The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-27 00:00:00

CHLUSTALLS AND TILE CYNICS.

" Here we are again!" is the Clown's familiar cry on
Boxing-night ; and here again, says the Telegraph, comes
our old familiar friend, with all his motley brother-
hood ! We could better spare a better man. Ministers
of State may come in and go out, Emperors
and Kings may change places, and we bear it
as well as we can; but Christmas would scarcely be
Christmas without the Pantomime. A few superfine
people, who have lost the faculty of enjoyment, and who
have never suffered much from sympathy with their
fellow-creatures, may sneer at patomimes and Christmas
puddings as they will ; but their sneers and their gibes
fall flat at this season of general jollification. The
members of some millions of households in the British
dominions will enjoy themselves in their own way
when Christmas comes round, although lago stands
at the street corner and "is critical." Possibly
the form of enjoyment is somewhat homely; but, then, the
people are homely too. We cannot all be philosophers or
cynics; and, frankly judging by results, it is just as well.
These cynics and philosophers are not so cheerful in their
little ways that a man need trouble himself much if he
should be excluded from their worshipful society.
For common people who must gain their living
by working hard pretty well all the year
round and, indeed, the condition includes many
more " distinguished " persons than some would
imagine—a day's holiday is a day's holiday. The
interval allowed to us for play is really so short that we
cannot waste any of it on reflections that our friends are
all very tiresome people—bores in short—and that it
would be better if they were out of the world. Then,
indeed, we might improve the occasion, and write some-
thing pretty about the poor dead folk, and philosophise at
a great rate over the vanity of all earthly things. This is
not our view of the question ; so "Strike up fiddler," and
let us enjoy ourselves as well as we can.

At Aldershot, with the permission of Lieut.-Gen.
Sir James Yorke Scarlett, G.C.8., the officers of
batteries, troops, and companies made liberal sub-
scriptions to provide soldiers the customary Christ-
mas fare, and apportionments were made from
various canteen funds for the same object. In most
of the quarters the women and children were not
forgotten. While the men were at dinner the offi-
cers of each corps took the opportunity of ascertain-
ing by a personal visit that all their wants were
supplied. They were loudly cheered in each in-
stance. At night dancing was kept up in most of
the band rooms until 12 o'clock, when all retired
quietly, without excess, well pleased with the means
of enjoyment which had been afforded them.
The Message of the Governor of California hr
been published. It says the funded debt of the State is
$4,0138,000, exclusive of outstanding warrants, congratu •
lates the people on the general prosperity, eulogizes the
school system, recommends State aid for the encourage-
ment of immigration from Europe and the Eastern States,
and says the Legislature has power to prohibit Chinese
immigration. in the State Legislature bills had been in-
troduced for a metropolitan pllice to prevent Coolie sla-
very, and to protect Mongolians.

At this time, when the pra.ciples and practice of co-
operative societies engross so large a share of attention, it may
he well that Messrs. Parkins and (lotto should remind the no
bility and gentry that they have for the last twenty years adopted
the pract ce of buying the best goods in large quantities direct
from the manufa—turers, marking every article in plain figures,
and retailing them at the smallest possible prelit for ready
money; and where, front distance or other causes, cash pas-
-
nts have been impossible, they have never increased the price
of the articles delivered. They respectfully solicit an inspection
of their stock, consisting of portrait albums, writing-cases, dreo-
sit,g-cases, dressing-bags, despatch boxes, envelope-cases and
ble •tting-books, inkstands, desks, stationery cabinets, ornamental
go •)(Is, purses, pocket books, cigar-cases. reticules, opera-glasses,
see at-cases, smeiling-battles, electro-gilt and elegantly-mounted
art icles—in fact, an endless variety of articles to suit every taste,
pm pose. and pocket. —Parkins and Giotto, 24 and 25, Oxford-
stnJet, W.