The herald., 1897-12-19
CHRISTMAS GIFTS


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It Is to be a diamond Christmas Gems
are to sparkle In dazzling splendor and
scintillate in flashing beauty on the
Christmas gifts that are presented by
those who can afford to be generously
up-to-date. The artists whose chief
business in life 1t is to invent new de-
signs in which diamonds form the COM
ponent parts, and who are happiest when
devising new ways of displaying genteel-
ly the ostentatious gems that should be
seen without seeming to court attention,
will have unlimited opportunity to show
their originality and good taste. On the
flaps of the dainty pocketbooks, on the
cross sticks Of the delicate fans, on the
covers of perfume bottles, and on every
part of the pretty articles that will be
presented this Christmas by the wealthy,
diamonds Of the purest ray serene will re-
fleet the light in brilliant colors.
From Paris comes the news that the
diamond initial is to be all the rage. It
is to be woven in fantastic designs on
the handles Of the fan; it will seek to
rivel the brightness of it's owners eyes
when she holds her smelling salt bottle
in close proximity to the tip of her deli
cate nose; it will CLEAN and glow on
breast-pin and watch-case, and will ra-
diate in warmth and splendor wherever
the art of man can fasten it. There Will
be no limit to the diamond fancy. If the
designer finds that his field for diamond
planting is curtailed, all he will have to
to is to extend the field. From the
crown of my lady's hat to the toes Of her
nineteenth century boots there is q
vast amount of ornamentation on which
diamonds can be displayed to advantage,
and upon none will this fact be more
strongly impressed than upon him who
goes a-shoppng this Christmas wishing
to do the correct thing. but desiring to
spare his purse as much as possible.
But, while it is entertaining to read
that diamonds are to be lavishly dis
played on the presents given during the
coming Christmas, to the great major
ity of the people gifts of less costly
nature are a subject of more practical
interest. To such the stores in our big
cities present a picture that for variety
and attractiveness has never been
equaled. The indications are that the
bulk of the presents is to take the form
OF useful rather than ornamental arti-
cles. There will be an immense variety
of new designs in umbrellas. the mount
ings of the handles in gold and silver
having given plenty of scope for origi-
nality In this direction; elaborate toilet
sets will be favorite gifts by both mar
ried and single; manicure sets in great
variety are on sale at all the leading
stores; for men, there is choice collec-
old favorite that hobs up again in the
shape OF a set of seven razorq, one for use
on each day of the week, the proper day
being engraved on the blade, together
with the initials Of the man upon whose
hrisute growth the razors are to be
used.
A significant indication of the chang
ing condition in the life Of lovely woman
Is the fact that many of the presents
intended for the better half of the world
take the shape Of articles for Office use
These are dainty inkstands of cut glass.
gold pen holders, silver-mounted blot
ting paper holders, ivory paper cutters.
and ivory-mounted calendars, artistic
ally painted by hand.
1t is in the toy shop, however, where
children's hearts will be gladdened, that
one turns with most satisfaction. Here
the wild beasts Of this and other ages, all
the articles Of furniture in use and out
of use tables, chairs, desks, beds, bu-
reaus. divans, pianos, stoves. pots. ket-
ties, pans and tea sets, and that most
essential of all articles to the young lady
Of the short-frock stage of life who is
about to set up Christmas housekeep-
ing on her own responsibilities doll that
opens and closes it's eyes and says papa
and mamma"
Concerning this latter all-important
item in the list for Christmas presenta-
ton, the greatest novelty is doll that
can be completely dressed and I'M
dressed, every article of apparel being as
cut and as accurately made as
though the great man milliner himself
had stepped from his Partisan pinnacle
and constituted himself for the nonce
chief designer and dressmaker to the
doll family Of Christendom. All the
doll designers have laid themselves out
to invent variety Of costumes, and
with the 81 doll goes a wardrobe that
will enable the child possessing it to pre-
sent her charge properly attired for any
function that may be on the dolls pro-
gram.
OF course, with the dolls wardrobe so
arranged. other conditions
should be on an equally extensive scale,
so that when buying a doll it will be
necessary to purchase one Of the little
pretty bureaus In which to have her won
derful wardrobe properly laid away
when not in use.
The boy part Of creation has not been
forgotten. From a casual inspection of
the toy stores this Christmas, one gets
the idea that 1t is better to be a small
boy than anything else on earth. Among
the articles that are intended to make
happy the young gentleman in knicker-
bockers there are stables filled with sad
die horses, farm houses. in the yards Of
which there are whole regiments of
cows and oxen; innumerable specimens
Of those instruments of torture by
means of which the small boys life is
frightened at the expense Of the peace
of mind of every one around him. The