The Progress., 1892-12-17
CHRISTMAS GIFT MAKING.

greater or less degree, their annual
perplexity as to the selection OF
Christmas gifts There are some
serene souls who unconsciously pur-
chase for this purpose whatever Mt
the last moment they can convenient
ly lay their hands upon; and there
are other calm and prudential indl-
yiduals. who make ont their lists and
deliberately choose long IN advance
spf the occasion. But there are those
whose tastes are fastidious or pecu-
liar. those who find IT difficult to
make slender measures accomplish
their generous designs, those who
confuse themselves amid multitude
of objects. and carelessly try to ad-
inst a Gift for aunt Julia, that shall
correspond with token for cousin
John. and all these, with an almost
infinite variety Of other forms of per-
plexity, make up large proper
ton OF the Christmas giving COM
munity. The custom OF exchanging
at Christmas, gifts of affection, re-
spect or courtesy, seems TO have set
tied so completely into an accepted
fact, that is now too late to concern
ourselves about its origin, or to de-
bate its wisdom. No doubt 1t is "a
beautiful custom, with ali It's abuses,
and in despite of its many absurdl-
ties. Abuses and absurdIties, more
or less, cling to or pertain to all hu-
sman fashions or customs. 1t would he
toormuch to expect aunlform or oven
an average wisdom in any popular
custom; and in this matter OF Christ
mas gifts, the affections and good
will that so generally prompt the
giving must fully atone for what
ever of the vulgar, the ostentatious
or the tasteless, that may be exhibit
ed in it. The suitable selections Of
gifts is an art. 1t requires discrimi-
nation and a nice perception OF the
fitness of things. There sould en-
ter into the gift, as it were, the in
dividuality of the giver, or the lndi-
viduality Of the de tined recipient.
Gifts that do not express the taste or
the likings Of one or the other, or
which do not in some way measure or
record their mutual sympathies, are
without significance or special vol
uma The motive or the affection OF
the giver, Of course, extenuates errors
in taste; but gift is thrice valued
into which care, thought and hap
py perception as to its fitness, have
entered. No man or woman is hon
ored by receiving chance or ran
DUN purchase under the name of
gift. A gift in which the value is
limited to its usefulness or cost
which has no ether significance than
its price--is almost an impertinance.
Such gift looks like charity; as il
the recipient were in need of it; or
il asserts indirectly that he has no
tastes, or incinations or individuality
worth consulting. IL is not neces-
sary for instance, that jewel should
be in the prevailing fashion; it should
exhibit some special or peculiar prop
erty, either as To suitGbleness for the
wearer, or as to its beauty and artlis
tic quality. A gentleman who ran
sacks the town to find jewel of
some rare workmanship compli-
ments the recipient four-fold.
Articles of apparel are only suitable
as presents from parents to children,
or between those of very near rela-
tionship. But even in these cases,
particular care is needed in the Sc
lection. To be compelled to wear a
distasteful article of dress because it
has been gift, is one of the severest
trials gift receiving victim can be
called upon to endure. Books. as
gifts, reach larger range of tastes
than almost anything else. Their APP
priateness is usually manifest, and
there is notable opportunity for pol
icy OF choice. A fine edition OF an
author, known to be favorite, will
often prove very happy selection;
then certain sumptuous tastes can be
furnished with the costly bindings
and rich appointments OF the special
gift volumes, while sometimes a
choice that implies a literary taste
on the part of the recipient Is ack
nowledged as compliment. The
liberal extent to which books have
been used for presents has been stim-
ulating both to literature and art.
Fine wood and steel engraving al
most owes It's existence to il; and the
gift volume is often, in many fam
lies, their first introduction to the
author it celebrates. But. to select
books as presents successfully, re-
quires an intimate knowledge of the
tastes and acquirments of the person
for whom they are designed, and
when this knowledge exists. no gift
can be more pleasing or satisfactory.
Suitable selection requires no little
diligence: but If it is worth while to
make presents at all, it is worth
while doing so with propriety. The
indiscriminate purchases Of mean
ingless rubbish that occur at Christ
mas times are possibly indicative OF
good will and affection. but these a2-
mirable qualities are none the less
praisewortby il accompanied by dis