CROWDED SHOPS AND BUSY STREETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16350, 12 February 1921, Page 12

CROWDED SHOPS AND BUSY STREETS.

FRIDAY NIGHT’S PARADE. SCENES IN THE SQUARE. (Written for the “ Star.”) “Coming into town to-night?” says til© young man in the ten-guinea suit to somebody's sister. No argument. They go. Couples by the thousand parade the streets of the city, jostled bv father buying his Sunday cigarettes, bv mother buying her week-end groceries, by school kiddies trailing round sweet shops. Everybody’s present from the farm-hand out of Hals well to tho spruced-up fireman on hit© leave. Money flows like water and shop assistants run short of string. Take last night. The Square was crowded from the steps of the Cathedral to the dark shadowa of further Worcester Street, from the verandahs of Broadways to the groaning intersections near High Street. There was colour and light and movement everywhere. Through it all each group had a distinct characteristic. Bound one place, for instance, the atmosphere was decidedlv sporting. Leaves of racebooks Puttered to tlio accompaniment of trotting jargon. Fragments of conversation drifted on the night breeze to the ear of the casual passer-by. “ Sure thing,” said one man ; “ lie'll win by streets. Put it on thick and heavy, and you can knock off work.” Tips, Sure things, and Loave-’em-Aloites were sifted, examined and tested w ith all the earnestness of the regular racecourse habitue. Everyone must know this corner of the Square. Usually there is an odd detective or two leaning against a post, studying faces and recalling the past- Now and again a stir is caused by tho arrival of a Man Who Obviously Knows Something. He may be tho owner of :i dark horse from Gore or a casual band at a training stable in the Brighton an>a. Never mind who he is. While he has a tale to tell, respect is his portion nml rapt attention his undisputed right. After that he must link up with the listeneis and hear wisdom from the next man. Another section of th© Square has the “ highbrow ” touch. Tt is neither interesting nor sprightly. _ Here peop!o from the Library wait with books under their arm for trams to an eastern suburb. Among them are discreet parties from the theatre finishing up tho heavy part of the business week with k, little light amusement. Staid men smoking pipes talk spasmodically to dames in heavy coats. Many of them look sDrhtly bored and more than tired. It is time the night was over. Tomorrow calls with golf or bowls or croquet. Romance stalks closer to the Shelter. Youth and beauty, powdered faces, scented hair. sparkling looks, and nwishing skirts. These find their kingdom under the brightest of the bright lights. Laughter and quick whispers cut tho commercialism of Friday night to shreds. A tram or two missed what does that matter? Mabel from St Albans fixes Bert of Fendalton fox a surfing jaunt on Sunday. Two or three couples make a merry group and plan a Bmal] excursion to the drowsy orchards of Governor’s Bay. There is talk of tennis at Avonside on Saturday afternoon, of the dance to happen next, week, of Ethel’s brief engagement, of Percy’s purple motor, of rings and hells and dashing girls. This is Friday night with tho sparkle on. Round about ten-thirty hurry and hustle take the spice out of adventure. The Voio© of the City is insistent with th© clang of tram and the screech of motor, as if the departure signal had been hoisted with a five minutes’ warning bell. Tired people hurry across carrying parcels and dragging children. Tho motor-cyclist barks goodbye on a bad exhaust. Lights flicker and go out in front of the picture houses. The hotels close their doors on late boarders. Crowded trams and packed trailers start off north, south, east and west. The Night of Nights is over. Christchurch, they say, leaves Dunedin, "Wellington and Auckland in the shade when it comes to street parading crowds. “ Perhaps it is the Square, ‘ said a North Islander. “ Anyway, you fteem to see more of what is going on her© thi*£i anywhere else. Central Colombo Street is almost a Great "White Way. Jt looks as if after tea on Friday night everyone decided to come in to see wliat’s doing. You’ve got th© space here and that makes it easy. There’s pressure hut no crush. A lively liffcle city, you’ve got.” “ I wish some of them would shop in th© daytime,” said a High Street softgoods trader- “Mv cash register’s been working overtime.”