The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-12-06
Things Which Will Be of Service
to Recipients in Demand Among
Christmas Shoppers.
FADs OF THE PAST DISAPPEAR.
Toilet Sets, Lorgnettes, Walrus.
Hide Purses and Lockets Lead
Sales in Jewelry Houses
Presents for Men.

Much of the perplexing uncertainty that
ordinarily attends the selection of Christ.
applying ths standard of u~tility-for never
before have useful things been SO much
sought or more easily obtained.
and women. Young and old: for sweethear,s
and wives. husbands and beaux. and even
to boys and girls. Leading merchants in
all lines say there has never been so gen.
eral a demand for practical things. things
that will not only serve the purpose of re-
membrance. but that will be Of actual use
to the recipient. On the other hand. they
say there Is less demand than ever for
things that are simply sentimental. like
cards and booklets. or for things that are
Judging by the Christmas stocks of the
leading stores, novelties are not in demand,
and the fads of former years have no sue
cessors.
Articles that will serve as daily reminders
OF the sender are Just the thing" and the
list is as long as the catalogue of human
deaires almost. The jewelers. report that
the sale OF toilet accessories has been ex-
ceptionally heavy.
Handsome Toilet Sets.
These include hair brushes. hand mirrors.
combs. manicure sets, and the like; and
they come in great variety of design. at
correspondilgly varying prices. Silver
fnountingS are most popular. Some or the de-
signs are strikingly artistic. the most pop
ular prices being bas-relief copies OF cele-
bra;ed paintings which have to do with
Dan Cupid and his pranks- As n present
from "a young man TO his sweetheart moth
ing is considered more appropriate than Il
case of these articles-as many pieces as he
may choose-and the price may be any
where from SO to 500. as he may elect.
Next in popularity to toilet accessories
are purses, ch6telaines, carriers. umbrellas.
~lorgnettes, opera glasses. bracelets and
lockets, and the demand is about in IN"
order given: In purses there are a number
of new and strikinGly pretty designs, and
the fashion runs largely to gold and silver
mOuntings. The newest. and highest-pTiced.
leather is walrus hide. which comes in black
and tan and 10 MACMILLAN for irraptglar Ion
gftudinal creases. which give IL an individ-
uality that is unmistakable.
Chateldlne bags are in special demand for
elderly women. and may be had in great
variety. The newesta are OF cut steel beads
strung. on silk. with substantial steel
fastenings and belt hooks. There are also
chatelaines. for girls and young women.
which are both useful and ornamental. but
they have not YET become popular. Port
folios and sketching pads. for young women
with artistic talents. are more than ever
IN evidence. The newest of them are bound
in suede or undressed kid. and have fasten-
ings of heavy silver or wrought gold.
Carriers of every conceivable shade of silk,
and with clasps that range from simple
carved locks. are to be seen at all of the
jeweiry stores: and. strange TO relate. at
some of the haberdasheries. The newest
cases. which will answer the double pur.
pose OF glove boxes.
Men Folks Not Forgotten.
Umbrellas worth small fortunes are for
sale at the principal jewelry and furnishing
goods stores and are much in demand. but
there is a marked tendency toward individ-
uality among those who can afford the
finest, and the proper thing to do is 10
have YOUR umbrella made to order. Tho
bill will be anywhere from $50 TO $500 for
the fanciest handles and best workmanship.
but, after all. an umbrella is an umbrella.
and a proverbiaily fleeting possession.
For men the list of desirable things is
shorter. and is more nearly confined to ar
iicles of wearing apparel than formerly. 1t
includes smoking jackets. in endless va
riety. and at prices ranging from s. to So:
gloves, suspenders. neckties, mufflers. walk
ing-sticks and umbrellas.
For some reason or other il 10 no longer
considered the thing for sweethearts and
wives to buy or make slippers for their
men folk, and the time-honored embroidered
foot covering is strictly tabooed. As for
cigars the thing to do IS to forget them.
The giving of jewels is confined to near
relatives or prospective relatives.