Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21
NICE GIFTS BY HAND.
psr11y AND INEXPENSIVE PRESENTS
MADE WITH OEFT FINGERS.
A,..rt.b,e Mcmentees of the Holiday
Season that May lie Easily Designed
or Purchased Cheapiy.

Charles Lamb. and when this festive
season gives every one the opportunity
TO be generous and give to each other
the MANY things we have secretly wished
for the presents are doubly endearing.
For the men who have so long been
victimized by tho annual mouchoir case
and such ilk, fondly supposed to be the
exponent of much feminine toll and
strength, an era OF emancipation seems
dawnipe. Indeed, there is already FAINT
rlimmer on the horizon, for the we'll
regulated, sensible girl OF to-day has been
heard to say that there were $50 many
charming and appropriate gifts one
could get without having the endless toll
of embroidery that she didn't believe
the men appreciated after all.
CRocHETED cRAvArs.
A novelty in handmade gifts for gen
tlemen is the four-in-hand crayat cnro-
cheted in silk OF some delicate shade, OF
more popularity in black. Two balls oil
silk are required to make this, the fash
ionable cravat of the day.
Chip-bags of embroidered and painted
cbamois.skin, hand-painted cases for
playjpp-cards, are always dprOpoS.
BAGS of lowered China silk, sewed to the
fnncv-basket bottoms, are easily made
and are effective, whilst being inexpensive
presents. 4 most fascinating portfolio
/ is made by covering two pieces OF paste
board. each 14xi6, with the best quality
of Saline in a rich yellow shade. Over the
backs is stretched netting design IL
heavy white-aoss silk. The inside j;
finished with pockets for stationery end
is lined with yellow or white as the fancy
may indicate.
GEETLEMEN's DESKS.
For a desk in the new art effects, fin
ished with curtains of Powered Chinf
silk on brass rods, the portfolio, which
ALWAYS lies on the open lid of the desk
can be made OF the prevailing tone OF
silk in the curtains. Since the desk flll'
go large place in the feminine mind a
present any Of its charming appoint
msnts shown in repOusse or oxldizeC
silver are very appropriate souvenirs FOL
this season. Silver jewel-caskets enc
glove boxes are shown IN extremely ele
| CANT designs. Lace-pins are the gli
5lar erceitcnce, and are shown IN va
rietv of novel designs. The wish-bon'
holding a single pearl, green sham
rock. or cluster Of very small flower
with diamond dewdrop on the petal
are Ill great demand.
MUST HAVE THE HEART.
But TO be entirely fashionable yol
must have the Heart design either Il
a 1noonstone or the outline OF heart II
gold holding a single flower. For wed
dings the fayorite decoration Is to hay,
everything heart-shaped. The table /
heart.shaped, so are the flower pieces
and in every possible detail this design
is elaborated.
Christmas cards are waning in popu
Iarity. and in their stead are shown tn
art calendars, which are a daily comfor
and pleasure also, large blotters, witt
the covers in painted ivory.
For the man who is o modern Ulysse
for wandering or who only travels occa
siopally there is no gift, we state ]
firmly, so appropriate as the perfectly
appointed travelling case.
Gold and silver match-boxes, silye
travelling TASKS, with the monogram o
initials engraved, are also pleasan
tokens of remembrance; so are heav,
white silk mufilers or the shields o
black MORE for evening dress.
WHEN In DOUBT GIVE FLOWERS.
There is most perplexing question
TO be settled by the young man who
vet on debatable ground and is not ye
the accepted sutton he fondly hopes L
be. OF course il is his wish to bestoy
the most beautiful present to be pre-
cured. but as les cORuenances are to b
considered, and she might not accept tn
present, his state of mind Is far fror
happy.
FLOWERS, let me say, are the wisest de
cision. One can never he offended b
this most refined courtesy, that is a.
ways acceptable.
Purses and card-cases are most &c
ceptable gifts for ladies TO give eac
other. They are exceptionally beaut
fnl this season. The purses come /
delicate silver tiligre, and the new ILL
; minated leather. In many instance
the card-case and purse are shown {
match in illuminated leather in the sam
, design. A single piece of silver for th
! dressing-table is q most acceptable n
, membrance.
| CHRIsTAiAs-EvB RECEPTIONS.
As Christmas is essentially the famil,
= day, Christmas eve has from time III
memorial been the night for entertain
+ ing at this season. In almost ever
i home great bowls of eggnog and I'll
= home-brewed apple-toddy are serve
, with the traditional fruit-cake, on
G around the table gather friends either
4 special invitation or by general unde
: standing that an informal reception {
{ Christmas eve is. the custom Of Il
h house. The traditional "boar's head
o ia now served nowhere but ut Innis &c
/ lege, Oxford. There it is borne in reg
y style on a silver platter by processiC
: of choristers. IN the Old Dominion
d It's stead we serve the tender roast-pig
Q O bed of parsley with rosy apple in
T mouth as one piece dc resistance at &
= Christmas dinner.
Holly, mistlvtoe, and Christmas ros
are, OF course, the favored decoration
d at this banquet.
THE GOWN TO WEAR.
For Christmas-day the house-gown p'
excellence is of dark-green velvet t
debutaats. This is. the chosen gov
made in quaint style, with high-pufli
N sleeves, and round neck. The lace c.
s lar OF Vandyke points is the favori
u neck garniture silver belt and chat
~ laine are also effective.