The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13
FASHIONABLE PRESENTS.
What to Buy for Christmas-A Great Variety
Money the Only Thing Necessary.


New York Star
The question is often raised as to what style
of gift would be appropriate for relatives friends
and sweethearts. 1t is desirable not to leave the
selection of these until the last moment. when
the crowds are almost impossible. and haste
rather than taste must be regarded. From the
jewelers. gems and the rare brio brac down to
the parti-colored silken kerchef there is endless
variety that one can scarcely go wrong in choos-
ing from.
Ii young woman with full purse at com
mand desires to return admirers attentions
in the matter of flowers and bonbons and
theater parties, to bid for other favors in this
line, she might donate to him something bearing
the mark of the toll of her own fair fingers, only
let ner be certain that they really did the work.
and not intrust the secret of its manufacture to
her maid as young lady living up town did,
she going to bed and sleeping the sleep of the
just, while the dexterous maid embroidered
daisies to decorate the feet of the young lady's
lover, who, being of a suspicious nature, bribed
the secret from the maid, and chuckled in
wardly at the fair strategist's assurances of how
many evenings she had sat up and embroidered
those flowers, working kind wish in with each
stitch that her aching eyes and fingers had
taken.
Give the men anything except slippers; they
have so many other girls who all work slippers
for them, and unless they be made up they will
not even thank you for the gift. The men take
kindly to embroidered suspenders, and when
worked on pretty shade of satin ribbon about
they are desirable present The embroidery
wears best and looks richest if done in fine chenille
or portion OF the flowers and leaves done in this
Some of the new shades of yellow are good
background for leaves of bronze, olive and for.
get-me- nots or pale blue satin with buttercups
IN shades of yellow, or pearl color with punches
of wheat and wild flowers. The vanity and lux
urious taste of the sex may be pampered by the
addition of gold buckles, which can be studded
with the colored jewels now in vogue. pres
ent - this sort combines the advantage of home
decorative work with an expensive souvenir that
will outlast the pretty neddle-work These use,
full appendages of the toilet may be made with
trifing cost, their chief value being the affection
wrought in with the flowers.
A timely Offering and one suitable for the
bachelor apartments that take the place of a
home IN their lives is sofa cushion or quilt
If the lady be interested to that extent in the
subject; but these require time and skill, and
the cost of the makeup is considerable.
A pretty cushion is made of shaded
plush, with band crossing it of plain plush
or satin EN- broidered or painted in Kensington
Some of the velvets and nlushes shown at great
ly reduced figures in shades not too bright are
good for the back. The trouble in using these
cheap goods is that the shades seldom desir-
able-broaZe, amber and beige co!ors usually are
in the better quality of goods. A sort of electric
blue is effective, or a darker shade known as
old blue, is very rich. The standard reds-ma-
room and crimson-are so common. pretty
cushion is made of four nine-inch blocks in crazy
pattern of pieces of velvet and satin embroidered
in different designs. These fill the corners, and
the center is of plain satin plush, with
basket of flowers or any other design in the
middle.
A magnificent quilt is of bronze satin with has
keJs at intervals it's surface that are COM
posed of triangular shaped pieces about two
inches in size, graduated to outline the shape,
the ground forming the space between; the base
is an oblong piece and the handle is of ribbon
rounded on. Each basket is made of wood
colored satin, the pieces and handle fastened on
with feather stitches in silk and filled with
different flowers and grasses. The immense
labor of this quilt is repaid by it's beauty. The
pattern is copied from design of half century
ago, and is far ahead of the modern tumble of
crazy work.
Neat little penwipers can be made in the shape
of ball. composed of pieces of felt tied together
and edged with tineel fringe, while combination
penwiper, paper weight and letter clip takes the
form of ducks head the long bill, opening with
spring, forming the letter holder while the PEN
wiper is under the head. which holds the ink.
Little books with leaves of channels have the
legend worked on the outside: Extracts from the
pen." Playing cards are also represeE ted as
adornment to these necessary and useful adj
juncss of the writing table. card of each suite
is embroidered on the outside leaves of the PEN
wiper. The ink that is used in the manufac-
ture of clever sayings may be held in bronze
stands in the form of poll parrots, cats and dogs.
beautiful one of carved wood has owl for
the top while another concet is toadstool.
The resources of nature are taxed in the design
of quaint figures and devices to give the much
desired oddity to the little furnishings of room
that help to make pleasant, though mute, COM
pany for its occupant.
nice present for person of literary pro-
clivities is bronze paper-weight made of four
small mice It is very odd and pretty, and is
not dear at the price, SO, and might amuse
mans fancy. while its perfect imitation of
nature would throw the average woman into
commissions. Another unique one is tree
branch in bronze with cats or birds perched on
it. The more costly goods in this line are i'm
ported bronze Japanese paper cutters. with
carved handles and cases Japanese leather
writing tablet, with figures in national costume
painted on it, is beautiful present for any one
wishing to spend 500
A thermometer is a useful and, in the charm
inc styles shown, is a very ornamental little
gift. novel idea is miniature spinning
wheel, with the thermometer on one side of it,
| One of the oldest articles of this kind is COM
bination thermometer, ink stand and pen-tray,
| the latter small bronze tray forming the base,
with an lnk-stand In the shape of a cannon at
either end. while cannon resting wheel
| in the center of the tray forms the thermome-
| ter.
A check some silver dollars from the gener-
Gus heart of parent or rich uncle might be
| gracefully offered in one of the pretty pocket
books of seal, with trimmings of solid silver
which are the latest caprice of fashion in that
| line. These are not made of the old-fashioned
| fur, but of the skin of the seal, which is soft
and not clumsy If the heart should not warm
to the extent of these rather costly trfes others
can be found that are equally pretty in leather
that is stamped to represent tree bark, and per-
feet gems are of leather that represent carved
| ivory. This is also made up in letter and card
cases, and is dainty touch to bewitching
toilet
A waste paper basket is pretty addition to a
library or living room, where the little desk
standing in corner gives homelike look
Popular fancy has given rein to considerable
cost in the decoration Of these articles but mex
pensive ores can be got up by trimming with
ribbons and lace a basket made by the Indians
out of sweet grass and stained in their crude
manner in different colors. These baskets are in
all shapes and sizes. and are prettily lined and
trimmed for work baskets. The faint perfume
of the grass is very agreeable
Snowy boxes of plush in crazy pattern filed
with stationery are novelties. and will serve the
&c