Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-07

lent Is In need OF the things One pres
ent Of this kind. a. Is an open secret
now. nearly led To duel in France not
long ago.
What young women may give 20
young men has always been difficult
matter 20 decide. In the case OF broth
er or cousin the subject Is not vcry
complicated When the friends of
brothers or cousins are considered the
troubles arise. A. has been the rule
heretofore. such presents seem to be
given this year only under exceptional
circumstances An engagement is one
OF them There are. of course. our
old friends, the stud, the watch, the
gold pencil There seems a singular
lack Of anything new this year in this
particular line.
In what may be called the generality
OF Christmas gifts Is the mechanical
binl Tho thing has grown phenoa-
enally popular. IL Is merely an imita-
ton bird In q cage which II wound up
the bird. not the cage-and sings like
a canary. The effect is very realistic
and a. gifts to invalids they take first
prize. For the mechanical bird can he
made 10 sing at any time and requires
no outlay for food.
firearms as presents are curiously in
favor. There are exhibited revoivers
and pistols, with Merry Christmas"
and Good will to men" anonymously
lettcrcd on their metal hits
For young married couples are chill.
drcn's food pushers- and baby Jump
ers." highly complex mechaniSms. IL
must BE- acknowledged. Needle thread
err come In new designs this year. and
for country relatives the new snow
shoe. famed a Peary's fsvorite. seems
morc or iess appropriate.
A curious conflict between the ETH
quette book and the counting house Is
embodied In the bread fork. The lat
ter article Is a complex affair. gold and
silver, retailed at fancy prices and pre-
sumably. therefore. purchased mostly
BY the wealthy. Yet we are assured
THAI the use Of fork % bread IN any
way l. now conceded 20 BE- vulgar. A
noted ex-consul general u Tondon
tells IA that the prince OF Wales will
not even have his loavcs cut with the
all 81 fork b h.s own cooks In his
own kitchen IL = a. easy Tor them 20
keep their hands clean a IL i 20 keep
q fork elsaa. and they are as likely %
d. one a the other. The story Of how
the parliamentary laborite was snecred
a. for taking piece Of bread FROM q
plate with a jab Of rs fork Is Ai-o IA
uiliar Yet here we have the bread
FORK" widely advertised a Christ
mas gift 10 comes high. too. Atty dol
lars being ~ unusuai price. Arc they
purchased a. a present FOR the cook.
that she may use them In toasting the
breadf
feueiug swords and outfits are
amo1Y tha utnst popular present. from
women 60 women parl0r pol and
billiards are snaour the coufrivances
n which The Whole family may bc ex-
rested 70 have = proprietary interest
The outfits are Inexpensive AMI dura-
BE.
TIE tsd times seem - have pa-sed
away. II the Christmas trade BE any
Indication. The volume 81 business In
-osne line< has slsa exce~sisd that II
Previous frara
A noteworthy thing. 80. declared
cne merchant. - the snnsuallg lar~s
urnb~r ~ people this year who gay
essh fer gifts A. r'iie Ne sell heav-
~ Co credit customers VIM settle after
the holidays nut this s-asou there
seems - 49, sfsrTasslns pienitnie -
Fc.sir mouey Father Christmas seems
90 haze allied the hari tiass