An enclosure containing an ionizable gas has electrodes mounted in opposition on opposite faces of the enclosure. A first set of electrodes on one side of the enclosure are energized in sequence. A second set of electrodes on the opposite side of the enclosure form a multiple-element character matrix in which groups of elements are electrically commoned so that the number of electrodes, and respective leads thereto, in the second set is less than the number of elements of the matrix. The electrodes of the first set are mounted and shaped so that each is opposite a plurality of electrodes of the first set, and so that the same electrode of the second set is opposite several electrodes of the first set. Thus different portions of the same electrodes of the first set, representing different elements of the matrix, can be separately actuated during the different time periods of energization of the electrodes of the first set. Thereby a time division multiplexed mode of operation of the character display is provided such that the number of leads to the display can be reduced significantly.