Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-18
GASTGR
 GIFTS,

The fashion of exchanging gifts at Eastertide has grown so during the past few years that it bids fair to rival the Christmas giving.
 Of course when the question of giv- ing presents arises the first question that comes into ones mind is the both ersome one, What shall I give?"
 The variety is not so great at this sea- son Of the year, but then neither is the expense. There are dozens of pretty trifles to be had for a dollar or little more, and a dollar is very little indeed when one thinks of the pleasure the un- expected little offering will give. To begin with there are flowers, always acceptable and preferred by many peo- pie to less perishable presents as more appropriate to the season.
 Easter! Doesn't that name conjure up visions of tall, graceful lilies grouped about the white altar and the branches of early blossoming apple trees festoon- ed around the stained glass windows of the church?
 A gift of flowers is a reminder of the happy Easters of long ago. There is the white azalea, like small tree covered with snowfiakes, the calla and ascension lily, UT, II they dTe pTclGFTeu, lIiS llldiiy varieties of palms or ferns.
 These plants may be placed in fancy jardinieres, or a fancy cover may be made of white or colored crape tissue paper and wi;h a broad band of satin ribbon to match the paper.
 Cut flowers give a deal of pleasure while they last-white roses mingled with sprays of the feathery maidenhair fern, the sweet scented Roman hyacinth or the always dear violets, single or dcu- ble, with their own leaves. .zf-'osa r
 The Easter bouquet should be all white, but little lavender or pale pink is sometimes permissible.
 As white is the Easter color, articles in silver or cut glass are much liked a tiny vineigrette in cut glass with a heart shaped top in silver, silver em- broidery scissors with prettily chased handles and silver thimbles in various patterns. If the friend for whom the gift is intended is making a collection of spoons, there is the spoon of ones na- tive city or of the homes of famous per- sons teI help the cpllection,i ..4z.
 For the tea tables are the silver tea balls in new patterns, tongs with shells for the prongs, the tea caddies in the IdNOIll6 COlOllldl SlyIG UT pretty cut glass bottles with silver tops to hold al- cohol for the lamps.
 The wants of the toilet such as the manicure scissors, with nail file and but tonhook to match, or a tortoise shell comb, plain or with a silver back and the fascinating powder puffs with en- bossed silver, or the dainty Dresden china tops, may be remembered.
 ( ,~;f ;.. e., 4t. countless trifles for his desk-silver pencils or penholders, the mother of pearl and silver paper knife, the eraser in a silver or china holder, small racks for the pens, inkstands in silver or china and the fancy silver corners for the desk blotter.
 A new idea is a box Of china, in two or three makes, delft, dresden and hay iland, having two compartments, one to hold matches and larger one for the Havanas. A lid comes with this box. The boxes look pretty on a table or desk.
 Prayer book sets the small anchor and cross in silver or mother of pearl, make very appropriate presents.
 Sofa pillows, in rich shades of green or red velvet, or in the dainty pompa- dour silks, are always liked. If the re-
  can be made in the colors of his or her college.
 Tn the confectioner's wares there are the fluffy little chicks, ducks and the rabbits which generally are sold as Easter gifts and which accompany a fancy basket5of candy eggs for children. Some of the smaller eggs are filled with cordials or Jamaica rum, but these are intended for the children of larger growth.
 Eggs of satin, hand painted with flow CTS and filled with these cordial eggs, are a pretty present. There are the usual satin boxes filled with the finest candies, and the fancy dressed dolls, Quakers, Japanese imps and angels, which are filled with eggs or candy, as one desires. Pretty baskets of birch- wood are sold, to be filled with the old fashioned dyed egg.
 Many a child will scorn the satin box es and ornamented candy eggs and se- lect the gayly colored hens egg.
 EASTER COIFFURES.