Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Different Replies From Different People ~ to
Their Desires.

Their Desires.
NEE WAIT SOMETHING 10 ADD TO rnrn PER
soSAL COMFORT AID WOMEN LOOK ron soMI
LUxURY-evH THE cHILDnkN foYs AND LET
THEN ENJOY THEMSELVES.
A 9 SOMETHING APPROPRIATE TO THE
"A season the following conversations between
writer for The STAR and several representa-
tives Of the human race who have the good for
tune TO live in Washington are given. The
nrst representative is young man who dresses
well and is not ashamed to own that he IL
fond Of elegant personal belongings. He trav-
els around to neighboring cities. too. Some
times he visits the satellites of Washington in
Maryland and Virginia and occasionally he
goes north and takes a look at the capitals ri
vals-Philadeiphia, New York and Boston.
This gentlemans name is johnson.
Johnson" said the writer. what would you
Ike Tor Christmas present. 1t will be OBJ
served that there was no promise involved of
giving him what he likes
why, said he, my dear boy, would take
II very kind Of you il you would give me one of
those neat little silver travelling TASKS" A
mental note, which has since been lost of
yohnson's wants WAS taken and presently old
thompson was met. Old Thompson doesn't
travel much now, but is a home man and
likes MS ease.
Thompson" said the writer, 81 am think
ing OF making you Christmas present. Now,
what would You like best, old fellow?' Here.
TOO !: must be noticed that the present had not
got beyond the stage OF a thing to be reflected
on; 1t is still an intangible thought.
thompson smacked his lips. ''Bless me-"
said he, cant you send TO Charleston and get
mo turkey that has been fed in the rice
fields? 1 assure you it is the noblest bird on
earth
tits not probable that Thompsou's wish will
DC realized. Life is too short and South Caro-
was the gallant Col. Jones.
Colonel, 1t is the wish Of my heart to re-
member you on Christmas day. What form
should my remembrance take?' To remember
him Is easy and will cost nothing.
The colonel smiled. my friend" he said.
II nave lost my cigar Case. You can get
Charming ones down town. say no more"
Ana thus 1t transpired that OF these three
GOOD citizens one associated his ideas of pleas
ing gift with the pleasures Of drinking. another
with eating and the third with smoking. Not
to be partial, haphazard inquiry was made as
scene can be imagined
MY dear, says the loving husband to his
loving wife. what do you want for Christmas?"
She nestles close to him and confesses she
would be happy IL she had a new sealskin cloak.
you?'
oh. papa do let me have a turquoise ring
or chatelain watch"
Now. wouldn't it have been a great deal bet
ter II the wife had asked for a ton of coal or
haii a dozen nne sugar-cured hams? And
wouldn't 1t have been beautiful If the daughter
had implored her father to give her a Webster's
International Dictionary. which her little
brother might sit upon instead of his high chair?
But 1t IS not probable that the wife would be
very much pleased II Christmas brought her
hams th.al 40 n
over dictionary. The truth of the matter is
tnat Christmas present is something in the
nature OF a luxury and few people want to re-
ceiye thing which they would probably come
by In the ordinary course of affairs. Coal and
hams and dictionaries are the proper everyday
belongings OF wives and daughters, but seal
skins and turquoises belong to unusual occa-
sions.
Christmas comes but once year, and il is a
great pity for some reasons that il doesn't come
oftener Just think of the amount Of money
the merchants make. From their point Of
view If every day were Christmas It would be
splendid They would soon become billion
aires ana the rest Of mankind would soon
become paupers.
From the children's standpoint Christmas is
a great thing, too. They receive presents, hut
they do not make any. Honors are easy SO far
as they are concerned.
To the young girl who likes to do fancy
WORK and who took time by the forelock and
%, nesan on her Christians presents january
the day Is not bad either. She has now about
finished her task For one male relative she
has . pair OF bedroom shippers. The soles
are OF soft, fluffy wool: the foot is of worsted;
they tic about the ankle with two strings
which have fancy colored balls attached. 1t
takes about five minute, to get them on and
two minutes and n half to &c: them off. but
they are very comfortable. At any rate they
are warm enough. As you put them on the
day you receive them you reflect that you
conla volunteer with perfect safety on an arctic
relative this clever young girl has worked q
continuance In which to keep pocket handker-
chiefs 1t is deliciously scented; it is of tufted
silk OF satin. How fortunate the bachelor thinks
ne IL as he inserts his handkerchief
IN 1t on the afternoon OF December
70. Ii he doesn't make use of it after JAM
uary it is because he is by nature untidy
ungrateful creature. To another masculine
relative the girl gives a curiously made ma
chine Tor holding shaving papers. She puts
five variOusly colored papers in il. These the
prond recipient OF this gift uses up, and then
he uses the thing no more, being utterly unable
TO see how paper can be got into il. An inGen-
lons woman also makes sachets, picture frames.
table covers and a hundred other things Her
Christmas presents have not proved expensive
so far as actual outlay of money is concerned.
Vi course, If the value of her time were consid-
cred. 1t would be different thing. and tie ex-
penditure, il calculated at so cents per hour of
time employed. would amount to about 81 600.
There Is yet another class of people 10 whom
Christmas is a great blessing-these are the
rich people who have plenty OF money and are
not afraid to spend it. They must have de-
hghtful time. To go into shop and buy what
you want and to lie able to pay for it in solid
cash, i. must be pleasure indeed.
But If YOU haven't any money and have a lot
OF relations who you know expect presents on
Christmas, what are you going TO 10. You are
In box, as 1t were. II you give them the
presents you run in debt, if you don't give
them presents you get yourself disiiked." On
the whole, everything being taken into con-
s;dcrat on it is probable that less trouble arises
from purrring the former course. Get the
presents as bast You can. Make your landiady
walt Tor the money you owe her for board
even mako your waahwoman wait. too; but give
your relations presents on Christmas day. If you
know what lis good for yourself. 1t is,
as every man with relatives knows.
better to quarrel with a thousand friends
than with one relative. Not to say any thing
about the mora! of the thing. it must be re.
marked that thousand ex-friends, now
your enemies, cannot make it half as uncom.
Portable for you as the one relation who has a |
mild grudge against you. He-or she wont
forgive you III a hurry, and in the meantime
You viii be met by reprisals and surprises
until-no matter whether you are in the wrong |
Or not-you will be glad TO sue for mercy and |
promise change III your conduct. 1t is ad- |
relative that you improve the opportunity bv |
buying fine present for that relative and |
give it with hopes for a merry Christmas
tha vvhs oh