The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1026. FOUR MORE WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1026. FOUR MORE WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS.

Por some reason Christmas nearly always finds a gi-eat proportion of the people unprepared, and there are many who expei’ience something akin to surpi-ise each year when they l-calise that Chi'istmas has actually ai'rived. There are very many probably who have not I’ealised this year how near Christmas is to us now. A reference to the calendar will show that there are only four Satin-days left before the arrival of Chi'istmas. In that short period there is a lot of shopping to be done by the average man. Most of the slxoxxs are up to the minute in their displays of Christmas goods and in other arrangements to induce the public to get their shopping done early with a view to mitigating as much as possible the strenuous last-minute rush that accompanies every- Christmas. In New Zealand the approach of Christmas is always heralded well in advance by the appearance of the Christmas annuals, like the “ Star ” pictorial, but these numbers ai’e published early enough to permit of their being sent Home in time for the festive season, and in some degree ci’eate a false sense of security by conveying to the mind of the average man that he has plenty of time to spare before the arrival of Christmas. If for no other reason, the fact that Christmas time is a period of heavier expenditure than usual, should induce a little prudent preparation. Many of the old-time customs that prepared for the coming of Christmas and kept everybody fully alive to its approach have been dropped, and there can be little doubt that we pre the poorer for their absence. The “ goose club ” that was quite an institution with our fathers had much to commend it, and its successor, the “ hamper club,” helps to keep subsex ibers well informed of the approach of Christmas, but for all that many still find that Christmas catches them unawares.

“ The sick man of Europe ” is a term no longer applied to lurkey, but thei'e can be no doubt that so long as that troubled country occxqxics the Bosphorus the ambitions of other nations will be a cause of uneasiness to those who look forward longingly to world peace. Cablegrams to-day state that Turkey lias called up twenty classes of resei’vists, and is undergoing one of her periodic ” attacks of nerves ” regarding Italy’s intentions. There is no evidence, howevei’, that this is a mere attack of nerves. Tui’kev has a deeprooted fear of Italy, based on the alleged conclusion of an understanding between Italy and Greece regarding combined action against Turkey under certain conditions, and, above all, to the “ manifestations of Mussolini,” who has set the world wondering at whose expense the aggi-andise-ment of Italy is to be carried out. The Turks are afraid of an Italian attempt on South-western Anatolia, simultaneously with a Greek attack on Eastern Thrace, and during the discussion of the Mosul question Turkey called up several classes of reservists, and took other defensive measures as the residt of her apprehensions on this score. The ratification of the Mosul Treaty not only restored friendly relations with Britain, but by averting actual hostilities removed the immediate danger of concerted action by Italy and Greece. Once again, therefore, Britain is in the position if not of a peacemaker, at least of a stabilising agent between three ambitious Powers. Friendship with Britain seeux-es Tui-key against external aggression, and incidentally provides some guarantee against the danger of Soviet penetration. But the position is very obscure, and as there appears to be no immediate cause for Turkish military activity, further light on the subject will be awaited with interest.

Not much attention may be paid to the announcement from Sydney that J. O. Anderson has decided to leave the amateur ranks of lawn tennis and turn professional, and yet it may have as important a bearing on the new phase of commercial tennis as Mdlle. Lenglen’s sensational departure. “ Suzanne ” accepted a lucrative engagement for exhibition matches, and gave the lead to the three other players who have joined hex’. Anderson is in a different category. He has merely decided to turn coach, just as A. E. Beamish did in England a few yeax-s ago. Yet if this movement goes on among the leading players there is every prospect that, with the nucleus in each country for first-class exhibition matches, the tennis professional, like the golf professional, may yet occupy the centre of the stage. At present it appears that Anderson, who is quite the most eminent player to turn professional—apai’t from Suzanne—is going to occupy himself with the laudable task of encouraging young Australian players to learn the game properly, but it is most likely that the eixtc.rprising Mr Pyle will smell him out, and it may be that Mr Pyle’s “ troupe,” as it is called, may pay a visit to Australia in the not far distant future to try conclusions with the redoubtable Andei’son. Meanwhile, the supply of first-class amateur talent is slowly disappearing. Tilden and Johnston in America, Anderson and Patterson in Australia, and the old brigade in England, are not being succeeded by worthy juniors. The English-speaking l-aces have no longer an assured superiority in this international game, and time alone will show whether they can regain their old position. Possibly Anderson’s action will help in this direction. Coaches are needed in all sports, but particularly in tennis.