Evening star., 1896-12-15
A CHRISTMAS SUGGESTION
Plan Adopted by One Woman in Buying
Presents.
Confined Herself to One of the Many
Lines of Goods Supposed to
BE SeasOnable.

The giving Of presents at Christmas sea-
son has become SO conventional and inevi-
table custom that this day Of peace and
good will Is now more Of a dread and a
care than it ought to be. Possibly, this is
because so many Of us make the mistake
Of waiting until the holidays are fairly
upon Us before we consider what will be
the most pleasing and appropriate gifts for
those upon our Christmas list. Then, with
a limited time at our disposal in which to
select number of presents, we enter a
shop, and. finding the place thronged, We
make our purchases hurriedly, accepting
the advice Of the salesman. who is anxious
to turn his attention to other customers
impatiently waiting for their turn. Conse-
quently, we often depart with the things
that are more likely to be a disappointment
than a satisfaction.
One WOman's Way.
During a recent discussion of the cares
Of the holidays one clever woman described
her labor-saving method Of providing gifts
for her somewhat numerous friends.
Each year." she said. II turn all my
shopping efforts toward one collection. il
may be silver. or rare bits Of porcelain, or
embroidered household linens. With my
thoughts thus bent upon q particular re-
search. am not led into sudden, frantic
purchases by the rush or the impulse OF
the moment, only to realize in q calm after
ward that bought those things merely be-
cause they thrust themselves upon me,
and not because they filled the needs or
tastes that I wished to crafty.
Articles Of Glass.
This year. finding my resources some
what cramped, I selected crystal, as 1t
gives a lovely return for a meager expendi-
ture. One of my friends is devoted to the
graces of her dining table: therefore 1 am
confident that she will be pleased with a
cut glass jelly bowl of SO quaint and at
tractive a shape as to make the modest
price seem incredible. Another Is distinc-
lively fond OF arranging her flowers In a
variety of holders. For her an orchid
shaped vase of Bohemian glass, in shades
Of green and brown. is purchased without
a doubt Of Its welcome; while for violet
loving girl violet globe of pale purple
Austrian glass, edged with duh gold, is a
charming little receptacle to secure for 20
cents.
The friend whose tiny apartment is elori-
fled by the unique contents Of her cabinets
will receive the newest Venetian importa-
tion-a shallow bowl of green threaded
glass, held high in the feet of griffin.
whose head peers over the edge OF the
bowl; the griffin is opal-tinted.
Besides selecting these novelties from
special importers, have hunted through
the jumble of old curio shops and have
had as much enjoyment in the discovery
Of little treasures there as my dear ac-
quaintances will have in possessing them.
And SO my Christmas shopping has been
a pleasure instead Of a trial"
Some Attractive Prices.
In ancient times rock crystal used to be
carried for coolness in the hands of the
high-born Venetian lady. Moreover. the
Venetians are said to have carried to per-
lection the art of carving on rock crystal.
But they could have done nothing more
superb than the hunting scenes cut upon
the goblets and beakers Of the Dorflnger
manufactory.
IN green Carlsbad glass are tall, narrow
little goblets to be used fer the oyster
cocktail. which has replaced oysters on the
half-eheA as the first "Whet" OF q dinner.
These stand in saucers, and ara decorated
with 3 broad gold band. In the same color
and With similar ornameptation are low
cups. deeply .rampled opposite the handles,
like . Florenttne howerabasket. These also
punch, 49,
which IL quite the rage. 1t ID called the