National Republican., 1886-12-25
BUYING CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Not Source OF JOY to tho Average
Young Man.

During this week the average young man has
been busy trying TO figure Out how he can give
e25 worth of Christmas presents out OF g s25 :
salary, ana yet save enough to make his own
Christmas merry without recourse to borrow
ing. In buying Christmas presents he, like
all the world, endeavors to find such articles as
will carry with them the impression of tolera-
BILE value without really costing much. He
generally begins his purchasing tour by a walk
up Seventh street. The first objects which
strike his attention are the handsomely bound
books in the windows. He is struck by their
which prevailed a few years ago. He sees
whole sets Of Dickens, Scott, and Shakespeare
~ sSSeh or more i0s
would be who arc not regular book buyers.
"one Of those sets look like 1t ought to
dollar or two volume"
lie Is on the point OF acting upon, the idea
when Il suddenly occurs to him that Seventh
street Is very public place, and that 1t Is not
at all unlikely that the girl in question has
stopped before the same windows, seen the
same books, and remarked the price. Then
he begins TO doubt the good taste of giving
such bulky present, and turns his attention
to the Christmas cards He Is delighted with
them. but knows that simply a card, however
though il does very well for the ordinary
friend. Next he looks at the gorgeous plush
dressing cases, and is pleased with their price.
members something his friends had said about
toilet cases being chestnuts as Christmas gifts.
He wants ,Sn something ,ti,hg o,Ns new, II, SO SO he
haps to get his hand in he buys some
toys and minor gifts for the children aud some
friends yet he is no nearer to a decision In re-
gard to the present which he has started out
to buy The probability is that from the fancy
| store he goes to the jewelry establishment.
Here he finds everything 10 please the eye,
he dreams Of the possibility Of a pretty little
watch, but when he hears the prices OF those
he admires, he remarks to tho salesman:
"Um-yes i only wanted TO know the price,"
Next he looks at the rings, necklaces, &c,,
| but somehow or other 1t seems that the
| jeweler makes point TO put an enormous
value on any QUE he happens to admire.
| material in II. Finally he espies q lovely
brooch which takes his eye at once. 1t is set
fit for princess, He faintiy inquiries the
price, expecting something enormous, and Is
told II costs Sl.68
| be done, and q glow OF satisfaction radiates
| from his face, but-yet there Ia a but-the idea
comes TO him that all Is not gold that glitters
nIe nf g,ePng Ihs 0ofh M G rsbt ps sind sS T
| basis He innocently asks IL 1t Is gold, aud is
| told by the honest salesman that II is only
PLATED, but VIII retain rs color tor years while
ways. Here the tempter whispers in his car
"Getit Give Il to her, i will keep year
| hnvnOW, anu IL ~ prODanle tnht some one else
| will have her place by that time. She will
/ go into ecstasies over IT, call you all kinds of
| pretty names-and all only for sl.GS. Go IT,,
| man." Then the better spirit whispers "Glve
! her an honest gift, however mean In appear.
1 ance She may be your wife some day, and IL
| you begin, by deceiving her she win never
| have confidence in you"
Generally he heeds the better spirit. Then
he leaves the jewelry store and wanders from
window to window trying TO hit on something
/ that suits his fancy and purse. Now, unless
| he is young man of very superior intellect,
and, though he is troubled over the rumors
| about their being ehestnuts, he In nine cases,
| out of ten, concludes his shopping tour by
buying one for his girl, who probably has two
OF three already.