The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
CHRISTMAS is COMING
ITS APPROACH BRINGS THE ANNUAL
PUZZLE OF WHAT TO GIVE.
BY Way of solution a Writer Comes to
the Rescue with Ideas to Suit
All Tastes and Purses.

demand suggestions as TO what to give this
one. that one, or the other. And after some
dozen or two possible presents have been
named, one finds dozen or two objections
advanced against each suggestion.
Every one offers different lists of articles
and different bits of advice. The following
list is the best in the way of suggestions
and advice that the writer can give; and
they are here set down in the hope of fill
ing want that is widespread at the APP
preaching holiday season. If none of the
articles named proves to be exactly what
is desired, yet reading over the list may
possibly bring to mind just what is sought.
Make much of the Christmas season.
Decorate with holly and evergreens as Law
ishly as your means will allow. On Christ
mas day have a particularly nice dinner
and do not fail to rescue from a boarding
house two or three people TO whom a home
Christmas dinner will be welcome change
If both the friend and the boarding house
chance to be unattractive, let the invita-
ton be especially cordial and urgent. And
why not have little gift, and a sprig of
holly. at each plate? autt
Just a word concerning the unfortunate
ones who live in boarding houses. Their
friends are respectfully urged to abstain
from presenting them with books or brio
a-brac save under exceptional circum-
stances. When person has no settled
home, beware of adding to belongings that
so often prove a burden instead of pleas
ure. - 81
The matter of Christmas gifts should re-
ceive attention long before the holidays
Make out careful list of those to whom
you wish TO give presents, III and consider
carefully the sum you have to expend.
Having settled these two important points,
use your best endeavors to stick to them.
When stores are filed TO oYerfiowing with
tempting articles. and one Is sDurred on
by the laudable wish to give pleasure, con-
siderations of economy are apt to be
thrown to the winds 1t is.aindeed. hard to
keep within the limit previously fixed; but
having once decided what, the limit must
be, keep to it, if only for0the tonic effect
upon your moral nature.
There is room for an unbounded amount
of tact and thought lin bestowing even the
least of presents. A Christmas souvenir
ought to be little better than an ordinary
1t may be we'll to follow a plan suggested
by certain family known to the writer.
When each member wishes to give a
relative who is well supplied with ordinary
knick-knacks, they find 1t a capital way to
combine the money to be expended. Thus
they are enabled TO purchase gift Of more
real value TO the recipient than a number
of smaller articles. Almost any one would
prefer piece of beautiful lockwood pot
terry TO its value in gioves, handkerchiefs
and stick-pins.
FOR LONG PURSES.
People of large means can easily find
beautiful and appropriate gifts at the stores
OF jewelers.. booksellers. picture sellers, or
furniture dealers. While, for these So
called lucky ones" Christmas is merely
TIE expanding of much money. who would
willingly forego the pleasure of gently
cudgeling ones brains in order to compass
some long-desired object? Charles Lamb, in
his later days, when money, fortunately
was quite plentiful, discourses thus charm
ingly of his early economies. The words he
credits to his cousin" the very delightful
and cultivated Bridget" so often named
in his essays:
II wish the good old times would come
again when we were, not quite so rich. do
not mean that want to be poor but there
was a middle state in which / am sure we
were a great deal happier. A purchase is
but a purchase, now that you have money
enough and to spare. Formerly it used to
luxury land oh, how much ado l had to
get you TO consent in those times), we were
used to have a debate for two or three
against and think what we might, spare it
out of, and what saving we could hit upon
that should be an equivalent. A thing was
worth buying then when we felt the money
that We paid for it," rof
First of all. the heads of the house-the
father mother, husband or wife-should
claim especial consideration. There is a GER
tain notion, which Is far too prevalent. that
advancing years destroy ones relish for
gifts--that father and mother do not enjoy
receiving presents thew did
1t Is not true. This point is wittily touched
upon, in the following paragraph from a
delightful story by Miss A. G. Plympton:
For mother l am making lovely pin
cushion. began 1t for Aunt Jane. but that
was two years ago. and / knew she had
forgotten all about Ii. told Mamie Whyte
that was going to give 1T to her. and she
said it was lovely and thanked me for it
but that was before l dropped it in the
want it after that. With mother. it's differ
ent. because she says she values anything
her children have taken pains to make for
her" ~
While it is to be hoped that few presents
reach their destination after careers so
varied, there is a lurking spirit which hints
While loving parent heart will gorify
simple gifts into things very choice and
beautiful; Look to it that you give them
Give your best TO those who are really
dearest
There is still another mischievous spirit
between friends. So prevalent is 1T that the
funny papers make it a target for jokes.
But there is more truth than jest in the
following:
Papa asked small boy, what is
Christmas?'
Christmas. my son. is a day on which
we receive presents for which we have no
earthly USE but which compel us to give
in return things We can't possibly afford
to buy.
How often one hears a remark like the
following:
What can 1 give to Kate? 1 am pretty
thing"
When repayment is the motive for giving.
don't give. Give only to those whom you
hold in regard, or to those whose dull,
humdrum lives need all the pleasure the
Christmas season brings.
A present or money would sometimes be
the most welcome gift yet the would-be
giver Is restrained by the knowledge that
much tact is needed In making the gift:
but often the difficulty may be gracefully
overcome by giving humorous turn to the
making of such a present -
HOW TO GIVE MONEY.
A certain young man at college received
from an uncle a pillbox, which bore the
words: Take until relieved" Inside the
box were several gold coins. A physician,
writing to a favorite niece, inclosed a
check, saying: Please accept from DR.. X
the inclosed plaster. and apply wherever
needed" A check, for some inscrutable
reason. seems a favorite and unobjection-
able way of cutting the Gordian knot. One
young lady received a large hatbox con-
tanning a sailor hat coquettishly trimmed
with ten new one-dollar bills; another had
a collar embelished with a large bow made
out OF bills. If the bills are of large de-
nomination, none OF the jaunty effect is