Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
Things That Come Under THAI
Head at Christmas Time.

Christmas times sorely tax the stationery &C
counts of the members OF Congress. Christmas is
sticking out at every point in the little stationery
room in the basement OF the Capitol Everything
is scattered about in wholesale abundance and at
wholesale prices. After passing down the narrow
hallway, between high piles OF business-like pack
ages OF official letter-head paper bill forms, ac
count books, and whatnOt, Of an entirely uninter-
esting and not picturesque character there bursts
upon the vision OF the members wife who has got
control OF her husbands stationery account for the
time being, perfect wonder of pretty Christmas
presents. Spread out ON temporary shelves
are beautiful plush toilet sets, in all the
popular shades, for both gentlemen and
ladies' use-combs and brushes and hand-glasses
Or raZOrS and all the fancy Accomplishments OF a
shaving Set all embedded in delicate satin and
closed down In eases OF the finest plush and FAST
ened with the cutest little locks. All these things
strike the vision at one glance, and make the
amable wife of the genial NJ. c. feel that there is
some good In stationery account with Uncle
Sam, after ALL Then there Is a great big glass
case, where are spread out in gorgeous display all
sorts OF little fancy trinketS and charmS-gOld
pencils. gold pens-sOme for use and some to hang
on watch chains or about the neck as charms.
pull out into pencils: little Chinese gods which de-
veiOp under pressure into the same useful toys;
cigars ditto and ditto hundred other little forms
OF gold, silver and pearl Then there are opera
glasses, some OF gold, in beautiful plush bags;
some OF chased silver, and some. OF pearl. OF
course there are all sorts OF fancy wristbands and
portfolios; and there are also albums and auto
graph books in great variety; and pOcketbOoks,
retculeS, ladies' glove cases. and penkniyeS Of all
styles for ladies' or gentlemenS use.
Away down in deep black drawers hid away so
as not TO tempt too much extravaganza and yet not
out OF the reach or the lady OF eXperence, fans
perfect beauties 1t Is when she looks into these
drawers that the members wife mentally takes
possession OF her husbands stationery account
and begins TO figure out how he may get his writing
paper and pens elsewhere. They are none OF your
ordinary fans with little Chinese figures turning
conference.-the over them; they are not even
the fans with roses painted on them and cheap In
a store window at so cents, reduced" They are
the finest and best party fans OF ivory hand
painted, or something or that exquisite sort.
The members wives are numerous In the sta
ttonery room these days, and very many are the
packages sent out each day. The customers are
too many for the employees TO wait on, and they
are permitted to roam through at Will and select
what they want out OF the stock, provided their
husbands have so ordered. The goods here are for
members exclusively; they are not sold to out
sders. They are not intended for Christmas pres
ents the StatfOner will tell you. They are merely
the regular stationery supply that Uncle Sam has
provided for the members. IL q member should
need an opera glass, a dressing case or fan, in
his official correspondence II Is provided for him
at cost price. the government 10 pay the bill
unless his needs shall exceed the value OF sl25
all above which he would have 10 pay. Not only
the members wives. but the members themselves
are busy looking over the pretty things before
Christmas time. They are allowed the 1928 for
stationery. They can spend 1t or draw the money
Some do the latter; others let their wives do the
former