The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-29
TO CHRISTMAS GIVERS.
Suggestions as to Appropriate Holiday
Presents.
-wfMAs

Suggestions as to Appropriate Holiday
Presents.
The gift which harmonizes with its flu
ture surroundings and just fits in va
cant spot is the one which is most val
ued. The same rule applies to articles
of dress To the young brunette, whose
evening gowns are generally pink or
crimson, the pale blue fan, although
lovely in itself, would not be as service
able as palmer one which she could use
with her existing wardrobe. Before you
embroider the doilies or centerpieces for
the housewives table consider the color
of her china and try to bring your work
into affinity with her possessions.
The friends in mourning and the in
valid appreciate the thoughtfulness which
adapts the gift to their saddened lives.
The book, with it's comforting message:
the potted palm to brighten the darkened
room, the soft knitted shawl or slippers
in fact, anything that evidences consid-
Grafton for their feelings, and does not
jar by incongruity, is priceless.
1t is astonishing to note how much is
frittered away on perishable trif1es when
the Christmas gift, of all others, should
be something enduring. The elaborate
card and beribboned booklet are prac-
tically useless, aside from the remem-
brance which prompts their giving. Al
most every one has collection of satin
hand painted vanities, lovely to look at,
but the care of which is the despair of
both mistress and maid But some say:
"Other things are beyond my means. l
cannot afford to give substantial pres
ents." 1t is a fact that the shops, espe-
cially during the hot months, are filled
with at least three articles which delight
the hearts of homemakers the world
over, and which many young girls love
to collect against the wedding day.
What are they, pray? Dainty individual
coffee cups, harlequin spoons and single
plates, suitable for the serving of fruits,
cream or salad.
Cooperation is a boon to the average
purse. If the members of the family OF
| a set of friends accustomed to exchange
gifts unite their finances, they can give
one handsome article in the place of sew.
eral makeshifts.
Good taste discriminates between the
needs of country and town and does not
send an opera glass or party bag to the
farmhouse. Neither does it give the boy
a book which he ought to like, but tries
to select one to complete his favorite Sc
ries. Childrens stockings are sometimes
filed from the standpoint of maturity
Utility and not suitability governs the
choice of their contents. There has beer
many disappointed, sorrowful heart OF
Christmas morning because the powers
that be, forgetting their own childhood
had catered to the tastes of those of a
instead of to those of 4.
On the principle of like attracting like
the most valuable gift too often finds it,
way to the one who needs it least. Ii
some cases good judgment dictates thu
giving of money as the kindest thing tt
be done. How often some poverty
straitened one has sighed over the ex
pensive gift, eff only had the none,
this gift costw No field affords wide
opportunity for the exercise of commo,
sense than Christmas giving. Women
by exercising Judgment, not only benef
themselves, but are a positive blessin,
in their example to the entire sex, an,
yuletide of 1898 will be happy one in
deed if common sense is more employed
in Christmas gifts.-A. l.. Fleming.
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