Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-18

This is tho season, above alls Others
when ono rebels at being poorsor even
approximately 50. There is so much |
one wants to do--not for themselves, 1
Ibut for others. The heart is very tender /
and the desire to substantially remem- |
Ihsr family and friends is one that will |
hot down. This is the reason why each |
IC:hristmastide finds SO many cases of |
!Aieptemania reported from the big dry |
goods shops-with always the same
treason addnoed. i wanted it to give
my husband or my children" While
{Me blame and pity the poor creature
luho falls before temptation of this
Kind, what of the other one who goes
In debt. for things she knows she can
mot afford? There are plenty of us in
5>hat category, and the shoe which
Hoor Richard held up over oenturys1
had half ago still fits. ''But what
madness it must be to run in debt fori
}anpertuitiesl Think whaty d do when
Syou run in debt: you giveStol another
tpower over your liberty. Ii you can
inot pay at the time you will be
}ashamed to see your creditor; you will
! lbs in fear when you speak to him.
when you have got your bargain you
ma perhaps think little of payment;
hut creditors have better memories
than dehtors.'' Ii We could only bring
Yourselves to believe that it is the
EChristmas spirit that counts and not
1.-THE value of a gift measured in dollars
( land cents-there would be a burden
iifted from many a shoulder. How
3 often we hear the expressions-'tI' I'ye
l5ust got to give so and SO something
mice, for she always sends me a hand
isome present, . or, 81 don't feel as
lthongh | could afford it, but know
The expects it, or 9 1 shall be SO glad
when Christmas is over, for it is such
ajax on me physically and financially. I"
And, now, to think the matter over
candidly and impartially, how foolish
tof US to allow ourselves to become the
bond-servants Of custom or even of our
own desire to be generous. The question
r. Christmas largesse should never be
reduced to the plane of tit for tat. IL
we can conscientiously give, nothing
oleasure; but to give because we must
skes the pleasure ali away and leaves
bitter taste in the mouth.
A Chicago woman whose lifelis full
the brim Of work for others always
Ikes pains to remember at Christmas
me her old school and college friends
dth a personal letter. Sometimes
there is sprig of holly enclosed;
again a choice bit OF Christmas cheer
or thought crystalized in verse.
christmas wouldn't be Christmas. -
said one of her classmates on the
Pacific Coast recently, without
FIorence's letter, which she has. meyer
omitted in all the 90 years since she
left school,. :"
Another Philadelphia woman has,noi
failed in more than that number o.
years to send to an old friend fine
but not expensive handkerchief, With
and here lies its special value-witl
tho recipients name daintily marked
In the corner in indelible ink Fo
the busy woman, who hates taking TIL
time TO mark her own handkerchiefs
this is indeed boon, while the sigh
OF the graceful, familiar chirograph
hrinRs happy thought of the dono
ssyery time the eye rests upon it.
"a wonderful bag'' is gift tha
ANNUALLY comes to an invalid who ba
been in bed for many years. So :nuc
pleasure does it afford that the score
ts5its making may we'll bear passing o
III the benefit of other invalids or th
.4ed-with whom time goes by o
Ieaden wings. The bag itself is
tcfeEonne or silkoline, drawn togetht
with silk ribbon about an inch wild
Out of the opening of the bag hang {
fnany ribbons as there are gifts. Tie
At the end of each of these ribbons, an
securely hidden in the bag, is pare
containing the surprise. Sometimes
is but little envelope containing
CHEEKY quotation, again notebook
pencil, bit of mounted seaweed,
book, a bulb of Chinese lily or ma
cissus, a pretty individual dish-wha
ever taste or knowledge of individu
circumstances may dictate. The bal
may be of any size and contain as maj
kifts as desired. Sometimes they a
arranged for Sunday drswings-aI
again for special days. Pinnec to Il
1nds of the ribbons may be a slip
paper reading christmas, " me
Years., y Easter, Valentines,
when appropriate gifts will be foul
suited to those days.
Somewhat analogous to this is
pretty German custom intended
stimulate the ambition of little mai
learning to knit. In the big ball
worsted which accompanies the set
shining needles is concealed a nul
bef Of tiny gifts, which come to lig
one by one as the knitting advances.
One good housekeeper in suburb
Town WHO Is loCa1iy 4aHlouS AOK
mincs pies makes practice eve
year at Christmas of sending out t.
dozen OF her most intimate frien
one of these delightful connection
Rapped neatly in white paper and Il
with scarlet ribbon, with sprig
holly tucked through the bow, Il
make a most Christmassy Christn
gift. The only trouble with these p
that they are warranted not to kel
Similarly appropriate Christmas gi
ay be found in little individual pl
uddings and plum cakes, while
.xpert home candy maker has h'
I'll her own to work in. Packed il
prstty box lined with oiled pap
neatly wrapped and tied with red r
bon, and the accompanying sprig
holly, a box of homemade bonbons
q gift not to be despi5ed by M
n woman or child. And right here
N #ENenle excellent recipes for, the alw
I, popular chocolate fudge. Stir to
cream two oupfuis Of soft sugar 1
one tablespoonful OF butter. Add fr
ff tIssiet-sasi