Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-11-23
JUST THE THING

And now the season Is approaching,
when the earth shall be filled with ques-
tionngs and secret cOmmunings and
councils shall, in appearance az least,
| divide each family against itself. For
| while the younger generation is con njeC-
turing, with aspirations in various di-
rcctions. What shall We receiver the
| elder IL dcllhcratlng, with anxiety born
Of responsibility, the no less important
| question, what shall we givey While
one cnNmorcd swain ponders within
himself whether ring should seem too
pointed an offering to his fair, another
studies whether Il ltCkct will be suill-
cicnt evidence of the desperation of his
state Of mind. Young ladies lay cum
ming plans to obtain possession Of cast
of boots and shoes, whcrclrom the
measurements for slippers may be taxi
| en-; ana wife and children invent snarcs
for palcrlamilics, TO induce him 10 eX-
press, unthinlSingly, his preference for
Il mustaChe cup, or n set of shaving
tools, or warm and cozy dressing
| gown. Even that hardened mi.CrCant,
the old bachelor, becomes sensible Of
| strange movements In the oscous lormu-
ton which he terms his heart, and NUT
| trrs uncOmiorably TO himself that hc
suppOscs Lizlic's or Toms young ones
will be expecting something from him,
The wiscst of books declares II to he
more blessed to give than to receive;
and really, when one comes 10 think Of
| II, II decidedly should he so. For to ilnd
| the right thing to giye-tO discover the
precise article whose moral shape shall
| adapt itself alike to the tastes Of the re-
cpicnt, the purse of the donor, and the
| Conyenlionnlltes of sOCiety--ls n labor
80 great that indeed II deserves an cX-
cccdlng great reward. The range Of
articles Is 80 vast--thc points to be con-
sidcred no numcr0us--thnt II IL no won
der the intending glyer often sits down
In despair, and ptcously cSclalms: u
don't know thdt to givc!,
But for every evil there comes In good
time n remedy. A great New York
house, whose special business II is TO
minister to the wants Of humanity, has
hit upon the happy device Of arranging
the different articles suitable for gifts 10
all classps aud conditions Of men, wo-
men and children, each under H. proper
heading; aud Of publishing n complete
series Of illustrations, descriptions, and
prices of the same. Some idea Of the
magnitude of this work may BE- gather
cd from the fact that II occupies O6 large
auaito pages, most Of which are posi-
lively cWmmed with illustrations and
descriptions. with n work Of this kind
one can sit down and examine ut leisure
The whole range Of possible gifts of cv-
cry kind aud can select present for
The one he delights TO honor without
the haunting fear that tomorrow, when
too late. lir will he sure 10 see something
that would have been more suitable
Or, II II be desired 10 learn the special
longings Of any individual II viii be
only necessary TO leave this bool, on the
sitting room table, and 10 he guided by
the enromlums passed upon amy partlcl-
lar article by the individual IN question:
And even 10 one who has no presents
In contemplation, there Is no lack Of In
terrsl IN work of this kind, for In no
direction is more ingenuity exercised
than IN the production Of Christmas
gifts Here f,r instance Ia lIlc-'ike Inn
nve Of bird upon perch. Attached
10 n II n flexible artificial wlndplpr, into
which when the performer blows. tic
bird opens his beak. and pours forth
food of melody Tint would mnkc the
heart OF u pHuuty Hchc With cutv And