The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1928. TO EVERYONE, A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 8

The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1928. TO EVERYONE, A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

ALL THE FUNCTIONS associated with Christmastide “ no other brings greater joy than the re-union of longseparated members of a family. New Zealand, though small in population as compared with older lands, sees thousands of such happy gatherings round the festive board on December 25. In Canterbury, for instance, for two or three days beforehand, every train, every service-car, even some hundreds of horses and bicycles, bring sons and daughters back to the parental hearth, there to join hands and celebrate, to shar:: the good things set out invitingly and talk lovingly of earlier days. To-day is ours: what do we fear? To-day is ours, we have it here. Let’s treat it kindly, that it may Wish, at least, with us to stay. Let’s, banish business, banish sorrow, To the gods belongs to-morrow. Past separations are quickly forgotten at Christmastide re-unions and the leave-takings to come are ignored. In any case, modern transport has obliterated completely the old tear of distance. Auckland is only two days away from Dunedin and places in between are but over the road from one another. Not that Christmas gatherings are at all less hearty on that account. The march of science and the change of custom have failed among either rich or poor to make the slightest difference to the observance of the sacred festival. Under every roof, the day is one of peace, happiness and goodwill. To the universal cry “ The Star ” feels privileged to add its voice. We wish our readers the Merriest of Christmases.