CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IMPOSITIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 14 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IMPOSITIONS.

At no season of the year are the landlords of inns subjected to so many swindles about Christmas and the New Year, and so busy are they that the same fraud is practised upon them over and over again. A nice, clean, ingenious-looking servant girl rushes in and orders a pint bottle of rum, and this is smartly handed to her and she retires. In very quick time she is back again, all out of breath and blushing, and then she gasps out to the smirking barman that she is sorry, she is so very stupid, but it was brandy she ought to have got. But here is the bottle of rum, still in its -wrapping, and here is the difference in price. In a moment is the change effected, with one or two jovial bits of " chaff " from the barman, and the maid again departs.* The bottle she has left contains only coloured water. Another but rougher swindle is practised by a decentlooking young fellow, who taps on the counter with a couple of half-crowns and orders a pint bottle of spirits. This is put on the counter, and then the youth orders a small drinu: for himself as well. Whilst this is being served, the youth, who has at once picked up the bottle and the silver, is out of the swing doors and away.

The popular Christmas hymn, " While shepherds watched their flocks by night," was composed as long ago as 1703, by the then Poet Laureate. December 28, the feast of Childermass, as it used to be called, was once supposed to be the unluckiest day in the year for marrying, or any other business.