Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-06

the shops are full of bewilderingly beauti-
full things that these poor fellows have got
to GO and buy for those dear women. And
they don't know the shops, and the clerks
in the shops pity their ignorance: and, hang
it. hows man going to know, anyway,
what woman wants?
Well, he isn't. No man really knows,
though he sometimes thinks he does-untn
after Christmas, or perhaps after he has
tied up the box and sent it off, and then he
is sure, all at once, to remember that she
said once she didn't care for silver toilet
things, but preferred Dresden instead; or
that she is making collection of teapots,
ard that it would have been Just the thing
to have given her one of these And be-
cause men. quite of themselves don't know
what women like for Christmas presents,
and aren't likely to find out unless some
woman helps them out, these things are set
down as reminders.
Some Things That Always Please.
OF some things a woman never has
enough; to wit, of fine handkerchief, Of
curious bits of iewelry, of silk stockings and
of kid gloves Neither does her soul grow
weary of dainty bits of bric-a-brac, of quaint
silver teaspoons; nor of curious brass CANDLE
sticks and lamps, no matter how thick they
NAV stand about. Women always like
etchings, too, or a good print, no matter
how small they may be. So, also, with a
bit of statuette in bronze or marble, or in
plaster Even if a woman doesn't know
about these things, she is hattered that you
think she does
If she's your mother, or your sister. or
your wife, you won't have to keep up any
of these flattering little tictions, but can Just
rive bar riobt 1nruu sanSibIa ucaful oift
Give your mother a new lizard or seal
pocketbook, and be sure there's not much
silver about it, except hidden in the
pockets, and even there gold is better. Or
give her an eider-down cover for her own
bed, or g pair of fur-lined dressing shoes
for the dear feet that don't keep warm az
they used to. Then there's bit of real lace
for the little gentle-woman, who will lay it
away in rose sachets and think up dozen
ways to wear it and be happy in it.
A Triple Dressing Mirror.
Perhaps your sisters leather card case is
little worn at the edges; or she's lost her
visiting list book. If she has set up her
afternoon tea table give her copper kettle
or wrought iron crane. If she hasn't set
up the tea-table, give her one in bamboo,
with the cunning little tea stool that goes
with it. If she hasn't triple dressing
mirror give her that, bv all means; there's
nothing in all the world that comforts and
sustains woman's soul like being able to
see her back hair and her eyes and her pro-
file all at once. Or there's party fan-sn
! ostrich feather one if you can, a gauze ono
| if you cantor q big black Spanish, lace
scarf to wear about her head of an evening.
If you're man who hasn't pocket full
of dollars and your wife spends your money
anxiously and thriftily. Just go and buy her
what she will call 'a foolish gift" that is
''too fine for her." 1t isn't; she's been de-
nying herself ever since she married you,
the beautiful little things she has wanted
because they were so expensive. 1t isn't
too fine for her; she'll love it all the better
because its fine, and you, too, because you
thought to give it to her. One man brought
tears of ioy to the eyes of his little wife by
giving her the prettiest, most expensive pair
of house-shoes he could find in New York.
She hadn't had such pair since she bought
her wedding shoes, because they were so ex-
pensive. And she wore two and ball, ,AA,
too!
What Not to Get for Her.
Perhaps the young man who is buying for
The One Woman has the hardest of all.
He's so Historically anxious to have the
gift in good taste and he won't ask his sister
to help him out because she doesn't
really appreciate Her anyway ard never
did. And it's just as well, perhaps, for
him not to say anything to anybody, because
he wouldn't quite be satisfied with anything
that anybody could suggest.
But perhaps, one may suggest some things
that he would better avoid buying: Per.
fumes, because any girl knows what she
wants best herself; things to wear, because
her father has the right to provide these for
her; stationery, because she has her own
distinctive style, and you would better not
interfere with ii. iewelry above all because
no man should give woman jewelry unless
thev are betrothed or married
Make the gilt useful, but not too useful,
that would assume too great intimacy;
pretty, but not expensiye-that would em-
barrass her; impersonal, yet delicately per-
sonal.
Then rest your soul in peace. For if she
cares for YOU, she'll care for the gift, no
matter how simple it is. And if she care
for neither-then why should you vex your
soul? HELEN WATrERSoN.