Evening star., 1900-12-17
CHRIST MASSHOPPING
Timely Hints ini Making Holiday
Purchases,
With GOOD 4AM As A GUIDE
Novelties in Picture Frames and
BookCoyers.
ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL
ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL



Written for The Evening Star.
At this time of the year the same rush
comes over the Christmas gifts, so soon to
be distributed, and the same unreadiness in
regard to them. No matter how forehanded
may feel early in the autumn. when
perhaps the aftermath of summer shows the
results of the vacation hours and this piece
of embroidery, or that bit of lacework, or
the water color sketch of some pretty place
seem by natural selection to be just the
thing for Christmas remembrance to as
many friends-the nearness of the holidays
brings something Of a panic, after all. OF
course. one has regular list that is always
planned for, but invariably some unex-
pected names present themselves and the
desire to include them for perhaps this year
only is too strong to be withstood. for the
giving Is the pleasure after ALL So the in
genufty is taxed once more to think of
something especially suitable or desirable
for these additions to the number arranged
for 1t is question which giver extracts
the most enjoyment out Of the labor of love
one who has only the planning to do, with
ample means to bountifuly supplement the
loving thought for another but who gives
no personal touch to her gifts, or one whose
clrcumscribed outlay of money means more
headwork combined with handwork, in
order that her list shall be filled and so
iiiipdti - SbIIctillIS u HeTSplI win every
present she sends forth striving to make its
suitability its special point instead of
money value.
Ideas in Plenty.
There are plenty of things and ideas too,
waiting to be appropriated by interested
Observers and we who live in Washington
may congratulate ourselves that We have
the fine selection to choose from that this
season shows. Never have shops been
filed with better things, and people who
have recently been to larger cities say that
the assortment Of Christmas articles to be
found here compares most favoraby w..h
those they have seen elsewhere. There is
a glamour, however, about going abroad for
Christmas shopping that many are unable
to Withstand. 1t is well that the taste CT
the recipients Is something Of a guide or
tewilderment will follow; for instance, for
a bookish friend there is choice almost
unlimited Putting aside however, edi-
tons de luxe, among the moderate books
are charming things, and this applies 10
the outward dress we'll as to the con-
tcnts.
Artistic Book Covers.
The growing interest in hand work as %
printing and binding is shown by the beau
tiful specimens several establishments are
sending out, any one of, these volumes be-
ing a real joy-giverto aj'book lover, and so
moderate in price to be feasible for most
tie books on the magazine order which
cater to different 81 sCial tastes and a sub
scription to- which makes a gift that every
month in the year brings you to mind as
your friend cuts the leaves of fresh COPY
with pleasant anticipation. And speaking
Of special tastes. there are numberess ar
tfcies manufactured now which pertain to
all these things. snd something appro
priate to almost anyF'hobby" can be found
by inqufrjng in ths-dght places. It Is the
great atest5sAtisfacti6h-tp fill a real want by
your Christmas present, and only one who
has struggled in times past to find or have
made something with which to do this can
appreciate what 1t is to get ready made all
kinds Of contrivances which one knows
that certain people happen to want.
In High Art.
If we soar into the regions Of art there
are all kinds Of beautiful things awaiting
our inspection; pictures galore are every
where, and one has only to try and get an
order filled quickly al picture store now to
know how many choosing such as
Christmas gifts. The flood of prints of all
KINDS by modern processes has cheapened
and made common many lovely pictures
until one Is very weary OF them but by
choosing with discretion and framing in
terestlngly lasting pleasure may be con-
ferred. With the fashion for the antique,
which Is so prevalent old pictures are
much sought after and old engravings and
coiorcd prints are very popular gifts,
ii
of antiquity. and mofdings designed after
old ones can be gotten now for such pur-
poses. Anything in the way of photograph
frames seems to bid for favor and a most
varied assortment can be In all the
shops.
The Home Decoration.
Besides the manufactured ones many
handmade, or rather decorated, are seen,
both with embroidery and painting and a
multitude Of those in burnt work combined
with painting, but too much color and too
shiny a gloss in the finish really spoil much
of this work. though it is very effective
when well done. OF beautiful bric-a brac
there Is practically no end the many imi-
tations Of Tiffany glass being among the
prettiest OF the comparatively inexpensive
things. The German Keyser- -zinn and the
pewter in artistic forms are popular while
some Of the new silver for table use has
the same dull. soft polish, stone finish it is
called, which is very pleasing.
To Mark the Days.
The calendars are here in shoals and
larger, and in some instances, more Iurid
than ever before 1t is strange that an
article so appropriately inconspicuous, 1t
would seem should each year become more
enormous and Haunting, made to take up
as much room good-sized picture and
from its arrangement useless unless used
as a wall decoration. 1t is of course a de-
mand, however. that causes this avalanche,
but a reform In taste is to be hoped for
soon. For the desk are very pretty blot
ters. large and convenient, with corners
covered with fowered linen, taffeta or
plain linen of strong color: there Is a
variation from the standard silver or leath-
er-tipped ones. which are always desirable.
Charming small chests are shown cover
ed with the cretoonesDf very large-fowered
designs, suitable tossmany bed rooms, brass
handled and ready to become useful men,
bers Of household, in any one of several
capacities
NoveltieEfn Leather.
Leather seems prssents this season more
profusely than usual both in the undress-
ed state, painted or decorated with photog-
raphy, or in the stamped Mexican work.
as well as that from Vienna, with many
novelties of form and coloring. These, Of
course. are only a few Of the many things
our shops display. but they may prove sug-
gestive and help some, weary Christmas
shopper to finish her tasR, agreeable though
1t Is, before the last crgxded days prece&
ing the swiftly coming <5th.