HOW KIRKCALDIE AND STAINS KEEP CHRISTMASTIDE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3011, 24 December 1896, Page 2

HOW KIRKCALDIE AND STAINS KEEP CHRISTMASTIDE.

They are keeping it on a moat lavish scale ; so much so that ample provision is made fop not only a merry Christmas, but a happy New Year time for both townsfolk and their country cousins. If you “'happen along,” as Brother Jonathan has it, into the main gentry shop right off, then all the beapty of the stock ‘ liita your sight. There lies before you a perspective of naught else but novelties ; and turn you either to thq right hand or to the left, there fronts you the standard goods for which the “ K. $ S.” firm has over been noted —rows and lines of blouses, sufficient to turn a whole community into breezily-bedecked girls; or it. may be the packs of umbrellas, from those for Little Miss Muffet to those for My Lady Dainty ; or yet again their famous lines-of gloves; not to mention those choice and delicate laces, Honiton, silk Maltese, Guipure, and the real lace collars; whilst every lady murmurs an “E” or “ M,” or other letter of tbo alphabet as she sees the beautiful series of initial handkerchiefs.

However, these standard goods are over to be found with this firm. It is the holiday novelties rivet the attention. Leather goods are exceedingly popular—and here they arc. 4s companions, also as letter cases, well fitted for their certain fate of being used to brighten or sadden some lovers* hearts, per means of the billets-djux shafts We quiver at these thoughts, yet look again. Cabinets, purses, hqud-baga, ghotq frames, there they lie. Very pretty arp thp band-painted articles in floral designs. Then the eye roves over letter-racks, pincushions, Dorothybags, and cases of delicate perfumes. Christmas cards, 25 in a packet for Is, are also noted. But it is a busy scene, and the man of notes seems out of place therein, so a move on to yet another department is made. Wh^t' a change is that from the beauties and dainties of my lady’s own particular resort into the commonplaces of the -men’s department! Hats, ties, clothing of every kind and grade, lie in profusion e vet y where, and the firm is so busy that the attendants cannot find time to put away one article before another easterner desires to bo shown some other line. To one who is “doing nothing but taking notes” it is good to see this briskness about the place. Then we visit the children’s department, take a hasty glance at sunbonnets and other goods, pass along under a battery of bright eyes'and survey novelties that daily delight the hearts of the fair sex. Frenon novelties in robes, silk and wool mixtures, , and rolls upon rolls of like and unlike materials for blouses and dresses, pass under review—and then we get into the millinery sanctum. Here is a feast of colour, red predominating. How peculiar it is, : we think, that in the hot season red should be the popular colour. Woman must have reason in her madness, and’ onra not to argue why. Oi}r aqty is to retQrd'Vphat v/e see 5 but that is impossible in MessrsKfrkcajdie auirStainV at anytime, bow much more difficult it Is at holiday season we ask all ladles, either resident or visiting, to go along Lambton quay, walk through the shop and see for themselves. Little wonder the firm is going to build extensive additions, for their 'stock, Ukp their enterprise, knows no bounds, and recent nurohaaea, both 1 in the Colony abroad, must be crying aloud’ for room—and yet more roqra. :