Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
VALENTINE GIFTS
Can Be Made to Tax the
Purse Heavily.
SENTIMENT IN IT ALL
THE DAINTY BITS FOR MAIDENs
FAIR
Prosaic Objects More Suitable for Men
Flower Recep-
tacies. sxM
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Good Sir Valentine is rapidly being trans
formed from the patron saint of loving
hearts into the head Of a gift enterprise. If
he keeps up the pace established for him
this year he will soon rival st. Nicholas.
It seems only yester-year since the amor
Gus swain gave expression to his feelings in
burning words, hidden in the depths of pa
per lace and impossible Cupids. Now the
approach of the affectionate old saints day
finds the young mans thought, If not his
fancy, turning toward violets at advanced
prices. bonbons in extravagant receptacles,
and gifts quite out Of the old simple spirit
of the day.
A fashionable shopkeeper insists that the
vogue Of valentine gifts is largely a matter
OF evolution. and that for several years
they have been growing more general, more
personal and more expensive. young man
VINO usually Is satisfied with sending the
oDJect OF his admiration flowers, bonbons,
or books. now selects gift that will show
relations of more intimate nature. Fiances
especially. let their Imagination and their
purse strings run riot.
Heart-shaped gifts, too, seem to have ex-
hausted themselves, and are not largely
shown this year. OF course there are sug-
gestive articles of jewelry, including BAN
giles for bracelets and lockets in the form
OF tiny hearts, while your true lovers knot
comes in silver gold, or enamel for brooches
and stick pins. But these are voted old, and
In their place small articles of the art
nouveau are shown.
For the Full Purse.
If the young man has money aplenty, he
will find no difficulty in making his choice.
There are the daintiest Of chatelaine ar
ticles and furnishings for ones opera bag.
A trifie in enamel is chateaine mirror.
whose face is hidden by a panel, showing q
bird. with head thrown back, caroling its
own love song. This costs $12.75, and is to
be worn on a slender gold chain. In the
same class comes a wee powder box in art
nouveau Of exquisite pattern, with lid
holding miniature set in rhinestones.
When the lid springs up, a small mirror is
disclosed. and the puff within is no larger
in diameter than a silver dollar. These
command from $50 to $50, according to the
quality Of the miniature and rhinestones.
One New York jeweler has just sent out a
box like this set in real diamonds.
The rage for all things japanese has
brought into vogue a pretty wrist bag of
heavy japanese silk in roses, with a frame
of heavily chased gold. Among the newest
hair ornaments offered is barette, very
long and slender, which may be worn either
in the back Of the hair or across the POM
padour. 1t Is Of tortoise shell, studded with
gold nail heads, or delicate tracery Of gold
dark, almost ruby-red tortoise studded with
small gold ornaments. in turn set with a
tiny sea shell in mother-of-pearl.
For bonbons. the smart shops are showing
Jewel cases and powder boxes in Vatican
and Dresden effects, which may be put to
practical use when their contents have
been enjoyed. The most striking paper
boxes are the large crimson hearts, finished
on the top with great bows Of satin ribbon
in the same tint
For flowers the most popular novelties are
the small automobiles in pale colors COM
bined with white. They look exceedingly
innocent, but they will absorb enough vio-
let's to strike terror to the soul as well as
the purse of their sender. A Broadway
florist is showing some odd-shaped baskets
suggestive Of Florida and palmetto hats.
They are pale cream in tint, very plain
and very costly.
For the Happy Man.
The engaged girl will find exquisite dou-
Bile frames made especially for her gift to
the fortunate man. They come in both
Florentine mosaic and enamel, discounting
in price and smartness both gold and silver
effects A particularly dainty frame is
shown in forget-me-not blue enamel, with
delicate traceries of silver, showing slen-
der lily in the center, crowned by heart.
1t will hold two small pictures, costs $23
and forms an appropriate gift for the
contest man."
II her nance mas MS DdCnelOr apartments,
and she wishes to hint that smoking will
not be under the ban after they are mar
ried, she may send him the newest thing
for his smoking table, combination cigar
cutter and lighter. A long. slender horn
effect N bone is tipped at one end with
silver tail At the other end Is fastened
round alcohol lamp in silver. while in the
center Is a cigar clip. In real bone and
sterling silver this costs $3.50, but it also
comes in clever imitation at greatly reduced
price.
Party Favors
Even the favors for valentine parties
seem to have lost their old-time character.
One Of the smartest trinkets in this line is
a perfect reproduction of a leading actress
in her new role in Japanese play. The
head is Of bisque, with real black hair,
dressed In true Japanese style. The XII
mona Is of crepe paper, and even the tiny
fan is perfect to its smallest detail. The
doll stands on a pedestal, which may be
filled with very small candles.
From England comes a comical repro
duction of the travelling bag which the Lon
don girl loves to carry wherever she goes.
1t is of real crash. pillow like in shape, and
about four inches in length. 1t has handles
Of genuine leather, and very real cord
gathers it up at either end. Within is a
tube to be filled with sweetmeats.
OF candy boxes In heart shape there is
literally no end, and Japanese effects seem
to be most popular, the small god Of love
being cast somewhat In the shade this year.
For the valentine dinner or party there
is nothing prettier than raspberry ices,
served in heart shapes. Through each one
is thrust dart and an arrow, made from
gold paper. These may be bought at any
shop where cotillion favors are sold. Din
ner cards come in the form of double
hearts, which stand upright at the covers.
The correct flowers for decoration on this
OCCASION are red roses, Jacqueminots or
American beauties.