; "Do it now!"