The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN
HINTS TO THE BUYERS OF PRESENTS
FOR OCTOBER BRIDES.
AmiabIe Purpose of n Woman's Or
ganizatiOn-A Toilet Accessory
Advance Bills of Fare.

Thanks to an improved taste, evident in
more than one social custom. the new
century bride is the recipient of fewer eye
sores than was her mother before her, says
a writer in the New York Tribune. This
is due TO q variety OF causes. In the first
place, not so many perfunctory wedding
presents are made as formerly, only the
immediate friends Of the bride and groom
deeming it their privilege nowadays to add
to. the young peoples store of treasures.
In consequence there is little chance for
ignorance as to their taste among donors.
Moreover, the modern bride is not back
ward about letting her wants be known
among her narrowed circle. She reasons,
not without cause, that she has given pres
ents, and will do so agaiD-it is only a fair
exchange-and as her friends are bound
to spend their money upon her, why not
help them out in their selections. Tastes,
too, have changed the country over, eX-
positions and facilities for easy travel hav-
ing made the country lass not a whit less
fastidious about the character of the dec
o~rations and furnishings which are to be-
come her lares and penates than the city
bred girl.
Don't let them give me a silver tea set"
was the seemingly ungrateful expression
of a prospective bride in a little country
village this summer y Benares brass
jardiniere was one Of the dearest hopes.
Her mother recalls her own fate every time
she visits a certain closet where are stored
the offerings of her bridal days. There are
big, ungainly silver fruit dishes, cake bas-
kets and the hideous pickle casters, happily
now forgotten, but which few brides OF
twenty wears ago were fortunate enough TO
escape-and these things and more OF their
kind were all given to a couple who it was
known would not keep house for several
years. In the old days every one who re-
ceived a wedding invitation felt in duty
bound to send a gift. The practice waned
much earlier in the cities than in country
places.
Because silver is as a rule marked when
II Is bought 1t has ceased to be so generally
given as In past years, the monogram rem
dering ii impossible TO exchange il in case
it is duplicated. Cut glass and china are
perhaps the most popular gifts, and there
Is a growing inclination to give things OF d
useful nature, nearly every one appreciat-
ing the disadvantages of a lot Of useless
articles. Because cut glass has been 50
much given of late the engraved. which
has the beautiful quality of rock crystal,
Is somewhat more popular just now.
IN glass, indeed, there is no end OF posi-
billtieS fitting every kind of a purse. The
tall, graceful loving cups in crystal, slight
ly iridiscent, with top edges and twisted
glass handles touched with gilt, are gem
AaA anu III HldHy places n
same design appears in Austrian glass in
both crystal and green, engraved in gilt.
Beautiful shapes and exquisite engraV1ags
are to be found among the vases. cOmpotes.
Ice cream sets, bOnbOn dishes, Jewel boxes
and the like which are to be found In the
Austrian glass, and all would be accept
able TO q young housewife.
A new crackers-and-cheese compote with
a division in the middle, which was seen in
one OF the stores, was Of crystal. engraved
with gold 1Our-leaf clOVerS. Many new
iancies In epergnes are shown this season,
ana IN teTrapln cups there is practically
no end 10 the variety. For a bride who
VIII begin on limited means terrapin cups
would probably prove of as little use as
TO the Southerner who likes his terrapin
n large portions. When in doubt and great
perpleXity of mind, there is always a stand
by-the cut-gtass lily-shaped vases. which
are charming in almost any place and
which mt in SO we'll for special decorations.
Plates, too, are a safe choice, as a house,
keeper can hardly have too many. A sin
gle one or exclusive design, a plate. cup
and saucer 10 match or a set of dinner.
dessert or fruit plates will never prove un-
welcome ii chosen with judgment.
The daintily decorated china desk sets
are. most appropriate as a bridal gift, es-
some brass desk sets will probably prove OF
more lasting delight. the latter being a
standard fashion. Because a wife esteems
the gifts of her bridal days above many
and more costly possessions, fadS and ar
ticles of heeting fashion are out of place
as wedding gifts, for in a short time they
will be numbered among the trumperv OF
the house. a beautiful fan, a piece of
rare lace or embroidery suited to household
purposes small pieces of silver, b~Ouillon
and after-dinner cOffees-Of these and manV,
other things there can seldom be too many.