The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-11
Birmingham Maids and Matrons
Talk of Holiday Gifts

din VI AtohNOJ
with the holiday season fast approaching.
an dthe activity of the streets increasing
daily with throngs of holiday shoppers'there
seems nothing more appropriate for news
paper story than little talk on holiday
gifts.
The shops. filled with every conceivable
article for Christmas tokens have oeeh
crowded the past week, for every woman
who possibly can makes several inspection
tours before making her selections Inc
shop windows are unusually attractive TINS
season, and are certainly the most mpor-
tant factors in the holiday attire OF the
city Too much praise cannot be given
those Birmingham merchants who make d
spec atty of window decorations. They con-
tribute largely to the beauty of the steets'
the pleasure of the passers-by and are the
greatest drawing card a merchant could Of
fer. 1t is, of course, only a beautiiui
method of advertising.
For Those VINO DO Not Count Cost
The shop windows that are displaying the
cut glass, the exqu site china and silver are
as usual very popular and many of the
holiday gifts will be in these lovely Access
series for the household and milady's toilet
great favor here,' jeweler said yesterday.
and there seems a tendency for cut glass
and silver pieces, no matter how small. for
holiday gifts
Much of the silver is brought out this
season in the old pattern known to our
grandmothers, as the kings pattern.
Among tn ehandsomest gifts are the vases
of royal Vienna and the clock sets OF
French gilt with candelabras. For cabi-
net decorat ton comes the painted porcelains
in brass frames, and for the library Is
shown the bronze figures in warlike poses.
The in-laid tables for the drawlngroom,
are popular this season, and for those who
not counting the cost there are many
beautiful pieces of furniture in the way of
cabinets and tables and unique seats with
open work of barss that will adorn a num-
Der of Birmingham drawingrooms
An Epidemic of Homemade Gifts
Suggestions for holiday gifts said a
Birmingham woman on an inspection tour,
''are supposed to be written for the women
of moderate means. They invariably con-
vey the idea that one is poverty-stricken
and is in need of advice in regard to the
wsest method of preventing bankruptcy.
1t takes one back to the days of colored
zephyr and petticoats trimmed with home
made lace, and epidemics of mauchoir
cases, fancy wall pictures, the like that
were supposed to be economical
Suggestions for holiday gifts" said an
other woman wondering what to give her
husband urge that they be within the
means of the giver and that homemade
things are more appreciated than a gift
without this sentiment, which has demand
ed the time and work of the sender"
A group Of Birmingham girls held an in
d'gnation meeting the other day over the
absurd idea that prevails in regard to such
gifts.
''It Is all very sweet sentiment" said
one, that sentiment, attached to gifts that
one makes at home. I do not wish to take
from that sentiment. but there are so many
useless things made and so much time
wasted on gifts made of perishable mater
fal. Embrolderies for the table and Re-
natssaince squares are of course perfectly
lovely, but not many women will spend
their time on such things for holiday pres
ents. In most cases homemade gifts are
useless and perishabe"
"There are many women" said another
girl, who would prefer a pretty etching,
or handsome calendar. or little things
like that to the homemade presents"
The Woman Who Paints Is to be Envied
The artist girl chimed in: "I am making"
she said, several black and white draw
ings and calendars for holiday gifts" and
the other girls declared they were not
speaking of women who could paint and
draw, "for," said enthusiastically,
there is not anything quite so lovely as a
drawing or a bit of china painted by a
friend"
And indeed the girl wha can draw paint
must be more envied in the art of gift-mak-
ing than all other accomplishments.
The art dealers are showing lovely col
lection of pictures and frames suitable for
gifts and at reasonable prices. The daintiest