A HOTEL CHRISTMAS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5248, 18 April 1908, Page 6 (Supplement)

A HOTEL CHRISTMAS.

TIIE NEW ENTERTAINMENT. A FRESII DEPARTURE. 'Die "Dally Mall" of 25th December writes:— The Yulotide of 1907 will be remembered as "nn hotel Chrislmus." Both In London and at favored spots at the seaside and In tho country reports which came to hand yesterday showed that the chief establishments might have disposed of their accommodation twice or even three times over. Tho popularity of the "hotel Christmas," as opposed to home celebrations, was explained by a London manager.

sire for change at Christmas timo more and more as the years go on. They arc not at all content to rest at home. Ho a business man books rooms for himself and his family at a seaside or

country hotel. And when ho arrives there he finds a bright, “ready-made” Christmas awaiting him a cheery, time-honored Yulotide, such as he could not have organised at homo without great expense and trouble. There are Christmas trees and merry parties for the children, and genial gatherings for tho “grown-ups,” at which, naturally, all the guests In the hotel form themselves Into one convivial party.

“As regards London, a wealthy man used formerly to invite his guests to a Christmas dinner, served under his own roof. This year, having booked In advance a table, at a fashionable hotel, he will entertain his friends there, amid novel surroundings, and with a moro choice and elaborate menu than, in nine cases out of ten, his own chef would Siave been capable of producing.”

In one case the present takes the form of a beautiful and expensive handbag, for ÜBe at the theatre, and so designed as to be a receptacle for opera-glasses, powder-puff, and smelling salts. In honor of their Christmas guests, the hotels are decorated upon an elaborate scale. In one, for instance, is built up a realistic representation of an old-time roadside inn. In its ancient taproom a red-cheeked "host,” in shirt-sleeves and with spotless white apron, will wolcome guests with all the heartiness of the old school. At another the chief scenic

“effort” is the conversion ol’ tho palm court Into a snow-swept landscape. At a third hotel, during the progress of today’s Christmas dinner, minstrels in mediaeval costume will play time-hon-ored Yuietide melodies from a greengarbed gallery.