Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-14
t;tFr-,iiyING.


NOw to ttiNe Goou tlfts y" "'"-'''' W.
men, |
Gifts ave not always blessings. II Is
not blessed either to give or receive ul-
less the Gift bc made in keeping with
thc circumstances and surroundings oi
the giycr. aud appropriate To the occa-
sion and the circumstance ana SUR
roundings alike of the receiver. TINS
are not rood gifts when bestowed nm
seemingly aud scliishly. or when ac-
ccptcd unapprcciatiycly or for form
sake alone. eManv one has suffered
hnrm-and there are instances where
families have been crippled in their ma
tcral resources. from the inopportunc
and inappropriate giving or receiving
| Of gifts.
We have an instance in mind where
| n peaceful and happy home was made
ANYTHING but peaceful and happy from
| its inmates being the recipients OF an
| untimcly and unsecmly gift The cir
| cumstances OF these recipients, who
had done the donor a marked favor,
| were moderate aud measurably close,
| those of the givcr who was generous
| aud good rs the world goes, full
| and abundant. The latter desired to
make acknowledgements OF the favor, but
did not know how to do so modcstly
and properly. At the moment OF de-
Cided action in the case, pair OF cle-
| giant, expensive and very noticeable
| vases attracted attention and were ptlr-
chased and presented. with some Hour
ish and some fun for apprcciative
friends of both parties.
But no serpent ever entered an 'Eden
with more subtilty than did these vases
90 into their new home. There was
nothing whatever in the house at all in
keeping with them. Everything else
was dwarfcd, became insignificant and
looked mean. The story OF those vases
is long and sad one, leading up, by
degrees, to still sadder sequel.
suitable place must needs be provided
for the vases. then this piece of furniture
and then that, and another and another
still, was replaced by something more
| in keeping with the elegant vases. un-
| til the limited means of the household
were strained, not only to their strength
oi tension, but to breaking. Then
came dgcur.i, discussion and divorce,
the wife taking the baby and the vases.
| and the husband agreeing To MAINTAIN
| the baby but not the vases.
| This is Il true story and there are
many more just such left untold. and q
| world tuli of similar ones. In fact
| there seems to bg "A vein OF insanity
running through the American mind -
perhaps the human mind is not too
| broad II statement regarding this
matter OF giit-giymg and especially SO,
in the liue Of wedding, anniversary and
holiday presents. The disposition to
make snowy and attractive present,
without any especial regard to fitness.
on such occasions j., au alarming one
and the pcnchamt for making pom
pOuS display Of these Is II crying evil,
dumOraliz!uy in It's effects on others,
tending TO create unnecessary jcalousics
and unholy rivairics, aud dcbasing in
its tcndcncics upon the minds and lives
OF those most deeply Interested, whether
giver or receiver. In fact, the cravings
OF vanity indIlce many II victim To pare
and scrimp in the ways of Legitimate
and necessary expenditure, despOiling
their own comfort and convenience and
hanging on the ragged edge Of an un-
satisfactory credit system, that they
may appear Oh III" list as having
''made AN elegant present. Such
gifts have Their greatest charm aud
value in being the means OF gratifying
the curiosity oil prying aud cnyious
ewes. NOTHING is more cold, forbidding
and hcurilcss than the lynX-cycd pro.
ccssion OF r.cui-cNnminers on public
occasions, unless II he that of formal
lines OF morbid humanity passing by
aud gazing mt the empty tenement
which human soul has lust vacated.
Many Il bride goes out from an Old
home to II new one iUadcd down with
what is really little else than a stock OF
goods that wouid only be at home in q
showcase OF Silyrr-platcd ware ol
among the treasures Of u ''rOlled-gOld
brass foundry. This craze Of miscel
laneous gilt-giying has reached sucl
mammoth proportions and taken Oh
such Objectionable features that a gif
has come to bc looked upon as small
potatoes and the giver as mean
unless ii shall be expensive and pre-
tentious.
This condition Of the present givins
market-for it is little else Mdn. a mar
ket-robs the soul of man of one of it
most sacred elements, that of the privi
lege OF making proper expression o
the existence and strength Of persona
regard and true friendship. An ap
propriatc, appreciatiye and appreciated
gift, passing unostentatiously from
friend to friend, tends to permanent,
cement the bonds of good-fellowship
to keep bright the sunlight Of affection
and personal regard, which the cOarscl
elements, that prompt to giving fol
fame or fashions sake, or from setisi
motive and purposes, know not of.
Lovers too often impovcrish them
selves and do violence to good judg
ment and sound sense AND insult tn,
sentiment they seek to serve, by injudi
clous, inappropriate and untimel
gifts. A love that can be bought b.
show and pretense alone, is neithe
worth the giving nor receiving, nor 0
having about the house in any form.
Volumes might be written on thi
subject, bristling with good and tcllin,
points, but we have only space here t,
ask this question Of our readers: Is
not high time for the higher life of tn
household to command halt Of tn
popular gift-giving procession, with tn
view Of making II right-about face il
the direction of better judgment, bette
sense and better purpose III the mat
| ter OF giving good gifts to mcu-au,