Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-12-10
Az INTERCEPTED LETrER
Prom Dora Mason to narsars, Lane,
WHICH TELLS ALL ABOUT THE LOVELY AND
USEFUL THINGS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO
RE FOUND At THE BRATTLEBoRo STORES

see, ls little late this week. and the reason
is quickly told The dear housemother.
having her hands more than full Just now.
said TO me last Saturday Daughter. /
think you viii have 10 do the Christmas
shopping this year, and advise you 10 set
about It at once as by so doing YOU will
find larger assortment 10 choose from and
also avoid the crowds which will be sure 10
hll the stores little later" OF course
felt quite flattered at this mark Of confidence
IN my taste and Judgment, and Immediately
proceeded 10 make out list Of the friends
we wished to remember, and with some
general suggestions wise and otherwise)
from the several members Of the family.
brought out in a solemn cOnclave held for
that purpose, | sailed forth bright and ear
ly Monday morning, accompanied by
friend. Many were the times / wished YOU
were with ESPECIALLY after / had ex-
hausted all the adjectives in my own vocab-
ulary but as that was impossible. | will try
TO tell you something about it on paper
And, by the way, If | mention anything
which takes your fancy and which you can.
not find in the stores at hOme-a thing that
is quite likely 10 happen, since / don't be
lieve any town about here can show such a
large and varied assortment Of real holiday
goods-just let me know. and | am sure /
'AAANtA
Our first visit was 10 the store Of Van
Doom q Morris, where the usual fine line
Of silver and plated ware. in new designs
handsome hanging and table lamps. and
decorated dinner and tea sets in French and
opaque china, was found, selections from
which are destined to find their way into
many home, TO the great delight of its
mistress. We fingered longest, however
about the tables Of japanese, English and
art pottery, IN quaint and graceful shapes
and made most Of our purchases therefrom
including pitchers, vases, ornaments. etc
IN Toxic, 'kaga, Dwarf and other
varieties with equally grotesque names We
also found lots Of pretty things on the TO-
% and 30 cent counters
At Clapp q Jones's we chose some lovely
gift books, with the new-style covers in
Ivory, lvorine and Japanese calf, and two
with colored illustrations. "All Around the
Clock and Under the Mlstletoe" for the
children. Other novelties found here were
the oak tanned leather goods in collar and
cum boxes, music rolls, travelling cases. etc
! invested IN a backing case for Ned--as "A
gentle hint, you know But the lovehest Of
all were the new medallion photographs ON
plate glass, in carved oak frames Il do
hope these will catch the eve Of good st
Notwithstanding the countless calls al
ready made at f. X Barrowss for fancy
work materials in worsteds. plush. cords
and the like, rs well as forms for decorating
purposes-for which his store is headquar-
ters--we had 20 take peep at his holiday
counter and get two more Of those fir pillows
We next went into Geddiss. and before
We came ont our pocket-books were some
what hghter-odr hearts also as We thought
how three pairs Of bright eyes would sparkle
at the sight Of "a certain wonderful CRYING
d"ll. a set Of drawing instruments and a
volume of poems in the new and attractive
bamboo binding Geddis also has Irene Je
rones superb new gift-bOok. Natures
HalleluJah, which ! must get for cousin
Louise As Il companion b "One Year ; sketch
Book, which she received last year and de
clnres Is "A JOY forever"
J. b. Ihorn's came next and here We
found such bewldering display Of novel
ties that we hardly knew where 10 begin.
but We finally decided on some fine speci.
mems Of pocket cutlery and several article,
IA brass and plush for use and ornament ]
missed Mr. Ihurn's familiar face and Oh
Speaking uf it was told that So great had
been the run already made on ms stock. be-
had been compelled % 20 10 the city for
At y J. Hawley's 80 large was the stock
and 80 endless the variety. that it almost
seemed a. If crcrything was here. and it was
useless 10 look further. Standard books are
offered at such low prices that don't sup
pose there II be one left when people once
hear Of II, 80 I'm glad went early There
are also most attractive lines Of papeteries.
pottery, etc. Milton Bradley's games and
albums Of all sizes and styles Besides this.
M Hawley offers special inducements IN
cloaks, dress goods and housekeeping wares.
and a. gifts IN this line are ALWAYS accepta-
BILE these departments are sure To- be well
patrunzed. must not forget 10 mention
that this store has Just secured more room
and light, and handsome staircase now con
meets the two floors
What should particularly like for my
own Christmas present Is a set Of furs that
] saw at Edwards & Iillis's However.
don expect 10 have them, but they'll make
some other girl happy. Lots Of boys and
Young men, too-and some Of their fathers.
ruess-will be made happy by something
from their store for it is full Of beautiful
ncckwear. gloves. silk handkerchief. and
don't know what all
Having IN mind the remark Of a Young
lady that nothing could al a certain niche IN
the pariur but one Of those plush upholstered
rattan chairs from Emerson a son =. we next
turned our steps thIther and being unable
"a decide between the style mentioned and
an antique rocker with covering Of silk
plush We had to compromise" by taking
both We also secured "A nice writing-dt.,k
and were shown a new thing in chairs. ia
bles, chamber suits, etc, Of antique oak.
To Thompson q Rangers we went next.
IN search Of a French clock. and were suit
ed 10 ]. We stopped long enough % ex-
anime their extensive stock Of jewelrv and
silverware and select some bronze mautel
ornaments which ! know you would pro
nuuHce Just too lovely for ANYTHING.
The collar and-cuff boxes we had filled
with a nice quality Of goods at Starkev q
Nellman = and also made selections from
their large line Of gentlemen's silk hand
kerchiefs
y ou will not need u be told that most of
our toys came from Carpenters, which Is
this year as heretofore. headquarters for
everything Of that kind
An array Of patent rockers upholstered
with gay-hgured carPeting brighten up Ret
ting Brothers store wonderfully, and here
We found, besides the usual stock Of staple
goods, some cute little sleighs-just the thing
for the wee ones
Just here it became apparent that one
could get hungry and tired even when en-
gagged IN such fascinating work as holiday
shopping, and we accordingly started for
home, stopping on our way at browns for
some Of those heece-lned slippers. and at
hnapps for fur cap and mittens
If this letter hasn't convinced YOU that
Brattleboro is just the best place in the state
to buy Christmas presents. come and see for
yourself is the advice Of
Your cousin.
THEoDoRA
7. ;. As you know, il is one Of our fam
NY tenets that in order TO enter into the full
est Joy of Christmas-tide We must have
thought for those who otherwise will miss
the seasons cheer. Our box Of savings for
tins purpose is unusually full this year. and
/ anticipate great pleasure in making its
contents go a. far as possible in the purchase
Of warm articles of clothing and something
for good Christmas dinner But ! shall
have to tell you about this next time, because
as Yet have only decided on some of that
flannel and underwear real bargain-at
kuech's. and a barrel Of Sticknev Bros
Queen City Mills -four TN
Bellows Fails.
The steamer went % Alstead n. H.. SUNDAY
night To help subdue the fire which burned Dius
nores hotel, together with the huus. Of G. ~
Rogers, two housss belonging 10 Mn j NJ Weav
10y the nn will exceed SlO,O1O Two Of our fr,-
men were hurt hy falling bricks