New-York tribune., 1898-01-02
SOME WAYS OF THE WORLD
THE EFFECT OF Competitive SHOP
PING ON A wOMAN'S EXPRESSION.
THE RECEIPT OF GIFTS INCREAs-
Il. ING OR DECREASING?

aS a SENSE OF APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE IN
THE RECEIPT OF GIFTS INCREAs-
- ING OR DEcREAsING7
Elf any wishes to a lot OF ugly women. "
.said q masculine critic. "let him walk on Four
'teenth or Twentythird St the week before Christ
mas had no idea there were so many frigh;s In
New-York 1t must be that modern shopping has
a distinctly malgn influence the feminine
fphysognomy. 1t is like the magic blight produced
Fhy the wicked witch In the fairy tale. who. by q
wave OF her wand. dstorts the countennnces OF
her victims and changes them into ugly old hags
In walking from Fifh-ave 10 sixth-ave. the other
DAY attempt was made 20 pick out one really
tpretty woman Not one met with. but every
-one certainly looked painfully ugly, and the incon-
grrty OF the elaborate pieces Of millinery perched
Aabove their puckered faces was irresistbly funny
Every kind Of expression, typical OF trouble. was
TO be seen--anxety, worry. grim determination
~endurance. weariness disrust-everything. in short
rather than what would seem appropriate 70 the
season. The od-hunor. kindlness and pleasure
sin giving that beautify even plain faces were
backing in every case"
is GIVING A PLEASURE NOWADAYS?
''The fact ~ the matter is" said fashionable
woman questioned "there is really no pleasure in
81 under present conditions. Who would dare now
'adays to present TO a friend the little home de
trihe that used 20 he deemed adequate TO the oc
.casion-an embroidered knickknack. pair of
slippers. or such simple token? In con
sequence or these increased requirements IhFlsl-
mas Is becoming every year more and more OF q
tax 10 ones purse and ones powers OF endurance.
cor. apart from the expense. the mere physical Ia
Dor and worry Of choosing and buying and distrih-
uting Christmas gifts in themselves more or
1ess Of an infection"
4 young girl who had saved her pocket money
for several months. 10 be able 10 give what she
considered creditable presents TO her friends was
found by her mother few days before Christmas
seated by her he'd. in foods Of tears. with all her
various purchases spread out on the white coun-
terpane.
"Why. what Is the matter dear?" exclaimed the
astonshed parent. rs there anything wrong"
oh" cried the child, amid her sobs, they all
look nasty and horrid. and / hate them all
And have saved up fer them so long, And she
could hardly be persuaded tie them up and send
them off 10 their several destinations.
Il knew we'll just now she felt, said her
mother. in speaking Of the scene afterwsrd
Il myself almost always experience. just before
Christmas 2 sense Of absolute disbursement.
have spent so much. and have so little 10 show for
the money-and It all seems so useless
CRITICAL CHILDREN.
One of the worst features. however ot mod
ern Christmas is the ca-ping and critical spirit that
ST serves 10 develop In some children. Gifts now
adays are priced ny them according 10 their value
and the OF each article discussed and guessed
at Moreover, not only must each silver picture
frame. toilet article or whatnot have the stamp
Bcruiinzel 10 see If the Sits come from smart
place OF the Cheap stores" while many a
mother Is made unhappy on Christmas Day by the
dsparaging. dissatisfied disposition shown by the
child she has tried hard please. Even tiny
toddlers have become assessors In these mercenary
times. and it laughab.e vet sad the other day.
when a troop of children. having exhausted the
treasures Of their stockings. rushed into the din
ing-rooTn examine the of additional bun
dies. which consisted OF larger and more valuable
articles. the baby OF the family plant him
self with cEs apart. ana win finger pointed toward
Fhis especial heap Of toys roar in tragic accents:
rs that all?'
'tol Of Christmas seems lTadualy 10 be disappear
ing. 1t is becoming tine for barter, for display,
for acquis iveness, among children of a larger
growth and is no longer al ii should be. season
OF simple pleasures and inexpensive souvenirs. As
81 is celebrated there is scarcely hard-work
ing OF business who docs rot dread the extra
demand upon his much needed resources. hardy a
mother who does rot feel thankful when the abor
and worry OF the season are over while even the
children. amid the ruin OF their broken toys, feel
Ihe reaction and suffer the weaTlness OF safety
PIANO OR TABLE SCARF.
An effective novelty In tina way of fancy work
mas recently been sent over from Paris. The back.
ground Is OF gray linen. which is first In
chsinstitch. either with sewing achine or by
band. series OF spiral designs which completely