Llandudno Advertiser and List of Visitors

SHOPPING WEEK AT LLANDUDNO HINTS TO LADIES AND GENTLE- MEN. Next week, commencing Monday, will be one of the busiest shopping: weeks of the year. To most ladies, I am aware, it will be hardly necessary to point out what special lines are on view, but they may find some interesting items mentioned Z, that they had overlooked, or forgotten for the moment. If the lords of creation -—I am nolt referring to the Second Cham- ber-will deign to peruse these lines I can promise them one thing, they wi 1 be clear of politics, and I think I can give them some hints which will ensure any gifts they may make to favoured fair ones meeting with a, warm reception. There is no getting away from the fact most men are hopelessly at sea when they try to solve this problem, the answer to which varies consiclerablv in each in- w dividual case. SKIMOTJS RESPONSIBILITY. If my readers have not yet been caught in the whirlpool of preparation for Christmas, it is high ;time they were, for the children are already revelling in the anticipated delights of well-filled stock- ings, plum puddings, mince pies and iced cakes-, and the elder folk ought to be realising thei-r serious responsibilities— for it is the Eve of Chi is an as. If life wore ail likei Christmas Eve, what a splendid time of it we should have! I am not going to deal here with bounty to. the poor; from time immemorial charity has outpoured during the great home festival, and I take it that most of my readers have assisted the "Hot Pot" and other charitable funds raised at this sea- son of the year. SEASONABLE HINTS TO PARENTS. I want. first to look at the home circle. You fathers and mothers will find that your children have smuggled into the house some gift for you. Not a presenti chosen at haphazard or in a hurry, but something known to be desirable, sought out with care long beforehand, or pos- sibly made in secret, but in many ca,ses f out of trifling savings at the cost, of acts of self-denial on the children's part. The way that you fathers and mothers receive those gjifts goes a long way to make or mar the happiness of the giver's Christ- mas. SANTA CiLAUS. I take it that you have cultivated that custom known as the visit of Santa, Claus. The merest trifles please the little ones, if those trifles have got into their smaJil stockings, hung ready at the eiict of the bed. Who amongst you grown-ups did not at one time believe in Santa Claus? How real it is to the children; in the depth of their mind they pult him with the fairies, and with the doll that is half believed to be alive. Such a belief is understood to be a thing of imagination, like their plays of pre- tence.. THE B'OYS COMB HOME. You have also to think of something to suit- the elder children, thosea,way at school. There is one draw-back to this home coming, for the, children, for father seems to think, and rightly so I don't deny, that the nrst question to ask his son and heir is "WeB, sir, what sort of a report have you brought home," And it is very possible that on the reading of that report depends the value of the' Christmas gift-as far as father is con- cerned but as a general rule I am afraid it is an age when so many presents are forthcoming that the youngsters hardly n I I know which gift they value most. WEATHER PROPHETS. Some weather prophets have declared that the winter of 1909-10 will be a long and severe one. If this is to he the case, then Christmas wilj) in all probability have dawned upon drifting snow and icy streams. Those whose fires will burn warmly, and whose boards will be cover- ed .with good cheer, wiilil—as they draw their chairs nearer to the fire and close the curtains to keep out the bitter winds, which oft come straying even into com- fortable homes—give a thought to those who have lost their bread-winners, their all, in the terrible "Elian Vannin" disaster. GOING SHOPPING. If you have been wise you have already visited the new premises of -Roberts's, Cheltenham House, or W. S. Williams and Sons, and seen their sable stoles and other fur-lined coats and mantles. One falet is certain, if you are the possessor of a motor-car you cannot possibly do with- out furs if you indulge in motoring; at this sea-son of the year. What is more natural than you should have sent up, for approval, some of the latest creations in head-dress from Paris, and once seen, for the master of the house to remark, "Keep that one." CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS. Among Xmas pleasures is the giving of a children's party on a sensible scale. Nothing tends to make a party "giO" more than crackers, and perhaps one of the best assortments in town is to be found at the Cambridge Restaurant; at all events it is one of the establishments which have caught my eye, and I know from past experience can be relied upon. Of course you can distribute your favours both for crackers, chocolates, bon-bons, and sweetmeats and cakes of every description. There is Eaton's, the famed bread shop, with well ladened counters of tempting edibles. K'fts's. the Criterion, around whose windows the youngsters have been seen hanging for clays past. Payne's attractive win- dow is another which has lured many a passer-by to- "walk into the parlour." But to the juveniles who pass daily along .Li,oyd iStreet to school Hdgginbottom's window of Christmas stockings have been more thought and talked alhout than the 7 overnight lessons, ancli Bursnall's Christ- mas Cakes have been much sought after. Having secured your purchases at one of the above-mentioned establishments, the next houses of call for oranges, apples, figs, etc., are the Messrs. Enoch Davis and Son, Lloyd Street, and R. E'. Davis, Mostyn Street. At the former, the home of the Goose Club, you will see during the week a really fine display of geese and turkeys; at the latter I preparations are being made to more than equal any previous attempt in providing for the wants of them* clientele. 'TIS MEET WEI SHOULD BE MERRY. No Christmas fare would be complete without some of the Good Roast Beef of OldElngland, and if Messrs. John Jones and Son, or Will Owen, of Edward Owen and Sons, cannot supply you with whart, you want you must indeed be very hard ot pi/ease, or have left your purchases till late in the day. There is one line of tra.de that Llandudno has a right to be proud of, her meat purveyors. 1 "WHEREi THE HOME; RULER SHINES. It is quite possible that some, of the lady purchasers will be attended by their lords and masters, but up to now they could have managed very nicely on their own, and now having assisted this said Home Ruler to select, at Wagstaff's that new pipe he has long been promising to purchase at Christmas, you may I think venture to direct his footsteps to Read- ing's, the Jewellers, and once having lured him that far, the display set out must surely do the rest, and that brooch, bangle, ring or whatever you have set your mind on is yours—if not straight- away—by Christmas morning. You will find it less difficult to secure his interest in Howel Jones and Co.'s Ironmongery Store, because he wilbe quite aware of those household utensils which you have so often reminded him want replenishing, and more especially if it's for his own comfort; the same remark applies to. Rhydwen Jones and Davies' furniture stores, and really you know he has long ago said he would purchase a new carpet for the New Year. He will very likely have forgotten all about it, but I think you can safely leave him in this firm's hands, once he, is on the mat, so to speak. .or. "RING 'OUT WILL) BELILS You have only one more call to make on this outing, and that is at Lance's; you must have your electric bell in good order, nothing) is so annoying, for your friends to call and find you out, when you are really in, and the possibiililty of not hearing the parcel's post official at this season of the year is too horriblei to contemplate. By the way, this firm have some exceedingly nne up-to-date electric, fittings, and you ever can tell what might happen during; your look round. "TIEIMPUS FUGIT." On your way home you have to call at E. B. Jones and O'o.'s to give them your grocery order, and you will be, able to leave his lordship to find: what the amuse- ments are to be this Xmas, for you have promised the children one night out. When you meet, him later on you learn there is to be a pantomime at the Prince's Theatre, "Cinderella," and a special show of animated pictures at the Bioscope, and you may, or may not learn, what your informant thinks of the vintages of Brown's, The Clock, a house of can that even the most enthusiastic of temperance reformers looks up to, from time to time, and is bound to admit its utility and ad- vantages. P. D. o

NEW LIBRARY BUILDING. The Architect (Mr G. A. Humphreys) has presented the following report to the Llandudno. Library BuiMing Com- mittee —- I beg to report that the work on this new building has proceeded satisfactorily and considerable progress has been made since your last, meeting was held. Time has been lost owing to the recent exces- sive wet, but this has been unavoidable. The re-inforcecl fireproof concrete floors have been laid in the lecture room; the roof over lending department and about two-thirds of the reading room. The centreing has been erected for the roofs of retiring room and staircase; also, for the dome over Circular1 Hall, and weather permitting, the concrete wil:l be laid on these this week. The plasterers have formed the cove ceiling of reading room and lejturieroom, and have also finished the cornice with ihe. exception of the parts which are to be in fibrous plaster. They have also done the ceilings and run the cornices in iladies' room vestibule, and partly finished the reference room. Pr ogress is being: made, with the drains j and also most of the wiring for electric j light has been completed. The exterior walls on tihe West and South sides have been cement-edl and spar dashed. Before ] t your next meeting, I expect the glazing to be done, also the sanitary work,, except fixing of ifttings. The Clerk was asked to arrange for the attendance of the Architect at a special meeting, so that the Committee may re- ceive information as to, the steps proposed to be taken with regard to items included in the quantities for which provisional | sums have been provided in the contract, j such as heating apparatus, electric lights-, | fittings, etc. A certificate by the Architect for a further sum of £ 500 on account, of the I contract was produced!, and the Clerk was | -requested to farward the same to Mr Car- negie's Cashier, New Jersey, with a re- quest for a cheque for the amount. The Committee decided that, the said sum be not paid to the contractor until they have met again and duly authorisedi such payment.

NATURE JOTTINGS. DECEMBER 11.—The autumn migra- tion of northern birds which pass along our coasts or travel through the country to the south is of long duration, and so far as the ducks are concerned even January is not too late in which to expect visitations from them. For an hour or so yesterday, in a poor1 light, I watched an immature scaup sailing on the water near the, lighthouse, and as the bird was nowherei to be seen to-day I imagine that • "i • it has left us and is gradually working its way southward. Wlhen first I saw the duck its ident,ific,ation proved a little diffi- cult, until the bird swam nearer to the cliffs, when I was enabled to view suffi- cient of i\:ls plumage to arrive at con- fiden-b conclusions.. R. W. J.