AN OLDEN CHRISTMAS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1924, Page 9 (Supplement)

AN OLDEN CHRISTMAS.

A picture of what the streets of London were like at Christmas time over two hundred years ago is embalmed in the works of the poet Gay, whose play called the "Beggars Opera” lately revived has had such a marvellous success that it has run in the self same city in which he lived for over two years. In depicting the street cries of London of his time, he says:— "Hark! how the streets with treble voices ring. To sell the bounteous product of the spring; Sweet smelling flowers, and elder’s early bud And when June’s thunder cools the sultry skies, Ev’n Sundays are profained by mackerel cries. Walnuts the fruiterer’s hand, in autumn stain, Blue plums and juicy pears augment his gain ; Next oranges the longing boys entice To trust their copper fortunes to the dice. When rosemary, and bays, and poet’s crown Are bawled in frequent cries through all the town, Then judge the festival of Christmas near, Christmas! the joyous period of the year. Now, with bright holly all your temples st row, jWith laurel green, and sacred mistletoe.”