Foner iscaser for those wu ome swimming in the surf at Southern ing a country in the tempera If they wish they may even go
from northern countries to forget California beaches. During the past for a time that they are exiles, for snow comes, more often than not, and fires, great roaring ones. are very much in order. Thus it is that Christmas Day remains, even in Japan, much the same as elsewhere. several years a very pleasant custom originated and that is the decoration of living Christmas trees. The out-of-door Christmas trees originated nearly a quarter of a century ago {in Altadena, California, and the Santa Rosa Avenue "mile of Christ In Kenya To many it is difficult to imagine mas trees" has become world famous. The custom has spread throughout the state now and there Christmas without cold weather, but are living Christmas tree associa-of course there are many places tions, prizes are given in many com-were conditions exists which cor munities and even the smallest respond to summer time. Such a householder with only a tiny living land is Kenya Colony, East Attica, tree in a pot outside the door-way through which the equator runs. decorates it with brilliantly coloured Being a British Colony, and there-lights The trees are lighted a few fore largely populated' by British days before Christmas and kept speaking people, Christmas is kept decorated until New Year's Day. In in traditional style even though the other respects Christmas in Cal dress of the day is a cricket shirt fornia is very like Christmas in jand shorts for men and equally apother parts of the world, Children propriate light attire for women. [nang their stockings above the In the towns, few and far between replace on Christmas Eve. Santa though they be, the usual festivities Claus visits the house in the night, fare religiously carried out, while on not by sleigh and reindeer, it is true, the farms neighbours gather to-but by motor car or aeroplane, and gether to enjoy a day of companion-fills the stockings long before the ship and fun. Father Christmas is children awake. Gifts are dis seen too, but when Father hus to tributed either on Christmas Eve dress up'in a heavy cloak, hat, and or on Christmas morning. There skating. truly wonderful Chinese artiste, female impersonator and exponent modern dramatic Minister to Emperors Chienlung and Chiaching, Cheng Yen-chin ig the only tone in the Chinese operatic world who comes frem~ a Jong line of distinguished statesmen and sch lattered all. social barriers by following an operatic career. Lis frst and only teacher was hing, the leading female personator, who was the first to combine in his acting the roles of Chingy' and Huatan. By Chingyi is meant thr Portrayal of the role of a lady of elegance, poise and carriage. By Hua-tan is meant the playing of the part oman of little or no refinement, possibly sensuous. The former role are indoor Christmas trees, too, and the usual merry family parties. Eggnog is served in the morning and calls are made in the afternoon. Families usually motor through the residential districts to view the trees at night-time, Im Canada Christmas in Canada is traditional as this is one of the few countries in the world where there 1s an absolute guarantee of snow. In the prairie provinces, Ontario, and Quebec the temperature, at that time, is often over forty degrees below zero Fahrenheit. In the small cities of the Dominion, horse-drawn sleighs are used to get from one house to the other, snow covering all the roads which are impossible during the winter. Buffalo robes and hay are thrown over the legs and feet to keep the cold out when travelling in a sleigh. On Christmas day, the usual custom is to open the parcels after breakfast, then to church, and if not to church, skiing, ice-skating, horse sleighs and obe ganing are the main attractions. Canadians are known for their hospitality and keep open house for any visitor, Christmas is maze a home affair, and the families are more than apt to stay together during the day. After all the day' excitement, families sit down to a twenty-pound turkey, steaming with luscious gravy, and cranberry sauce, and home made plum pudding which always has a few treasures hidden. Christmas Eve is also celebrated by either staying at home to decorate the Christmas tree or to gather at some home and sing Christmas carols, In smaller towns a town gather for song and tang leader is one of his supporters Western Culture Acquired Cheng Yen-clu's trip to Europe in 1931, spending as he did over two years in Russia, Holland, Belgium, italy, France and Germany, has en: abled him fo make a general survey of Western musie, stage-selting and the tendencies of Western drama. His association with such personages as Max Reinhart has inspired him wits 4 determination to revolutionize the old ideas of Chinese stage-setting and feting, His adoption of a plain back-a neutral tone. for ie, in lieu of the age-old embrold:
curtain, Ig one of his many experiments carried out with success, focussing thus the attention of th fuudience solely on the actors. The realism of acting on the Western clearly " discernable in his. plays fand it Ig admirably balanced with the Idealism of Chinese acting, keeping {intact all its traditions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.