Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-06

entS' Although lne Oluer ones nave Out
grown the illusion of Santa Claus, we still
look to some good genius of our own to make
the day something what it used to be in the
years gone by. There's no mystery about
the gifts which come to us, but we attach
value to them from our regard for the friends
who made them, greater than we could ever
give to the mythical old fellow who was sup
posed to take particular charge of our juve-
nile stockings.
l think the whole community goes about
with knitted brows during the three weeks or
so before Christmas they are full of per-
plcxity what shall they buy for gifts that
they have not bought before, and what will
come within their means. I've been amusing
myself this morning by watching the shop
pers at r. II. Stearns 4 Co. s pretty store on
fremont ST., and seeing how the bewilder-
ment went out of their faces, as they passed
from counter to counter, looking at the pret-
ty things which had been imported with
special view to this season. They stood by
the lace counter lost in admiration; they
gained fresh ideas as they looked over the
dainty Perinot gloves, i'll delicate shades for
evening wear, or darker and heavier with silk
embroidered backs on which fashion has set
the seal of her approval they fingered over
the pretty baskets, satin lined, and woven in
willowy whiteness; they studied new designs
in fancy work, in the cozy room set off from
the rest for the display of odd and unique de-
signs; and they grew sensible in their no
tions over the warm, hand-knit jackets,
shawls, cggns and wraps. Yes, there were a
| good many riddles solved for Christmas this
morning Happy is she who does the Christ
mas shopping early She avoids the crowds,
and gets the first choice of all the novel and
pretty things and her last days before the
holiday are serene and happy, for everything
is done Dainty paper parcels are locked up
in bureau drawers, to which she alone keeps
the key; everything is labelled and ready to
be properly delivered But what did she
buy l can tell what she bought this morn
ing, for wasn't ''takn' notes" right over her
shoulder all the time and preparing to 'prent
'em - She didn't know it, why should she
How could she imagine that the eyes that
never looked at her saw all she bought or
that the ears which seemed so deaf heard al
their destinations?
Do you care for laces Being woman
presumably you do. Being a man, you've a
vague sense of the becomingness of it, while
your practical knowledge of it cannot be said
to be remarkably wide. l doubt if you coulC
tell Torchon from Point de Venise, and
know you would never know Breton from
Irish point. Thank me for telling you jus
what to ask for when you go to purchase
something for Madame or Madamoiselle
They have very pretty fashion at Stearns'
of putting their holiday confections of lac'
into odd Japanese boxes, which are in them
selves artistic and ornamental. The newes
trifes of this kind are in Breton lace, whicl
has taken precedence in popularity of an
other lace this season. Fichus Are the
not quaint enough for the pretty Priscilla VIII
won stout Miles Standish's heart? Might nc
Mayflower maidens themselves have wor
them? Square kerchiefs of the softest baI
tiste, edged with Breton lace, to be folde
cornerwise and carelessly knotted about tn
I. throat. There are very few of the set
shapes worn this season; there is decide
tendency towards the more jaunty and fioy
ing shapes. Even the all lace ichus of Duel
esse, Irish point and Valenciennes are mao
in the half handkerchief or like small cap
with long ends which knot. Can there
ANYTHING which adds to an already becomiI
dress as lace does 1t softens harsh cor
plexions and sets of fair ones; it is more u
i iversally becoming than anything else whi'
can be worn. 1t is fitting ornament to al
toilette, and is to its possossor JOY foreve
Happy is she who has among her belonging
rare old laces descended perhaps from son
great grandmother, who wore them in Il
courtly old colonial days, before the Repu
lie was born. The next thing to havll
'e' these things already, is the means to b
them for Yourself or to have friends so d
eliminating as to know that something OF l
kind is the most welcome of all Christm
gifts. Shall 1 give hint, my dear, to ia
and Tom, that you are just dying for Ia
scarf, or a fchu, or handkerchief, or one
those dainty sets of baptste and Breton la'
comprehending ruche, collarette, jab
cuffs and hundkerchiefs.
By the way, dropping Christmas gifts
81 A minute or two, want to tell you about
@, neck. ties. caps, and handkerchiefs, which
Ie. especially for morning use, The neek-t
are in white baptiste with ends which are e
broidered by hand and to match these CO.
the most coquettish baptiste caps with ha
embroidered edge the handkerchiefs are
dasiou and color like the ties. There's lit
allv no end to the quaint and pretty devi
for making our girls look pretty, and ar
tically dressed One only needs the none
and indeed, if one has ingenuity and Is an
.complished needle-wOman, the amount
money needed will be comparatively SIN
- 1t is one of the requirements OF the day
ladies shall be expert with their needles
broidery is set down as one OF the arts
schools for it are being established; II
-. taupht in all its variations, and she Is ind
ionorant who cannot show skill in at l'
one style of fancy work At stearnss u
is one large room devoted to embroidery
Y. terials, with specimens of different klnd
work Here is the old fashioned crewel W
which is the very newest fashion of all,
which has put the Berlin work entirely
nt u,o sbod. Here are fosses for embroiC
or knitting.
And now, my dear, having told JACK
Tom what they can do for your happiness,
pose return the favor for them Dy 'enlnS
'Ates what YOU can do. Are you expert "lth
d At tino needles? Then knit pair OF stock
of silk floss in some nice color,
cream, or blue are nice shades for geh'ie,
r,- and embroider pretty design on u
There's no reason why you and should
nOpolize all the pretty hosiery in in the We W.
Don't you suppose the other half OF ore'
have a sort of complaoent feeling "heh