Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
7 IOUSE=
HOLD
HINTS

This Is the season, above all others, when
one rebels at being poor even approx
mately SO. There is SO much one wants to
do-not for themselves but for others. The
heart is very tender and the desire to sub
stantially remember family and friends is
one that will not down. This is the reason
why each Christmastide finds so many
cases of kleptomania reported from the big
dry goods shops-with always the same
reason adduced: 81 wanted it to give my
husband or my children" While we blame
and pity the poor creature who falls before
temptation of this kind, what of the other
one who goes In debt for things she knows
she cannot afford? There are plenty of us
in that category, and the shoe which Poor
Richard held up over a century and a half
ago still fits. But what madness it must
be TO run in debt for superfluities, Think
what you do when you run in debt: You
give to another power over your liberty.
If you cannot pay at the time you will be
ashamed to see your creditor; you will be
in fear when you speak to him. When You
have got your bargain you may perhaps
think little of payment: but creditors have
better memories than debtors" If we could
only bring ourselves to believe that it is
the Christmas spirit that counts-and not
the value of gift measured In dollars and
cents-there would be a burden lifted from
many a shoulder. How often we hear the
eXpressons-"Ive just got to give SO and
SO something nice, for she always sends ME
L
though could afford it, but know he ex-
poets it, or, II shall be so glad when
Christmas Is over, for 1t is such a tax on
me physically and financially"
And, now. TO think the matter over can
didly and impartially, how foolish of US to
allow ourselves to become the bond-serv-
ants of custom or even of our own desire
to be generous! The question of Christmas
largeSSe should never be reduced to the
plane Of tit for tat. If we can conscien-
tiously give, nothing could, would or
should afford US greater pleasure; but to
give because we must takes the pleasure
all away and leaves a bitter taste in the
mouth.
A Chicago woman whose life is full to the
brim of work for others always takes pains
to remember at Christmas time her old
school and college friends with a personal
letter. Sometimes there is a sprg of holly
inclosed again a choice bit of Christmas
cheer or thought crystallized in verse.
christmas wouldn't be Christmas said
one of her classmates on the Pacific coast
recently, without Florence's letter, which
she has never omitted in all the twenty
years since she left school"
Another Philadelphia woman has not TALL
ed in more than that number Of years to
send to an old friend a fine, but not expen-
sive, handkerchief, with-and here lies its
special value-with the recipients name
dantfy marked In the corner in indelible
ink. For the busy woman, who hates TAX
ing the time to mark her own handker-
chiefs. this is indeed a boon, while the sight
of the graceful familiar chirography brings
a happy thought of the donor every time
the eyes rest upon it,
A wonder bag is a gift that annually
comes to an invalid who has been in bed
for many years. So much pleasure does ii
afford that the secret of it's making may
well bear passing on for the benefit of other
invalids or the aged-with whom time goes
by on leaden wings. The bag itself is OF
cretonne or SilkOlene, drawn together with
silk ribbon about an inch wide. Out of
the opening of the bag hang as many RIB
bons as there are gifts Tied at the end
of each Of these ribbons, and securely hid
den in the bag, is a parcel containing the
surprise Sometimes it Is but little en-
velope containing CHEEKY quota ton, again
note book or pencil, a bit of mounted
seaweed, a book, bulb of Chinese lily OF
narcissus, a pretty individual dish-what.
ever taste or knowledge of individual Cir
cumstances may dictate. The bags may be
of any size and contain as many gifts as
desired. Sometimes they are arranged M
Sunday drawings-and again for special
days. Pinned to the ends of the ribbons
may be a slip OF paper reading Christ
mas" New Year" Easter" "Valen-
tines when appropriate gifts will be
found suited to those days.
Somewhat analogous to this is pretty
German custom intended to stimulate the
ambition of little maids learning to knit.
In the big ball of worsted which accom-
panies the set of shining needles are con-
cealed a number of tiny gifts, which come
to light one by one as the knitting adj
vances.
One good housekeeper in suburban town
who Is locally famous for her mince pies
makes practice every year at Christmas
of sending out to dozen Of her most init
mate friends one of these delightful con-
coctions. Wrapped neatly in white paper
and tied with scarlet ribbon, with sprig
of holly tackled through the bow. they
make a most ChriStmassy Christmas gift.