St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-24

Difficulties in Selecting Presents for
Lady Friends.

NASS ZEE oOsSSeAASs ECSCAtS AoE
Lady Friends.
SIS any one waiting on you?" asked
pretty young lady in Third street holiday
goods store yesterday afternoon in the hear
ing of GLOBE. The person addressed
was a young man of about 25, who had
walked half way down the store and was
looking over stack of holiday goods in an
aimless half-daZed manner. SIS there
something you wanted?" continued the
young lady. Il want Christmas present"
replied the young man in tone that indi
Gated lack of enthusiasm in his purchase.
He had no need to tell the sweet-faced lady
who asked him, for she had sized him up
before she spoke, and as soon as he replied
she said in half interogatory tone 1T is
for young lady,"
cit is" replied the customer, ''and 1
havn't the slightest idea of what want to
purchase" and then long dialogue began
of which the re reporter overheard the fol-
lowing:
"a toilet case might please her," sug-
gested the lady.
'She has four" was the reply.
"How would an elegant jewelry case
do?" was asked.
''She got one of those last year."
Possibly one of these Russia leather
card cases would be new"
Il sent her one of those for birthday
present month ago." was the reply.
I'VE have some beautiful books that
many are buying"
''I'll look at some books"
''How would set of Shakespeare suit
her taSte?"
Her father gave her one just like that
last year."
Here are some books of miscellaneous
poetry neatly bound"
Il don't believe she is fond of poetry"
Possibly some standard history might
be acceptable"
mo. History don't 60"
'.Here's a copy Of Tennyson in padded
Russia leather.
Il don't like that style of binding"
Here are ornaments for mantel or
brackets, that are very popular"
Il don't know but she might like one of
these. What are they worth?"
From "a, cents to S15."
81 don't believe those are what want.
Haven't you any jewelry?"
mo. We don't keep it."
81 believe she would like jewelry of some
kind"
I'VE have some jewelry cases."
Eyes. I saw them. Let me look at
them again. No. l don't believe l will.
I think possibly she might like another
toilet case"
Like those showed you first?''
Yes; or perhaps one of another color.
Which would you prefer, red or blue silk
plush?"
For myself 1 would prefer red"
Il think you may do me up the blue
one." And the blue toilet case, the first
article he had looked at. was neatly done
up and the young man went away.
do we often have as much trouble in
suiting the young gentlemen" said the
young lady. repeating the question of the
reporter. Yes. indeed; we have them q
great deal harder to please than he was.
It's all wrong to suppose that ladies make
more trouble than the men. Men don't
seem to have single idea of what they want
They seem bored about making the purchases
and often absent-minded, as if they were
thinking more of the young lady herself,
than what they Will give her. 1t is differ
ent with ladies. They know a pretty or
appropriate thing when they see it and it
doesn't take them on the average more than
half as long to make up their minds. They
trouble US more over prices than they do in
finding out what they want"
1T gets worse and worse every year."
said man behind the desk at the Ameri-
can express Office. ''More Christmas
bundles are being sent this year than ever
before. There's regular blockade in Chi
cago; haven't been able to get anything
through from New York in two days. 1
expect the bundles will get Strengthened
out sometime and will be glad when its
over"
The postofice officials report that the
mails, both incoming and outgoing. are
loaded down with Christmas gifts. Nearly
one-half the mail deposited in the Office
here yesterday consisted of Christmas
cards