The Bossier banner., 1890-08-21
IDEAS ON GIFT-MAKINe.
Individuality and Appropriateness ShS u1d
Always Be Considered.

Individuality and Appropriateness She u1d
Always Be Considered.
Emerson probably had the highest
idea of gift-making when he advised the
painter to give picture, the writer a
poem, or the artisan some bit of his own
work, that the gift might have the added
value of individuality.
Peoples houses are full of things that
they do not want, but which they must
keep and take care of simply because
they are the gifts of friends. Now, love
and affection are doubtless lndispensa-
bic in life, but love and affection OF
themselves have no power to invest use-
lessness with utility, or make the ugly
and inartistic beautiful.
In buying book for the birthday or
the anniversary for a person who can
| not buy many books it should not be a
novel, or any thing else that, once read,
has no further purpose. 1t should be
| something that will be of value-a vol
ume of classics, of poetry, or history
that will be constantly needed and re-
ferred to. There are many people who
have upon their shelves the silly novel
which cost as much as good dictionary
of English literature or mythology, or
some other work of the kind.
Many peoples gifts run to bad pict-
ures, which are source of discomfort
to the owner wherever they may be
hung. A good etching for the same
money, or water color, or print would
have been valued and enjoyed.
| When the relative is the donor and
girl who earns her own living is the re
cipient it is permissible-and kind-to
replenish meager wardrobe. 1t is not
kind to give her jewels that put her
shabby gown to shame, silly diamond
/ ring, a set of amber, or a pair of chased
bracelets, as woman once did, when
the relatives whom she so remembered
needed shoes and cloak for the ap-
| preaching winter. 1t is quite possible
to unite i'll the same gift something that
Is needed or which will be permanently
of value, and which is not unsightly. If
a chair is contributed to the possessions
of young people beginning housekeeping
let the giver first sit in it and test it's
comfortableness. 1t is perfectly impos-
sible to know the merits of a chair by
its looks. No matter how deceitfully
it may be upholstered, all sorts of dis
guised angles and knots may come out
of hiding places, to torture the spine of
the unwary owner. A lady once went
into the drawing-room of friend to in
spect it's new furnishings. They were
very handsome and very artistic-all
but one chair. This was a little hard,
square Swiss rocker, upholstered in
bright red.
81 like it all but that, she said point
ing to it, land I would not accept it as
gift"
Il do not like it either replied the
friend, land shall return it immedi-
ately"
The lady finished her call and went
home. There in her own drawing-room
sat the very chair she had condemned.
1t had been returned, her husband
had dropped into the dealers little
while afterward, and by that perverse
fate which seems to delight in cross
purposes, bought it and sent it home.
As it was present from him-intended
to be pleasing surprise, the wife could
say nothing, and it stands in corner oi
her best room to this day. She was
forced to ''accept it as a gift. -
From this another moral may be de-
duced-it is always wise to learn, il
possible, what would be acceptable.
Lastly-and this needs no comment
a young preacher was starting home fol
his Christmas vacation. His clothe:
were threadbare, his fannels thin a.
paper, and his salary in arrears. Hi'
grateful and admiring parishioners sen
a delegation Of deacons to his lodging,
on Christmas eve, with the love ant
esteem of the parishioners and-a large
family Bible.-Chicago Inter Ocean.