The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-27

eI don't think shall ever express a
wish for a Christmas present again"
sighed woman yesterday morning.
II shouldn't think you would retorted
the friend to whom she had been showing
her gifts. give cuckoo clocks would
certainly discourage me from ever asking
for anything special another year. How
did it happen?"
LAS such things always happen, through
Lack of confidence Last year everybody
knew what everybody else was going to
receive and we rather missed the mystery
that usually surrounds Christmas. Con-
sequently this year We all took solemn
oaths not to tell what we were going to
get for any one and this is the result and
she waved her hand toward the row Of
assorted clocks. II really wanted one but
five rather overpowerS me-
"They hold great possibilities as we'd
ding gifts" suggested the friend
.'True and when 7 give one away I can
take the money I would have spent and
buy Christmas present for myself. Mr..
Christmas will last all through the year
for surely no one would expect me to keep
Ave cuckoo clocks"
Santa Claus seems to have distributed
some Of his presents with his eyes shut,
or else he had wrong addresses, for many
Of them have been received by as many
people to whom they are anything but
appropriate There is one man, a
bachelor, who will leave next week for q
trip that will take him the largest part of
the year. Last week he closed his rooms,
stored all his belongings, and has been
spending the days before he leaves with
friends Among the many things which
Santa Claus brought him was big Nor
ris chair Of mahogany with red cushions,
q perfect comfort Of a chair to man
who could stay at home and sit In it, but
something of a problem to the one who
hadn't a corner he could call his own.
isn't it madden1ng" said the recipient.
DO yeu suppose the person who sent it
er chair? When I think Of the many
things that a traveller needs and which
could have taken with me, don't alto
gether appreciate that chair. which will
have to have boxed and stored to-mor-
row."
Santa Claus must have a strain of sar-
casm in him, jolly as he is, for he carried
to a little woman who never goes farther
from home than Nicollet avenue, a trav-
cling bag, superbly fitted. She would
have been grateful for a handbag which
she could have taken on her shopping ex-
petitions, but she hadn't much to say In
return for the affair, which will have to be
slowed in the attic.
The same spirit probably prompted the
evening wrap and carriage boots which
came from q wealthy eastern woman tt
her less we'll removed Mfnnea polls cousin
who doesn't receive an invitation once
month, and then 1t is usually for an in
formal lunch or dinner at which the mos
simple gowns are worn and for which thu
evening coat and carriage boots are no
necessary.
1t wasn't Santa Claus, but an absent
minded man, who sent box Of cigars t.
a popular girl and box of bonbons to he
astonished brother. The sister was per
fectly willing to exchange. but the brothe
insisted on abiding by the names on tn
boxes, secure in the thought that sh
would have to give him the cigars, 70
she couldn't smoke them herself. TIL
bonbons were eaten yesterday and the eli
CARS have been put aside for the sister
men friends, so that the brother real
gained little by his selfshness.
There is one man who received a pres
ent which enabled him to lose $50 an
his opinion on Christmas gifts is apt t
be prejudiced. He has always been i
the habit Of carrying his bills in a tigh
roll in his pocket, many do Hi
wife considered 1t a careless method, an
as her expostulations seemed Of no avail
she bought him a bill book for Christ
mas. It was an unusually handsome bi