The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-10

lent is in need of the things. One pres
ent of this kind, as is an open secret
now, nearly led to duel in France not
long ago.
What young women may give to
young men has always been difficult
matter to decide. L. the case OF broth
er or cousin the subject is not very
complicated. When the friends of
. brothers or cousins are considered the
troubles arise. AS 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 singular
lack of anything new this year in this
particular line.
In what may be called the generality
of Christmas gifts is the mechanical
bird. The thing has grown phenoa-
enally popular. 1t is merely an imita-
ton bird in cage which is wound up
the bird, not the cage-and sings like
a canary. The effect is very realistic
and as gifts to invalids they take first
prize. For the mechanical bird can be
made to sing at any time and requires
no outlay for fool
Firearms as presents are curiously in
favor. There are exhibited revolvers
and pistols, with Merry Christmas"
and Good will to men, anonymously
lettered on their metal hits.
For young married couples are chill
dren's food pushers'' and baby Jump
ers," highly complex mechanisms, it
must be acknowledged. Needle thread
ers come in new designs this year, and
for country relatives the new snow
shoe, famed as Peary's favorite, seems
more or less appropriate.
A curious conflict between the eti-
quette book and the counting house is
embodied in the bread fork. The lat
ter article is acomplex affair, gold and
silver, retailed at fancy prices and pre-
sumably, therefore. purchased mostly
by the wealthy. Yet we are assured
that the use of fork to bread in any
way is now conceded to be vulgar. A
noted ex-consul general to London
tells us that the prince of Wales will
not even have his loaves cut with the
aid of 4 fork by his own cooks in his
own kitchen. 1t is as easy for them to
keep their hands clean as it is to keep
fork clean. and they are as likely to
do one as the other. The story Of how
the parliamentary Ia borite was sneered
at for taking piece of bread from
plate with jab Of his forl, is also IA
niliar. Yet here we have the bread
fork" widely advertised as Christ
mas gift. 1t comes high, too, fifty dol
lars being no unusual price. Are they
purchased as present for the cook,
that she may use them in toasting the
bread?
Fencing swords and outfits are
among the most popular presents from
women to women. Parlor pool and
billiards are among the contrivances
in which the whole family may be ex-
pected to have proprietary interest.
The outfits are Inexpensive and dura-
BILE
The'bad times seem to have passed
away, If the Christmas trade be any
indication. The volume of business ii
some lines has also exceeded that of
previous years.
"A noteworthy thing. too" declared
one merchant, is the unusually large
number of people this year who pay
cash for gifts As rule we sell heav-
lily to credit customers who settle after
the holidays But this season there
seems TO be surprising pienitude OF
ready money. Father Christmas seems
to have killed the hard times