King Arthur's Waes-Hael
By
Robert Stephen hawker
Waes Hael for knight and dame!
O merry, be their dole!
Drink-hael in Jesu's name We ll the tawny bowl;
But cover down the curving crest,
Mould of the Orient Lady's breast. Wass-hael! yet lift no id:
Drain ye the reeds for wine.
Drink-hael! the milk was hid
That soothed that Bate divine; Hush'd, as this hollow channel
flows,
"He drew the balsam from the rose.
Waes-hael! thus glow'd the breast
Where a God yearn'd to eling: Drink-håel! so Jesu press'd Drink-heal! so Jesu press'd
Life from its mystic spring: Theri hush and bend in reverent,
sign
And breathe the thrilling reeds for
wine,
Waes-hael! in shadow! scene
Lol Christmas children we; Drink-haell behold we lean
At a far Mother's knee;'
To dream that thus her bosom
smiled,
And learn the lip of Bethlehem's
Child.
Let's Be Kids Again!
It's hard Christmas is magic. to say what starts it-the strings of spiky, silvery stuf hung up in the shops, and looking like hairy caterpillars from the South Pole, etherialised and indefinitely pro- longed; the bits of Christmas Bush in people's buttonholes, the De- cember racket of the cladas, the Monday morning sun-burias,
ör
tle Willie chasing a blow-fly out of the kitchen with shouts of joy.
But Christmas is magic, and we do things at that time that at any other season would land us in what Americans call "the nut factory." We eat fat, hot plum- pudding when the thermometer's up in the nineties and the per- spiration's running down our brows (and it doesn't do us a half-
penny worth of harm!). We give each other cards with robin-red- breasts and holly on them, "though most of us wouldn't really know what these things were if we were. introduced to them.
tmas and the hot plum-pudding's coming triumphantly into the hot dining-room decorated with those endless sivery "caterpillars" and the soundless chimes of red and yellow Christmas bells?
Forget all about the late thirties and the early forties (or the high- er
numbers, that, anyhow, are only taking us back towards our "second youth"); forget the doc- tors, the dentists, the plumbers, the radio-license inspector, the lay-byes, and the bill from the garage; forget the arguments, and the forgotten anniversaries, and each other's relatives-just forget to remember them.
Anyway, they're not real-not as real as play, and, poems, and a little kiss in the pantry passage, and a laugh at the kitchen and a sigh for the baby.
Then
(Don't you believe me? read the scientific text-book, and find out how unreal most so call And all this is very well, for toed "real" things are; things like "my way of thinking sanity is tables, and stoves, and funeral largely insanity, and insanity the monuments. They're Just vibrat- raw material of songs, and pro- ing centres of electric energy, as phecies, and true dreams, and
unsubstantial-or. as substantial - love.
as a thought. In a thousand years or so where are they? But a song or a love-story is still travelling on with men and women, making them tender and glad).
Didn't we have fun then? And why, in the name of "all that's ridiculous and glorious, can't' we have fun now-seeing it's Chris-
DEAR MADAM,
DEAR SIR,
Rata
Gloucester Building.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1983.
A Christmas
Calendar
from
"The Chelthe Honeths"
Now, doth the Lawyer make an end of his Harvest, and the clyent of his money.......The "Asse that hath borne all the years must now take a Hittle Rest. The Oxe and the Cow, and the Horse and the Mare shall have their Christmasse provant Now Pium- bes and Spice, Sugar and Honey square it among Pies and broath; and Gossip I drink to you; and how doe you, and you are heartily welcome, I pray be merry, and I thank you Now are the Taylors and the Tyre makers full of work against the Hollidayes, and a journey-man cares not a rush for his Master, though be beg hia Plum-pottage all the twelve dayes. Now or never must the Musick be in tune, for the youth must dance and sing while the aged sit by the fire: Nature hath made it a law and reason finds no contradiction .........The Footmans Fhow shall the Ostler
a fowle: step, and have work enough about the hecis of the horses. ......... The
Country mald · leaves half her Market, and must be sent againe, if she forgets a pair of cards on Christmasse Even Great is the contention of Holly and Ivy, whether Master or Dame wears the breeches. The" price of meat riseth space,
and the Aparrell of the proud makes the Taylors rich. and as - proud as themselves. Dice and the cards benefit the Butler; and if the cook doe not lack wit he will sweetly lick his fingers. Now Starchers and Laundresses have their hands rull of work and periwigs; and paintings will not be a little set by: strange Stuffs will be well sold, strange tales well cold, strange. sights much sought, strange things much bought, and what else as falls out.
have many
Christmasse
-
is come and the Wild Swan, the Teals, and the Mallard are meat for the Land- lords mouth, and the Tenants-too, if he can get them. For your health keep your bodies warme, let your meat be hot of quality,
abstaine from physick, and let your kitchen be your Apothecaries Shop, warme clathing your Nurse, merry company your keeper, and | good hospitality your exercise, no God send you a merry Christmas.
HONG KONG, December, 1933.
We cordially invite you to pay a visit to our store at Gloucester Building to inspect our wide variety of shoes for ladies, gentlemen and children. You will be under no obligation to buy,
We have a large selection of shoes of the finest workmanship and in all fittings. In this assortment you will find comfort, fit, style and wearing quality. Imported good shoes are still expensive in the colony but it is our policy to give our customers good imported shoes at the lowest possible prices,
The Bata Shoe Company is one of the largest in the world and has the most complete branch-store system in Europe, also in all important cities of America, Asia and Africa. We own more than 3,000 stores,
The increasing demand for Bata Shoes from a satisfied public constantly demands more stores even in times such as the present. Our factories are in many European countries. This year we started a most up-to-date shoe factory in Tilbury, England. Our factories produce all materials and other necessities for shoemanufacturing as well as all our shoe-stores equipment. We have our "buying representatives in all parts of the world and so we have large supplies
of best raw materials at the lowest prices.
Our principle is-BETTER SHOES AT LESS COST. By virtue of our huge turnover we are able to sell our shoes at surprisingly, low prices. Although our prices are the lowest in our history, our shoes are of the same. very high quality as ever before. WE GUARANTEE EVERY PAIR. Our motto is perfect footwear,
In our show windows are displayed more than 250 pairs of shoes and you may consider the quality and prices. Inspection in the shop cordially invited.
Bata Shoes make ideal gifts for Christmas. Useful and economical. Now is the best occasion to buy shoes for Christmas. We shall endeavour to give you always best attendance and service nevertheless our shop is not so over- crowded now as it will be a few days later. Come now and you will be satisfied.
We shall be glad to serve you in your home at any time. Give us a ring (Tel. 27945). You will be pleased to see, and we shall be happy to show, Bata world famous footwear.
Always at your service, we remain.
Yours faithfully.
Bata Shoe Co.
Hong Kong.
SHOP EARLY
at
The WING ON CO., Ltd.
Hongkong's Largest Department Store
The ideal place for Christmas & New Year shopping
for
PLEASING GIFTS
To the lovely little folks
TOYS-DOLLS-STORY BOOKS-
MECHANICAL SETS-SWEETS. CRACKER S-CHOCOLATES CAMERAS BALLOONS-WATCHES --CONKLIN PENS & PENCILS— MAMA HATS SHOES XMAS STOCKINGS PHOTO" FRAMES. (SILVER & LEATHER), ETC.
-
་་
To that Particular Her
PERFUMES HANDKERCHIEFS-
FLAPJACKS-SILKS—STOCKINGS
-FUR COATS MANICURE SETS BRUSH SETS - WATCHES HANDBAGS — KURLASH BEAUTY PREPARATIONS - CIGARETTES RONSON LIGHTER & LYTACASES JADE NECKLACES - CONKLIN PENS, PENCILS & DESK SETS SHOES XMAS CARDS. PHOTO FRAMES (SILVER & LEATHER) ETC.
To that Particular Him
TIES-SHIRTS—STICKS—CIGÁRS HATS DRESS SHIRTS SHOES WOOLLEN (SOCKS RACKETS #CIGARETTES-RONSON LIGHTERS
& LYTACASES-PIPES-WATCHES,
SWEATERS WOOLLEN UNDERWEAR SCARVES BRUSH SETS CONKLIN PENS, PENCILS & DESK SETS-XMAS CARDS, WINES PHOTO FRAMES (SILVER & LEATHER), ETC.
To the lovely homes
XMAS DECORATIONS RADIO GRAMOPHONES ELECTRIC STOVES & HEATERS → TEA SETS -DINNER SETS SILVERWARE- CLOCKS — BRIDGE_____ TABLES WINES BACONS-HAMS- ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS-KITCHEN UTENSILS, ETC.