CHRISTMAS IN OTHER LANDS

Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 9

CHRISTMAS IN OTHER LANDS

GOLD SNAP IN FRANCE MOUNTAIN RATS DRIVEN FROM HAUNTS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, December 24. Christmas-like weather has enveloped the country hero and to the south. Intense cold in the Alps has driven hordes of mountain rats to seek warmth and food in the village of Vclledarbois. One villager had a disastrous experience of the rodents’ Christmas tastes. When he opened his garage ho found that his car had been nibbled into a heap of refuse, and only the metal work was intact. IN ENGLAND TRADERS REPORT GOOD BUSINESS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 23. Despite the prevailing economic difficulties the shopping centres have shown in the last few days the animation that is usual at this season, and traders report a large volume of business, though generally at lower prices than in recent years. To-day saw the beginning of the holiday traffic, and both the railways and the motor coach services are offering specially-reduced fares, and numerous day and half-day excursions. Trains are being run in duplicate, and often in triplicate, to-day and to-mor-row. A feature of the holiday traffic is the large number of visitors to English resorts on the south coast, and a corresponding reduction in Continental bookings. HARD TIMES IN AMERICA NEW YORK, December 23. Christmas business is fairly good in the large cities, despite the hard times, but the country districts have slumped heavily. Wheat, cotton, and other staple products are suffering drops in prices. Potatoes are half their value of a year ago, and the lowest for a quarter of a century, while apples, pears, and citrus fruits are below any other quotations since the people began to keep statistics. FINE IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, December 24. The weather is brilliantly fine, with the promise of a continuance for the holiday. The city is thronged with crowds, which fill the shops, all of which are busy. Though the majority of purchases are more modest than in former years, a spirit of optimism seems to possess the people.