Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-20
GIFTS FOR MEN.
What Fathers, Brothers and Dear Ones
Like TO Receive.

HINTS TO YOUNG LADIES WHO PUZZLE THEIR WITS
foR cHRIsrxAs PsrsKSrs-rRorsR orrrs ron A
LOVER OR HUSBAND, WHICH WILL M USEFUL
As WELL As ATTRACTIVE
Prom the New York Press
''oh. it's so hard to buy Christmas presents
for gentlemen" exclaimed q pretty girl the
other day. There are a thousand and one little
tribes that ladies like, but how are Won ever
going to tell what viii please a gentleman2"
L had some sympathy for the distress Of the
lassie, for my own wits had gone back on me
often under the same circumstances; but after
all II isn't so difficult as il seems. You have
only to do little practical thinking. and IL all
becomes clear. The first thing TO be consid-
cred is the relation in which you stand TO the
recipient Of your gift. We win suppose, in
fats s s' chri:, that you T,sh to make your
upon what his business may be. II he is a
professional man. good plan would be 90 go
through his library some time when he Is out
and see II he has all the newest helps i'm tho
way OF books; If he has, then look over the
writing-table. See il he has an easy chair, or
there may be some little things trifiing in
themselves. but which would prove a wonder
1ul help, II you could only find out what they
are and supply them.
After your tour of the Office is finished, IL YOU
md everything there that mortal man could
possibly make use of, then keep your ewes open
at home. Seek confidential chat with the old
gentleman, and If you have one-half the tact
,nat our sex Is credited with, You can make
him tell you just exactly what he wants and not
let the cat out of the bag either II your
father Is a mechanic then your task Is easy, for
100 new things are made every day that he viii
md useful. Men are fond Of useful things; as
rule ornaments are a bother; dainty fabric
OF ribbon and lace is pleasing 10 look at, but
man always has q feeling that he'll
SPOIL 1T IF HE TOUCHES IT.
Above all things, imske your gift TO your
father useful one. You know him well enough
70 know what he likes; you won't make any
| mistakes. remember how 1 was touched last
winter when prominent merchant took from
his pocket little heart-shaped cushion for
pms, and said to a group OF his gentleman
My baby made that for me herself. she's
only seven years old. but she took lots OF paips
with it. 1 haven't had a present this year /
think as much of as / do Of this"
Another man. who was not so well-to-do, had
long walk TO his business every morning His
| daughter noticed that he suffered from cold
hands and set herself about knitting pair of
warm wooden mittens. He was delighted with
them and got vast amount of comfort out of
/ them. SO you il not so much the yalue of
| your gift as its aptitude.
But supposing il isn't your father? You NAV
have big brother. IL you have, and he is a
very young man, your task il almost AS easy as
If he were girl. You'll find in him a very de-
| clded tendency toward canes with fancy heads
silk umbrellas, kid gloves, gorgeous neckties,
4 the latest fad in handkerchief silk hosiery
| embroidered nightshirts and fine underwear
You can give all these things to your brother
You know. You will even ind that bottle Of
dainty perfume viii not offend him. and the
| quantity in your own bottle will hold out much
longer than before. If the young man has a
tendency TO be "horsey" you might give him an
English riding whip with a spur in the end or
/ pair of oyergaiters.
II. however. your brother has gotten safely
through that incipient stage known as the
hair oil period you will need TO make differ
ent selections. III you get your elder brother
/ anything in the line of wearing apparel let it
be selected for comfort and use, without re-
gard to style or ornamentation. IL he il fond
| OF being indoors give him a house jacket, n
bath robe, some easy slippers or a comfortabl
\ Longing chair. Ii he is a smoker see il he has
| everything in the line of smoking appliances
| IL he has need for all these comfortable things
he must be reader. Get him a new book
You know what he likes and books are always
\ acceptable.
But it may be that your perplexity Ii not over
what you shall buy for father or brother-there
may be "a nearer one still, and a dearer one
yet than all other" Well, even in that case
think can help you out. II he be a very dear
| friend picture Of yourself IN a frame which
you have decorated will please him.
II HE Is YOUR LOVER
give him a miniature OF yourself in a pretty
case. One Of these. dainty things painted ON
porcelain or ivory will be Joy to him forever
/ if he loves you. Presents OF jewelry are adj
missable to your gentlemen friends. with the
exception of rings; only lovers exchange
! these.
If you are an artist picture done by YOUR
self will certainly be pleasing, or you might
buy handsome picture If your means allow.
Books are always admissible, and are per-
| fectly safe gifts if well chosen. Very few gen.
tlemen are fond of poetry or will read it.
\ Study the taste of your friend always IL Won
| mean to give him a book. Gifts of wearing
apparel are not considered the things TO give
| gentlemen outside of your own family, but
that all depends upon circumstances. II your
sweetheart has money to buy all he needs. then
| by all means let him do his own selecting
| Otherwise useful gift of that kind should not
| be considered out of place.
In the last case / would make suggestions to
wives regarding gifts to- their husbands.
! think woman's selfishness crops out hers
| more than anywhere else. Do try and remem-
| Der, ladies' that Christmas is not a fitting time
for paying off your petty spites. Don't 20 and
buy your husband something he has refused TO
purchase and make him pay for it, Don't get
| something for the use of the family that you
| intended 70 buy anyway and call il ''papa's
Christmas gift" think any wife who loves
her husband as she should, will try in some
way to have money OF her own, with which 20
purchase his gift, and then she will buy some
thing for his own personal use.
/ heard a story to-day about an affair Of
wife's Christmas giving that is only too sadly
real. A lady made out a list of the things she
thought her husband might like and submitted
it to him for his approval. he looked it care
fully over, and finding therein SO many articles
which a man could hardly use, but which were
evidently meant for the comfort of the family,
he could no resist being bit satirical, and
calmly remarked as he handed back the list:
mo, / can't think OF anything else that
need. unless it be pair Of diamond earrings or
a sewing machine"
You think that was harsh, maybe, but think
it served her right, and hope every wife who
reads this homily Of mine will borrow an idea
and not fall into like error. The geptlemen's
furnishing stores throughout the city are full
of things useful and beautiful for husband,
father, brother, sweetheart son. and do
hope the dear ladies will take the hint and be
sensible. ONE OF THEm.