The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-23
Making Presents.

It certainly seems a little odd that so
general a custom as that of making
presents should often be as perplexing,
as it is pleasant. It would seem as if,
money and taste being taken for granted,
the task of selection, especially in our
| cities, where every taste and almost
every person can be suited would be
| quite an easy one. The common objects
in the purchase of presents are very
few; we want in the first place, to ex-
press regard, then to please our friends,
and finally to avoid duplicating anything
they already possess or are likely to re-
ceive. But the trouble is that pur-
chasers too rarely put these objects
definitely to themselves. The enc fact
before them is that they are to select
and buy a certain number OF gifts, and
! from this vagueness arises half the
| trouble. The most evident ground of
! choice would seem to be found in the
! friends personal taste. There is no ex-
! cuse for us if we send bronzes to the
young lady who cannot tell them from
| Berlin iron, but who knows genuine
! coral at a glance nor for wasting books
on people who have no time to read, or
rare old china on those who think moth
ing better than a granite coffee-cup. A
very little reflection viii teach us to
send our various presents where they
will at least find appreciation. But the
real principle in this matter has not yet
been here expressed. It is not enough
to give suitable gifts, nor to avoid send
ing our Goals to Newcastle. What we
really want to express is personal as
ISOLATION. If the article is of value in
itself alone, our friend might as well
buy it for himself, and we make a pauper
of lim in giving it. But if it has direct
reference to him, and if it expresses us
as well as our regard, it has value that
neither money nor taste can otherwise
give it. We get ut this principle in the
purchase of gifts by making them ex-
press the point of harmony between us.
We are all many-sided, and choose our
friends not for their likeness to each
other, nor because they all suit one
phase of our character We love two
p, alike, although they are so dissimilaI
that they cannot agree, but each Of
them suits us in different ways. We
| know why we care for each, and so it is
not difficult to give it expression. There
fore, although you and your friend may
! care for both books and pictures, if yor
, talk of 20 books to one picture, let You
, gift be for his library shelves, not for Its
= walls. If you go to concerts together
. send her music or something upon tn.
-, subject if he receives you in his labora
tory, send your remembrance there or
f II he is always eager TO show you nov
y, fossil or curious shell, remember tina
20 geology and conchology each has it,
= literature. its rare specimens. In thi.
7 way our gifts are a benefit not only t.
those who receive them, but also to our
. selves.-ScribHer'a Monthly
g 4 CHEAP WASH FOR BUmDNGs.-Eak,
a clean water-tight cask and pat into i
e ahalf-bushel of unsIaked lime. Cove,
/, it with boiling-hot water six inche.
/ deep, stir briskly, and wait for the lin,
/ to Stake. To the lime and water ado
o two pounds Of a cheap salt called sui
st phate of zinc (white vitroD and on,
4 pound of common salt. These ingredi
v ents cause the whitewash to harden
lie and not crack and fall OFF. To form
beautiful cream color, add three pound
L. of yellow ochre. A lamp of ivory blacl
" viii give pearl or lead color. Lamp
le black may be used to produce a darke
n color if desired Applied to paling
ID plank fences, and all out-buil dings
le they last much longer and look better
1t A CHINESE restaurant in Frisco pay
n rs cents each for fair-sized dogs.