The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-07
CHRISTMAS AFTERMATH.
An Exchange of Gifts Sometimes
Leads to Queer Discoveries.
New York Evening Sun

new 1Ork ENenlnS sun.
Not all the after Christmas shopping
crowds are made UP OF those who are set
ting right the presents they didn't expect.
Exchanging things" is an occupation that
takes much time and attention just after
Christmas. Gifts OF certain class have
way of trotting in pairs upon Christmas
day that is curious as it is provoking.
Jewelry. small articles of silver and novel
ties in bric-a-brac are almost sure to come
I'm twos. They are quite often sure to be
marked. too. so that their exchange is inn
possible. Books are certain TO be dupli-
Gated. Nothing is surer than that the first
volume received by you at Christmas time
will be later supplemented by another.
There's a kind OF destiny about It, AS
consequence nearly every bookshop in the
city is just now swarming with persons de-
srouS of making exchanges. Unwelcome
discoveries are sometimes made IN this way.
big man in a bookshop on Monday last
was yainiy trying to induce the saleswoman
to take back a volume that she declared
they had never had in stock. But it was
done UP in your wrapping paper and your
label is on the fiyleaf," persisted the man,
whereupon the saleswoman consulted the
higher powers and returned with the die
tun that they had once had the book in
stock but IL was ten years ago. you see
It's pages are rather yellow, she SAID
Somebody who bought il here ten years ago
and has been keeping 1t all the time has
Just given il to you. but we can't take
it back, for there's no call for it nova
days" Whereat the man turned away
i'm anger we'll as sorrow. Enterprising
enthusiastically women-excharge the
duplicate Tor a cheaper aIIlcIe. anu are t.fuS
81 or 80 in besides. POOH. exclaimed
one witness of these various exertions, i
never go to the bother of exchanging my
duplicate presents. 1 put them carefully
away and then when next Christmas comes
7 give them away again. / dispose of all
my ugly and really useless presents in the
same way OF course, I'm careful never 10
send anything to its original donor but all
sorts OF accidents will happen, and I've been
nearly found out two or three times. once
received hideous skewer sort of tortoise
shell thing for my hair. Now l never wear
anything like ornaments in my hair under
any circumstances, and this thing was Pc
culiarly obnoxious to me. i calmly laid 1t
away. and when the next Christmas came
sent il TO a girl who did like such things
She was girl who didn't know the original
donor of the gift. so felt perfectly safe IN
so doing. But one day the original donor
and the not original recipient met and at
my house The original donor asked to see
the very pretty pin that the not original
recipient wore in her hair. Why. it's al
most exactly like one that / gave Mamie a
year ago she said. Indeed it's just But
here my diplomacy came 10 the rescue. 1
changed the subject of the conversation,
and the crisis was averted. But, narrow as
the escape was, the things not likely TO
hsppen once in hundred times. Depend
upon il. the best and most economical way
to dispose Of your duplicate presents Is to
give them to other people"