The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-12

CfSuld Welt-OreQ com DOSure was
visibly disturbed as she walked in
upon the samOVar tea drinkers at a
rather late hour this week. This was
so unusual as to excite comment. but
when we found the cause nothing
worse than the troubles and vexations
of Christmas shopping, we We're not
very comforting for, while we had a
fellow feeling, lnental disturbances
From this cause are SO general that
one can't afford to waste much SYM
pathy on them, since one is sure to
need every drop Of vitality that can
be mustered to cope with ones own
troubles Of that kind.
Our rather derisive and chatting
comments gave Ursula time to make
herself comfortable and to regain her
equilibrium. Then, her tongue, loos-
ened by the subtly warming effect
Of tea, she found the best kind of
consolation in pouring out her griev-
ances.s - -
Il think that the only justification
for the exchange of gifts between
grown people is that they shall have
a meaning and convey a fitting sem
timent.'
This was very characteristic of our
fastidious and discriminating COM
rade, but we all saw at a glance the
difficulties that it would entail at the
| holiday season for a woman with a
wide circle of friends and we became
more sympathetic.
Il want my gifts to have an individ-
uality such that without a card they
would inevitably suggest my person.
ality," Ursula continued. eat the
same time I want them just as nicely
attuned to the tastes and individual
ity of the recipient. There are always
a. few people with whom we are in
such close touch and whom we un-
derstand so we'll that there is no lack
Of suggestions; the only trouble Is to
| choose. But we all have friends.
dear friends, with whom we haven't
a thing in common except affection,
and they are the troublesome ones.
We may know their tastes but they
are so foreign to our own that the
things theys.would choose, obviously,
would give us the shivers. Now,
couldn't bring myself to send a gaudy
/ picture that I consider impossible to
a person that / know it would please,
/ but on the other hand am more dis
Greet and kind than to send to the
! person of undeveloped artistic sense
/ one of the wierd and worn japanese
prints or. soft, indefinite photographs
Of hazy autumn days or tender
leafed spring such as fill me with de-
| light. These would not only be a
grievous disappointment, but I am
/ sure some adorable old prints would
make the uninitiated positively indig-
nant. I have been buying prints, but
I am assigning them with due thought
! and If any mistakes are made they
/ will not be careless ones.
where prints fit the case they ap-
peal to me strongly, for they are not
common and you all know my weak
ness for having a note of Individual
itys in my luxuries. For an artistic
couple 1 found a charming Hiroshige
/ landscape very similar to the view
from the windows of their home that
they have loved and perpetuated il
many ways. have no doubt of then
ltenjoyment of this variation of theil
/ beloved theme in the fine japanese
4 manner that none can appreciate ant
understand better than they. For {
4 bride who loves odd things to excite
i the curiosity of her callers and to give
4 a. character to her belongings I have
selected another Hiroshige, very dec
4 torative in color and motive, but no
A so unusual as to excite unpleasan
. philistine comment. For an out-and
4 out collector and his wife who reve
4 in oddities for their own sake I go
la funny old print in colors that hav
4 nothing to recommend them. of al
Z. odd procession Of athletes; it's no
beautiful, but it is the thing am
quite different which is the desidera
Il tum in this case.
1 .I am evidently greatly cheered vi
by your society, for my mind seem
running on the bright side of tn
Christmas business and my triumph
a have taken possession of my min,
8 since / came in, instead of my de
feats. But really must tell yol
q about my chief treasure, not in in
81 trinsic value, but in suitability. On
of my friends to whom I want simpl