Probably a good deal is being done in the direction of charitable assistance, though the little appended reasonable story in two neones shows that here and there people are helping themselves of the main roads are more or less impassable. Those, therefore, who bink that it ig best at Christmas to have Christmas weather have nothing much to complain of.
Of course the weather on Tucsday very seriously interfered with shopping, though people ploughed through "the mire with es much cheerfulness as they could summon up. The shops seem to be doing quite good business and, as T said last week, they are concentrating simply and solely on useful gift even down to ready-made suits clothes. Prices in general ave Vetter than last year, though they may harden a little on the eve of Christmas, Masked Carollery of Mayfair here are fewer waits and carols about than usual, but we can do without them. There is now one feature. which has become quite established. Fifty men and women—the Masked Carollers of Mayfair have been vg for charity in West End hotels, restaurants, and cabarets. The picturesque costumes of the women, who wore black Gloaks, three-cornered: hats trimmed. with silver braid, and red, blue and Black masks, and the formal evening dress of the men, relieved only by the scarlet and gold binding of the carol books which they carried, made a striking effect, and the carol-Jers were everywhere received with applause. From 2L0 they broad-east a short programme, and Miss Gladys Cooper appealed for support for the Paddington "Hospital for the Prevention of Consumption, the ease for which the party "was singing. The carollers included Lady" Churston, Lord and Lady Clifton, "Lady Ravensdale, Lady (an) ' Malcolm, "Lady Kathleen Stanley, Mrs, MeKenna, Miss Viola Tree, Miss Olga Lymn, Mrs. Bernard Freyberg, Mrs. Ivan Snell, and the Mon, Mrs. Oliver Brett.
It is quite clear already that the postal arrangements more or ess break down,' since the letters are very late even two or three days before Christmas. The Post Office already state that the stack of spareels is heavier than it_has ever been on any previous Christinas. etwveen 400,000 and 500,000 parcels are dealt with daily at the mah Lomion depot. Here there isa special staff to tie up damaged par-ele, bat they Ffate that Christmas disability to be ret The The PG: Come slong 0" me Scent 1 id hall Police Court To-day. 1 pled guilty The Clerk 1 suppose "knocking off key means stealing i, That's it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.