HALT
SHOW PASSES
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1958,
LAST MINUTE
Gift Shopping
KOWLOON
"God rest you marry, gentlemon, let nothing you dismay. . .'
雞
CHRISTMAS
GIFTS
THE
An armchair, free drinks-and you need only raise a finger..
HERE'S HOW TO BUY YOUR WIFE A GIFT IN COMFORT
NEW YORK.
WAS trying to drum up some
sympathy for myself today over the chore every man hates doing the Christmas shopping-- when an American friend said: "Nothing to it! You can have it done for you while you sit back in an arm- chair and drink a cocktail."
Within seconds. I
was on my way Up Fifth Avenue to the store which lays on this dream service.
At the main entrance was a swarm s women bouncing off ene enother in the battle to get in or out,
But I went to a ade door marked 721 Club For Men Only. A page In a pillbox fat let me in, took my coat, then guided me Berose one of those lush up-to-your-onkles carpets to the promised armchalt.
One of everything
As the page bowed away a blonde un- dulated up to me and asked: What would you like to drink, air? Martint, Manhattan, Scotch on Rocks?"
I began to wonder if it was the
blonde
or the drink going to my head no I found mysalt clutching a brimming, lec-misted glass (which I was told I didn't have to pay for) and heard the blonde asking:
"Are you sure
you are quite comfortable?
But she brought me back to earth second later by asking: "Now what have you in mind for your wife?"
It
thpt I was then
looked round the room and realised that its shelves and tables were Ronded with whatever my wife might want for Christmas--frum a jar of bath elts to a chi- chilla stole.
to
by
Fil!..
Martur
He tight a furry con rabbit with each tree martini,
ARTHUR BRITTENDEN
Or call his wife to ask: "Has my secretary already pot a gold inlaid powder compact?"
ott
There is Santa Claus on
«
Well, every street corner. more than 60 of them.
This can be bit disconcert- ing until you know why they are
Even If his wife replice "And what's that yet to do with there. They are collecting money vou?" there is nothing much to provide Christmas dinners for can do about it. For old people who might not other-
else whe
this room is barrod to women. wise gel one.
of
The idea of this store is put into this room one of every- The official explanation ihing a man might want to buy this is: To preserve the element
As he sits there of surprise. for a woman.
so that a wife, each article that takes his fancy fancee or sixter cannot see what is brought to him by a hostess. is being bought for her.
Pearls too
&
But one of the hosierses told me: "You couldn't guess at the number of men who come here, Once a man decides; "Yes, I saying they want to iny like that dress" (or that skirt, present for their pretty niece. housecoat, or underwear) all ho We never knew there were so has to add la: "My wife is a many nieces in America." bit taller than vos, tit quite so ali12,"
THOL
The boaters then goes off to get the right size, whlie Steve, the batman,
another poura drink.
Some of the men were run- ning up bills of $1,000 (£350),
One men bought a furry toy rabbit, price 30s, with each free martini he sank.
Lot to learn
1 cup
sidewalk Santas-they are made of wood-are what you drop your money in. And it would be disastrous if Santa went off for coffee and a doughnut and came back to find his chim- ney had vanished.
So what does he do? He heists it under his tukes it with him.
win
Lines jammed
I do not know
and
how New
York's mother and fathers ex. plain away 60 Santas to their children. And their task copaot
Carr
But there is Another "The electronic doti" with a raður. like gear inside it which t beamed to В remote contral panel. This 18in. doll, with no visible means of support, walk, run and ride a bicycle.
For boys the shelves are filled with space ships and satellites.
There Is a three-stage rocket (Price £1,) driven somehow by mixture of water and air, which has a push-button control that fires it to 300 feat. Then there is a dong as the first stage falls off, and the rest soars on.
1
I also saw a four-foot long "atomic cannon,” which actually shoots polyethylene shells (355).
How much?
a
Among all these things cuddly wool dog looks protes- quely old-fashioned-even if it does trave a tag sown to it read- ing "Laika," the name of the dog that went up in one of the Russian Sputnike.
How much
States spend
will the United
on is children's
toys this Christmas?
The makers are going to be disappointed if it is less thai million. Yea, £350 £350 million.
out
I after that, the grown-ups have anything left to spend on each other, they can send cards couting up to three guineas ecch. They bear a Bible message and your name hand-painted,
There is one solemn suEKEK- tion in magazines thal 10 husband would do better than Elve his family 1 car for Christmas.
Or he can always settle for Christmas" "A Merry Music with a spinet organ at £350..
ሊ husband can also have a of Raven telephone (cholco be made any easier by the fact colours) fitted for his wife in that, at the same time you see
the klichen. She can recipro- Santa in the street, you can bedside for him (nine colours) cate by having one put at the Each of these Santas (paid 268. a day plus To. for lunch by step into a phone booth, dial with electrically it dial or a Yukon 32121, and speak to him itted stopwatch, "perfect for the charity he works for) is splendidly Lurned out in scarlet "at the North Pole.”
timing long-distance calls, . robes, with elastic tucks that it
impromptu This Santa's volee is recorded. making Santas large and small, and So many children ring him up
ments." nylon beard which he is sup
Also FOR HIM-a set of three posed to run through soapsuds around bedtime that the lines become hopelessly jaromed. cach night so that it is fresh and Nothing could delight the child-solid sterling silver golf ters white when the sets out each
(24). ren more, because it means they FOR ITER" beguiling have to day up un the lines are eles.
Ittle longer jewelled dog pin" (£180),
Some of the presents for Christmas-you
The men can cliher pay in morning.
cash for their purchases--or I talked to one of them as he ́an perunt (lo be sent to their stood on Broadway, ringing a
business address) is opened handbell. for them on the spot if they look kanert.
The hostesses are incredibly pallent, but a woman oxecutive at the store told me: "Women are supposed to dither over their shopping. But, most of the men I saw he had also bought a who £200 string of pearls, hanging vaguest idon what sort of gift Come here, haven't the round a rabbils, car,
they are after,
Not to worry
thio
"We have a three-week school children before we turn out on this job," can hardly call them toys are he told me. "There is a lot you enough to make anyone but ; a have to learn before you can be milillenaire blanch. a Santa Claus."
Santa has to remember exe→→→
Some of the rules New York
Give special attention to your whiskers.
"We've known them to sit here 2 Avoid eating gantic ond
for four hours with girls parad-
ing up and down in one dress after another Then they walle
Some men, of course, are not, out with a 104, neart,
untons.
thing. But send them away Never promise children any-
as quick, at choosing as others, "Invariably they imagine the hopeful and happy.
Or perhaps they are just slower woman they are buying for to drinkers. But this is hot pllow- bo smaller and more pallte un
ed to cause fliem a WOITY.
sonde she really is. So after Christ-
mag, wives and sweetlsesris coma Thero are telephones around ning to get left gifts changed the room where their offers can I could have stayeă de 721
ret hold of them--or a son call Club for hours well. But there rleg up bleepcretary to nski is so much to see In New York "What size hat does hy solje just now as Chramas axelta-
ment zela Ata.
take?"
Don't engage in any argu- ment or dispute.
Don't smoke, eat or drinke on duty.
appoint-
I wonder...
There is, too, a great cruze for "personalised" gifts- meaning that you have inscribed on them There is Git. ein. long scale the initials of persons to whom model of a car, conting more you are giving them. There are Ihon £200, a runa от
a personalised Dear mulla, tooth all move me an pleks, door mats, and candles. hour. This "top" weigh more The list is endices. than 20st.
The last word
Not for a moment do 1 be lleve we are going to have uny- thing but a joyful, rollicking Christmas hotë In New York. But I can't help noticing the advert which keeps cropping up.. in some of the newspapers.
The young mins can have her big moment if Daddy is wealthy and reckless enough to buy hor a mink-trimmed prem for her It is put there by a bank ond doll. It conis more than £1,000, it rends; Join our 1889 Christ- I thought the last sword in mida clubs now. Then you'll have della was the one with sight. $25 to $500 for Christinds 1959," changes of cfölben-among them E Never leave your chimney an authentic tur ballerina the way we are heading towonde hope they éré · right, · For costume, street dress, strapless Chrisinās 1958 maker mo The lost the priciest mile evening gown and TV lounging wonder if any of us will have of all. For the chimneys of the Outfit."
anything in
in the bank ever again.
Unattended.
QUALITY CHOCOLATES IN BEAUTIFUL BOXES
X'MAS PUDDING
BIRTHDAY AND WEDDING CAKES MADE TO ORDER
FINEST FRUIT & MARZIPAN
X'MAS CAKE
Chantecler
BAKERY & CONFECTIONERY
NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
(Corner Hillwood Road)
Christmas
Relatives
*
SALE
TELEPHONES'
63957 & 63967
or Friends always please with
Old Peking's Oriental Silks & Ladies' Outfits
SELECT YOUR
* Brocade Satins
* Tribute Satins
* Pure Silk Damasks & Shirtings
THE OLD PEKING SILK COMPANY
229 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hongkong." Tel: 63037-65970. ·Cabfo: "OLDSILK”
BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS
History of Hong Kong →→→Endacott The Economic Growth of Hong Kong
Edward Szczepanik Inside Russia Today Flowering Lotus Angkor
John Gunther
A View of Java - H. Forstar Thames & Hudson Angkor M. Macdonald
Picture of Japani,
---Simpson
A Tear for the Dragon-J. Stericker'. The Classical Theatre, of China ---- A, C. Scott The Kabuki Theatre of Japan A, G. Scott Myths and Legends in China - T. C. Werner. Chinese Art (Batsford)
The Holy Bible for the Family (Longmins)
Obtainable at
SWINDON HOOK COMPANY 25. Nathan Road. Tel, No. 62046; KOWLOON.
$ 30.00 copy
25.00 25.00 25.00
10
**
84.00
TT
42.00
21.00
16.00
30.00
35.00
25.00
25.00
100.000
PRACTICAL BOOK CO,
Entertainment Bldg., D'Agullar St.,
Hongkong. Tel. 31594,