Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-18
OF PLEASING
SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HoWTo
SELECT CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
How Calendars and Other simple Articles
Msy lie Made Presty-Prssents
Suitable for Men.

faclle accomplishment, but whom 10
threatens 10 become pertunctory in It's
most literal sense. as IL does a. Christmas
time, its difficulties seem to weave per-
feet maze OF perplexities.
Despite tho aggressive practicabilty OF
our age in certain lines, in others there -
an ever. growing valuation placed upon
delicate sentiment. which Is but the natu-
raj flower Of culture. and 10 is this refining
tone which must peryade every choice OF
tho gifts which we send forth to carry our
messages of Peace on earth and good
will towards mon."
Hamlets command 10 his players, 81 Let
your own discretion DO yon5 tutor; suit
the action TO the word, tEo word 20 th9
action" is not more percmptory than the
mandates of good taste at this joyous sea-
son, which insists that we suit our token
TO our friend aud our friend TO our token,
and therein lies the very perfume OK your
gift-blossOm. The day is quite past when
random lot OK gilt-edg0 books With
gaudy colors or some indefinite SNOWY
article vaguely styled ian ornament" can
be employed "a worthy messagers OF
thoughts, which are OF more delicate nature
than their representatives. We now must
express our sentiments IN more specific
ways and tho greater tho amount OF IN
dlyidualltY infused into our selections tho
greater their charm. The womanly crafts
now so fashionable enable tho most ex-
quisite creations 20 go forth from dainty
hands, their value far exceeding any con-
celts of shop manufacture. They also
possess the rare advantage OF carrying no
price-mark save the high one OF time and
thought.
A Aunique present. suitable for either q
man or woman and ono which IS replets
with commendable sentiment, fraught
with individuality and an everlasting
interest, is sn autograph calendar. Tho
donor has 365 blank pages OF heavy
white paper about note size. and as tho
day and month are ohronicled at the top OF
each page underneath there is written some
selection 10 either prose or poetry giving
the author) TO serve as motto Tor tho
day. An exquisite one was made by an
artistic little woman who had 3 passion
for yiolets. Every anniversary of any Inn
portance in her own life, and every ono ia
the life of the friend for whom Il was made.
was noted with selection. peculiarly
appropriate TO that memorable day, written
in violet ink aud a few violets painted at
random on the margin OF the page. Her
birthday. the birthdays OF the dear ones
IN the family, the betrothal-day, the wed.
ding day, and the sad days made hallowet
by death. each had their little cherished
history told not only by tho event being
stated. but by the suitableness of the verse
chosen. When IL was completed the manu-
script autograph pages were sent 70 o
book-binding establishment aud bound IN
a soft leather, then painted Parma uolets
scattered over its back. There IS involved
IN tins so great an expenditure OF time,
recurring research through many books,
that there is little danger Of the idea ever
becoming commonplace.
A calendar is one of the most useful
presents and s capable of being made ac-
ceptable IN other aud less tedious ways.
Many Of them that are given away as ad-
vertisements with q chance of selling are
az pretty A possible and happy substitutes
for the discarded Christmas cards. They
are easily fashioned 10y neatly cutting a
square of water-color board, with rest
pasted on the back. in ono corner tho
calender is glued and around 1t
painted delicate loose sprays OF how-
ere, while linked in among thom
ls some suggestive motto, such as limo
and tide wait for no man" or, Gather
the rosebuds while ye may, old lime -
still ahying." Skill in embroidery is now
carried 10 such perfection that II IL even
more valued than decorative painting, anu
the fad of Identifying fine linen with us
artistic methods is especially pleasing IN
| effect.
An acceptable present for any wyfnsn u
| a yeil-case. a3 II - an all-important thing
| that these fragile masks for the face arc
nicely kept. Two pieces OF white iinen
are pasted over two sheets of light paste
board about eleven by six inches. These
| fold together like a book, being made SOFT
| inside by lining of gathered silk, which
serves also to Join them together. Per-
| tuned wadding Is underneath the silk. On
| one back of the linen loose yloet5 and In
quaint letters the delightful biL OF Hat
| terry
Folded within this dainty case
Arc almy wells for tny tair face
A elove-case made 10 match. aud in tho
same manner, with ROmeO'5 amorous ap-
peal. Would that were glove upon
| the back as n motto, would enhance its
value rs git.
Another useful aud artistic present OF
| the common gender is q book or maya
| zine.cOver. Any ono who has ever covered
q book with either paper or cloth Tor pros
| lection could devise the simple pattern.
| 4 durable and pretty one IL made OF brown
| liaen. the s,ze OF magazine. On one SIDE
solid discs in Japanese gold thread or fely'
| de It's are embroidered, and on the other
| the first or last part of that dear old Eng.
lisa verse tells its mission;
"Oh, Tor a books
Aud a shade nOoke,
Where 1 may iie all
At ny ease and rsafe,
FOR loili8 good DOOko
WhereOn 70 locke
- better 10 mo than golte.'
Men are the worst stumbling-blocks
which the lresont-seeker encounters.
4atu which enmmfnI n