EASTER EGGS AND THEIR RELATION TO PROVERB.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 10

EASTER EGGS AND THEIR RELATION TO PROVERB.

VARIETY AND NOVELTY PROVE BIG ATTRACTION. “ Never put all your eggs in one basket” is a wise saying. It came to my mind as I was passing a shop window crowded with eggs—Easter eggs. The proprietor had certainly not put all his eggs into one basket. Indeed, it is doubtful if he could have secured a basket large enough to hold them. Besides, if he had found such an immense basket, only the top layer of eggs would have caught the eyes of his prospective customers. Those benneath, though equally attractive and enticing, and probably of almost infinite variety, would have been hidden from view. So it certainly would not have paid him to put them all into one basket. The origin of the proverb came, I believe, from the dropping of a basket of eggs, which were nearly all smashed, and someone near by—one of those people who always know what to do after the worst has happened—proffered the post-accident advice that it was never safe to put all your eggs* into one basket. Perhaps it was another good reason why the shopkeeper did not put all his Easter eggs into one basket. They are so fragile, with their tracings and filigree of icing, their cottonwool, waxeyed birds and their papier mache decorations. It is certain that the lower layers, at least, would be broken or damaged. Novelty in Variety. Another fact which kept the " eggs in the basket” proverb before me was the wisdom this shopkeeper had shown in selecting such a large variety of Easter eggs and novelties. He evidently knew that it would pay him better to have 144 eggs, every one different, than to display 144 identical eggs. He knew better than to put all his financial eggs into one basket. He had probably argued it out with himself that, whereas it might work out cheaper to buy eggs by the gross, they would not produce the profit that would accrue from 144 differently designed novelty eggs. The public likes variety; it likes a wide selection, and it likes to be able to buy something different from that purchased by its neighbour across the street. Master Tommy Public and little Mary Public—do they want to find several similar Easter eggs beside their porridge plates? No; they must have a bigger egg, or a brighter egg, or a more lavishly decorated egg, than that of Johnnie Public who lives next door. And so the wise shopkeeper sends for more and more Easter eggs, all as differently constructed and decorated as he can find them. Tempting the Public.

He fills his window with them, using all their bright trimmings and fantastic shapes to tempt his public. The modest eggs, with little adornment, he places at the bottom, pear the front of the window, where the small nose of the small child most oftjen presses against the pane. There may be only a penny in the youngster’s grubby little moist hand, but he must have an egg for Easter. Higher up, to catch the eyes of the bigger children, are still more Easter eggs, big ones, little ones, brown ones, white ones, silver ones and gold ones, heaps of eggs nestling in fancy baskets, large eggs pushed along in carts by roosters or pelicans on wheels, eggs in egg cups, complete with spoons, coloured eggs with baby chicks emerging from them, large silver eggs opening to reveal a midget bride and her bridegroom, all kinds of eggs in countless novel settings, all calculated to fascinate the young people, and essential to the Easter festivities.

Then, right at the top of the window display, or elaborately set off in the centre shelf, appear the most luxurious eggs that ever came out of a confectioner’s factory. Eggs of papier mache are there, representing funny men in scarlet fez, with real artificial dentures and spectacles; monstrous chocolate eggs lying in halves and spilling out pounds of sweets; large eggs resting in beribboned log baskets, and guarded by yellow hens and chickens, pecking at scarlet flowers and ornamental grasses. For the Grown-ups.

These wonderful creations are for Mr and Mrs Public, for the big Easter party they are holding for their friends the Publics, from far and near; for young Mr Peter Public to send to his fiancee! For Miss Polly Public to give to the shy young man at the office, who might, with a little encouragement, buy her a diamond ring before next Easter; for that bachelor party where everything must be “ funny ” to add to jollity which characterises bachelors’ parties. Probably Mr Bachelor Public’s taste will go to a baby’s comforter with a large candy egg attached, or a chocolate feeding bottle nestling in a heap of gaily coloured eggs, or an immense chocolate liqueur bottle tied with clusters of tiny chocolate eggs; but why criticise bis taste in Easter eggs, or in anything? It’s all for the fun of the party. There are hundreds of eggs to choose from this year, more variety, it seems to me, than ever before. Mr Shopkeeper certainly knows a thing or two. lie never puts all his eggs into one basket —not at Easter time. E.R.H.

Recently Miss Irene Leaver resigned her position as senior teacher at the North Beach Anglican Sunday School with which she had been associated since its inception. On Sunday Mis§ Lavinia Dixon, on behalf of the teachers and scholars, presented Miss Leaver with a framed picture. Miss Leaver, in returning thanks, expressed regret at having to relinquish the Sunday School work. She gave the children some reminiscences of the school when it was first started by Miss Peppier in the old school, better known as the “Tin Shed,”