FATHER CHRISTMAS

Southland Times, Issue 22457, 18 December 1934, Page 4

FATHER CHRISTMAS

ARRIVAL AT H. AND J. SMITH’S.

CROWDS OF HAPPY CHILDREN. What a cheering sight fob hundreds of expectant children was presented by the arrival of Santa Claus at H. and J. Smith’s Departmental Stores yesterday afternoon! Parents and children surged along the footpaths at the corner of Tay and Kelvin streets as the hour of his arrival drew near. In fact, there were those Who feared that Father Christmas might bring himself within the majesty of.the law through the size of the crowd he had created. However, no such mundane thoughts Were present in the minds of the children as they gazed, faces aglow with expectation, in the direction whence Santa- was to come. Great was the excitement as, promptly at the half-hour, a gaily bedecked motor sleigh turned from Tay street io Kelvin street and it was seen that it really did contain Santa Claus. The genial old fellow beamed broadly on all and sundry as his sleigh pulled up, and he was mobbed by the excited infants. The crush around him was so great that when he stepped to the roadway he found difficulty in bestowing his gaily-hued balloons upon the children. Ready to greet him at the door were Mr J. W. Smith and Mr J. S. Robbie, and Santa hailed them as he entered Toyland. Accompanying Santa Claus were the youthful carol singers, who proceeded to the tea rooms upstairs to dispense joy and happiness there. The carol singers were attractively arrayed in white blouses and coloured bags. Under Mr Percy Barlow they will sing in the tea rooms every afternoon until Christmas. Their fresh, young voices should enhance (if that were possible) the enjoyment of dallying over a cup of tea. After Santa Claus’s arrival, everything was forgotten for the moment in the general confusion as a crowd of laughing happy children trooped in after him to inspect the big array of wonderful playthings set out in Toyland in the furnishing department. Here there was everything that a boy or girl could wish for, and small wonder that until closing time Father Christmas was busily engaged explaining the intricacies of some fresh toy.to an inquiring child. He should be just as busy in the days to come. Bright, smart colours everywhere made the scene a veritable fairyland. There were motor cars of every size and description, planes and zeppelins for the air-minded boy, coy-eyed dolls for girls to hug and squeeze, rubber animals that would not object to plenty of energetic fun, and games for every mood. There is still more fun in store for children in a magic cave in which all the strange people of "Alice in Wonderland” are to be seen. The antics of these quaint people are most enjoyable, and the children who visit the cave will receive a piece of Alice’s magic cake. If they are observant they may win a prize, for on some of the cake wrappers there are printer’s errors, and to every child, who finds a mistake a prize w.ill be given.