The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-21
IDEAS ON GIFT-MAKlNG.
individuality and Appropriateness Shoul
Always BE Considered.

individuality and Appropriateness Should
Always BE Considered.
Emerson probably had the highest
idea of gift-making when he advised tho
painter to give picture, the writer q
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 indispensa-
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 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 a 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--tol
replenish a meager wardrobe. 1t is not
kind to give her Jewels that put her
shabby gown to shame, silly diamond
ring, set of amber. or pair of chased
bracelets, as a woman once did, when
the relatives whom she so remembered
needed shoes and cloak for the APP
preaching winter 1t is quite possible
to unite in the same gift something that
is needed or which viii be permanently
u value, and which is not unsightly. If
chair is contributed to the possessions
Of young people beginning housekeeping
let the giver first sit Ia it and test it's
,omfortableness. 1t is perfectly impos-
Sible 10 know the merits of a chair by
its locks. No matter now deceitfully
it may be upholstered, all sorts of dis
gu1sed 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
;pect las new furnishings. They were
very handsome and very artistic-all
out one chair. This was a little hard,
square Swiss rocker, upholstered in
bright red.
Il like it all but that" she said point
ing to it, and l would not accept it as
gift"
81 do not like it either" replied the
friend and shall return it immedi-
ately."
The lady finished her call and went
1ome. There in her own drawing-room
sat the very chair she had condemned.
1t had been returned, kor husband
lad droppes into the dealers little
while aftorward, and by that perverse
tate which seems to delight in cross
purposes, bought it and sent it home.
AS it was q present from m--tntended
20 be pleasing surprise, the wife could
say nothing, and it stands in corner of
her best room to this day. She was
forced to accept it as a gift"
From this another moral may be de-
1uced-it is always wise to learn, if
possible, what would be acceptable.
LastiJ-and this needs no comment
young preacher was starting home for
his Christmas vacation. His clothes
we're threadbare, his flannels thin as
paper, and his salary in arrears. His
grateful and admiring parishioners sent
delegation Of deacons to his lodgings
on Christmas eve, with the love and
esteem of the parishioners and-a large
family Bible.-Chicago Inter Ocean.