CHRISTMAS PARTY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 13

CHRISTMAS PARTY.

Clem Dawe Entertains the Children at D.I.C.

Up the stairs or up in the lift, whichever they preferred, streams of happy children flocked to the D.I.C. tea-room this morning to attend their Christmas party. It was a party such as thrilled the heart of every child present, and sent all the indulgent parents, aunts and grandparents away with broad smiles on their faces. Nothing which would make the party a success had been forgotten down to those exciting animal biscuits with coloured icing on them. Great clusters of balloons gave a real party air to the tea-room. For every child there was a bonbon, out of which a paper cap emerged, to be quickly donned by its delighted little owner.

No sooner had everyone been seated and the ice-creams served, than Father Christmas himself appeared in his furtrimmed red velvet robes. The next arrival was Clem Dawe riding on a tricycle, which he was forced to abandon amid the maze of tables which crowded the tea-room. With the help of Dorothy White, Joe Shriner and Tom King, Mr Dawe kept the whole room in an uproar. Small boys and girls forgot to eat their cream cakes and sweets, so absorbed did they become in the excitement of the moment Mr Tom King did wonders at the piano, Mr Dawe persuaded everyone to join in the chorus of ” I Lift Up My Finger,” and Dorothy White and Joe Shriner both sang and gagged to everyone’s content. Such favourite songs as “ Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” “ Lily of Laguna,” “ Daisy Bell ” and “ The Old Spinning Wheel,” set everyone singing, so infectious was Mr Dawe’s and Mr Shriner’s enthusiasm Three small girls. Elaine, Barbara and Elizabeth Picken, sang a quaint Fijian song for which they were each rewarded with a present.

Meanwhile, Father f’hristmas had not been idle, for unknown to anybody he had marked the backs of eignt chairs with a cross. The four boys and four girls whose chairs were thus marked were called up to the platform. Father Christmas then proceeded to cut the enormous Christmas cake which divided into eight portions each coated on the outside with icing, but containing instead of cake a present. The party concluded with three heart v cheers for Clem Dawe and his company and for Father Christmas.