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CHRISTMAS BILLIES.
ALEXANDRA CLUB SCHEME.
The most attractive sdlieme that has been
thought of .for Christmas olicer for the
trenches has been organised 'by the ladies
of the Alexandra Club, who, hearing tliat
'?billies' were greatly needed by our mien
ut the front, decided upon sending 20,000
of itihem, well packed with Christmas gifta,
if they could secure the co-operation of j
the public Ito a Kiiffieicnlt' extent. The pro
moters are ciengute:l with the response
up to date, and wish those who are in
tending to participate in -t.he scheme to
apply at once for the remaiin'ing billies, as
ali nniBt be relumed to the club bv 1st
October.
The billies 'have been specially manufac
tured in order to pack with a minimum
waste 'of space, and their lids have been
so carefully manufactured that there will,
bo very, little risk of deterioration to. the
presents inside. Kiitii 'billy is sold at
6d., and the estimated cost of filling one
with a nice variety of presents is about
5/. The ide.i underlying the system is
that the billies are to be a sort of grown
up 'Chrisitmns stocking, ' in whidh variety
and surprise are to conticilute a large
degree of the pleasure of 'the recipient.
As the Ijady Mayoress's League is special
ising in pluan puddings, the billies should
be do voted to other eatables, wearables
arid usrables. There should be Twenty of
't'he spirit of Christmas! included, in the
shape of jokes, riddles, sketches, limorieks,
&c.. aud mout.li organs are euro of a wel
come. Other items siir~ested are cards,
pocket, mirroiv, scissors, boot, laces, tooth
brushes, r.izors, ' shaving sticks, watch
Btiaps, safety pins, post cards, pencils/
penknives, note paper, diaries, esindlc.H,
«-ap, small books (Nelson series), lano
fline. vasoline, cakes, shortbread, 'biscuits,
'butter seo'toji, chocolate, figs and prunes,
cocoa, chicken essence, sardines, potted
?meats and tinned cheese, socks, hand
kerchiefs, mittens, belts, tobacco, pipes,
cigarettes and matches. Tobacco and
cigarettes must be in the tins, ? or they
wjfl spoil the eatables in itlie billy.
. Billiis cannot be addressed to any par
ticular soldier, but if everyone who has a
relative at the fronit sees tihat there arc
plenty of billies to go round, there will lie
au abundance of delightful surprises for
the men as well as for the donors. Single
billies cannolt be sent to country districts,
but if any country town wishes to parti
cipate in the idea arrangements can lie
made for the despatch of a hundred or a
score to any centre, on the unrjeratanding
itiliat the filled cans will be returned with
in a week fco the clitb. Individual donors
?can have cans packed by the dub mem
bers, and a personal note and addressed
post card included, by sending 5/0 for
eacfli ca.ii to the secretary. .Miss Mary
Living, Alexandra Club, Flinders-street.
$