COSTLY CHRISTMAS TREES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 19 (Supplement)

COSTLY CHRISTMAS TREES.

Wealthy people often spend huge sums upon the knick-knacks with which they deco rate the tree for the Yuletide festivities (says a Loudon paper). A prominent English racing man one winter gave, a Christmas party to celebrate the coming-of-age of his daughter. Some fifty guests were invited, and when, during the evening, they entered the room containing the Christmas tree, they almost gasped in amazement at the splendour of the tree, and the presents The tree reached right to the ceiling of the lofty room, and in the blaze of the electric lamps with which

it was lighted glittering gems made a brilliant show. The branches were hung with all kinds of jewellery—bracelets, brooches, pendants, rings, lockets, gold pencilcases, all sparkling with precious stones- A valuable gift- had been provided for everyone, at a cost which could not have been less than £ISOO. The only child of a rich stockbroker, a girl of twelve, bad a big Christmas party given in her honour, forty girls and forty boys being Tiivltcci to it. The feature of the entertainment was a Christmas tree loaded with dolls attired in the height of fashion, the garments being made to put on and off. at a cost of three guineas each. Oik* for each of the forty girl guests. For each of the boys was a gailycoloured envelope which helped to make the tree look attractive. These contained orders on one of the big shops for practically everything that a boy’s heart could desire, including boxes of tools, model aeroplanes that really flew, and even bicycles. The value of the presents provided on this tree was in the neighbourhood nf 1:100