The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-12-19
I0dandnlakcr's.
PmrLApELrniA, December rs.

day sights, and felt the in
spiration of the holiday spirit.
The store began to put on a
holiday appearance as soon
as the gift-goods came.
A part of the store has
come to be known as the
gift-quarter, because of the
glitter of gifts there for
several weeks before the
giving-time 1t is full of the
light of silver and gold and
brass and bronze and spelter
and glass, made even more
brilliant with leather and
plush and wood.
Gifts at Christmas by no
means stop at these gorgeous
things. If you look beneath
the surface, even under the
glitter of Paris, Berlin, and
Vienna bric.A-brac, you will
see provision for a far more
serious giving.
Look at the silk and dress
goods quarter, which puts a
double girdle almost around
the store. 1t is larger and
fuller of things and people.
Multitudes satisfy the giving
propensity with the stuff for
a dress.
Look at upholstery. The
giviDg-time suggests new
curtains, cover for lounge,
lounge itself, or whatever
may be wanting at home.
The southeast corner is full
of people; and never were
the stuffs of upholstery SO
abundant.
Look at laces. This dainty
merchandise Of little weight
and bulk is commonly kept
in a pleasant out-of-the-way
corner. A little room is
enough. But SO many peo-
pie are here; and people
must have room. Those
rows of people southwest of
the centre, hundred at once,
are looking at laces. Gifts
of laces are rather rare, per-
haps; but a million or two of
people are coming. All that
room is needed.
Look at linens, handker-
chiefs, blankets, things to
make the bed pretty as well
as warm, down quilts, and
quilts not down. That whole
southwest corner is rich in
more than merchandise it is
rich in rare honesty Of linen.
No cotton for linen there.
How many handkerchief
stocks in all America do you
think, are free Of cotton ?
How many in all the world
SO rich in linen? One would
think there had been a famine
of handkerchieEs. Only
Christina coming; and
people know that where a
quarter goes furthest an
eagle is safest. Skip blankets
if you like; but not those
quilted and tufted quilts of
chintz, sateen or silk and
down. Winter is coming as
well as Christmas. Under
that imponderable down
what lightsome dreams may
lift the burden off the COM
Portable sleeper
If we mention glass and
china, think you only of what
enriches the snowy linen of
the table? Walk a mile or
two about those islands OF
beauty in the northwest cor
ner yonder, above and below.
If a gift must be useless, here
are plenty. If useful, plenty,
If rich and beautiful beyond
your thinking of use, what
better than clay?
A book is the kindest Of
gifts. 1t pleases, enriches
praises; all over its innocent
pages are signs of feeling toe
subtle for written or ever
spoken words. Are you
thinking of gift books ? We
are thinking of history, poetry
romance, philosophy; the
solidest, truest, wisest, deep
est, loftiest signs of human
worth, Do you see the ia
bles and shelves and roo
above the shelves overful
and straining under the
weight of books ? 1t is paper
and binding that bends the
boards. Not all book.gift,
are weighted with kindly
meaning. A gift Of a bool
is the richest or poorest o
gifts according to the read
ing between the lines. z
book that is chosen only TO
Christmas is empty.
Shall we turn to carpet
and rugs, and tell of Christ
mas preparations.
Shall we tell of that piec,
of furniture the place 70
which you are thinking of
Of prlNuae &C .,>,.- -.