The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-28
POST-HOLIDAY
REFLECTIONS
Is the Joy of Shopping the Real
Motive After All of Holiday
Giving?

81 am not quite sure said the girl
with the gazelle-like eyes and the
ermine stole, as she and her best friend
idly watched the well-dressed throng
gathering for the subscription matinee
of music, whether this wonderful
thing called the Christmas spirit is
quite so genuine, so sincere, as we
fondly imagine"
"You have had too many marons
glace," suggested her friend unsympa-
thetically.
"Oh, but / am quite serious" per-
sisted she of the stole. II have just
been thinking of the gifts sent out by
my own family. They really prove my
theory that we send gifts to please
ourselves rather than those who re-
ceive them.
"Take mother for instance. She is
born spendthrift and. in a pleasant
way, father perpetually has to put on
the financial brake. But she preaehes
the necessity of Christmas charity SO
determinedly that the holiday season
DTlHkSs neI AUC WDu JOy VI SPShoAho
money with a free hand and an I'M
thinking mind. She hunts up rela-
tives that the rest of us had forgotten
and sends them impossible things from
bargain counters, from which she
comes home with her garments rent,
her bonnet awry, and her heart full Of
Joy. And she sends her special pets
at the Old Ladies' Home elaborate de-
votional calendars and texts for every
day in the year, when I know they
would rather have something indiges-
tible to eat.
"Then Aunt Lizzie sends her favor
lite nephew an expensive edition of her
favorite author, Carlyle, when | am
sure the boy is pining for a slumber
robe or something else to deck his
room at college. He doesn't know
many girls and he wants to have
things just as nice as the other men.
Father loves red--most men do-and
so he gives mother japanese kimona
in brilliant crimson, embroidered with
gold, and, though she has put 1t on
each night religiousy, she hasn't yet
become sufficiently accustomed to its
vivid tones to open her eyes real wide
to its glories. She likes lavenders and
greys, but father Is in blissful igno-
rance of the fact.
when Eleanor planned her Christ-
mas gifts I suggested that sha re-
Cousin Eelen. who loves dainty
and has precious little money
which to buy them silk handk.
case, but Miss Eleanor, who goes i
golf and linen collars, replied
"'Oh, hate those mussy silk things.
Boxes are so much tidier.'
80 she sent poor furbelow-loving
Helen a pair of the most mannish
gloves ever saw.
Rob. who has just awakened to the
beauties OF physics, presented each of
his boy friends with magnet and toys
to be drawn thereto.
I'VE give the maids nice, sensible
things like towels and handkerchiefs
and bargain dress patterns. when they
would much rather have Imitation CO.
raj chains, perfumery and ready-to-
wear satin stocks.
Yes, Nell, honestly we give to car
ry out our own tastes, and we forget
what the other fellow would like to
have.
Come TO think OF IT. embroidered
a pink laundry bag for Kate Saxton.
who Is living In stuffy New York
boarding house, simply because the
pattern was pretty and | thought how
lovely IL would look In my room. But
I remember now that Kate has her
room in bright red. because she says
IL helps the radiator in ~ mission.
Won't that pink laundry bag contract
beautifully with the rest Of the rooms
deoorations2 Wait until next Christ
mas. and see IL ! don't think Of the
one who IL 10 receive the gift, Well,
Just 4 little"
Hush" murTnured the l0ng-suffer-
ing friend. There comes Herr Bern
ish. You're spelling my appetite for
music. l realize now that I faaae y,
few mistakes IA selecting my presents.
but there IL no need 20 cry over spiit
milk and spoil 4 concert with tickets
81 n 80 each"