Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-12-16
Christmas diving.


.;r,a txf.- q the occasion when our
yift ma s1ssr should be in accordance
,,,ith tho highest ideals and true to the
spirit Of the day.
The object of gift il. or should De-
70 give pleasure to the recipient Wnen
this ia our object. pure and simple we
are in no danger Of erring. Ihe
golden rule fsafils all the decalogue
of good behaviour and the main rules
OF world wide etiquette.
This bars out the things that are
good enough to give away" fne
things that will do have no recosni-
tion. Now that is taking very hisn
ground; and it is proverbially easy 10
talk" you may say. hut, when one rs
expected to remember family anu
friends, each with some little gift. ana
his pocketbook is not plethoric one'
1t becomes a problem.
Cali ingenuity to your aid. put on
your. thinking cap" and kno" tne
Joys that come to those who learn now
to exercise their own faculties IN max
ing one dollar successfully do the work
OF two. and cry april Foor' to fortune
or the lack Of it!
The dainty wrapping Of gift adds
greatly to its attractive presentation,
and carries the complimentary assur-
ance that what is thought worthy to
offer one is worth the trouble OF care
IN every, respect. At Christmas, the
red ribbons about the white paper,
with a sprig of holly atop, satisfy some
artistic sense of fitness.
Christmas giving has been described
as spending more money than one can
afford for things that people, do not
want" This contains sufficient truth
to act as a warning. 1t is possible to
work so hard over a pleasure as to
change it's nature to a burden. I once
heard a young woman exclaim,-
when Christmas comes. 1 am too
tired to enjoy it. I feel more like say
ing to my friends. when send my
gifts.-'Oh. take your old presents:
than anything pleasant or courteous"
To avert this direful misuse of
beautiful custom it is well to make
ones purchases early. when the shops
are not crowded and before the sales
people are so tagged that common hu-
manity will not permit one to make
discriminating choice, il not readily
found.
1t Is well, too. to prepare ones gifts
as long as possible before the
great day. that it may find us rested
and prepared for enjoyment. Wrap
them attractively. Write the friendly
words and words Of Christmas greeting
on the cards accompanying them. and.
on the wrapping paper, Not to be
opened until Christmas morning, and
send. or leave them at their destina-
tion. If you can not quite trust hu-
man nature to resist the temptation Of
n premature peep some member of the
family or a servant may be taken into
confidence and intrusted with their
presentation at the proper time.
II is not only giving that has it's code
of ethics and etiquette. but receiving
has its own as well. Notes Of thanks
spontaneous. hearty. appreciative.-
should be written within twenty four
hours after the receipt of ones gifts.
1t is far easier to find ready expression
then than later. Do not say to your
self. Il will call and express my
thanks" Belated thanks are very un-
gracious. and the mails are much more
prompt and reliable than ones good
intentions.
The old proverb. "One should not
look gift horse in the mouth" though
not elegant. contains A precept than
which none is more binding upon
courtesy. To crticise gift or a
friends hospitality. after accepting
either place one beyond hte pale"
One must not even think what face and
manner should not betray.
1t is an old time principle Of polite
ness that one must not give away to
another a present that one has re-
ceived.. I fear that the punctilio has
become obsolete, and possibly. to pass
on what one does not value to those tn
whom It may give genuine pleasure is
better,-but Il is well to be cautious
lest we happen present the sighted
article to the original giver. Such
things have been done. A lady. receiv-
ing daintily pretty. but imprac-
ticable, blotter. carefully wrapped and
laid 1t away to serve sCme future pur-
pose as .asgift. Some few years after
wards. when reviewing her resources
for Christmas bestowals. she found the
blotter and, having utterly forgotten
to whom she owed it its unconscious
association with the giver led her tC
send 1t to the same friend. who found
her own card within it, bearing hel
Christmas message, written two years
before!
The unitarian spirit Of the age
therefore permits one to give away hi
presents. but surely we should draw
the line at taking things we have re
ccived back to the chops where the.
were purchased. and either exchangin!
them for something we like better .
asking to be allowed to return then
and be given on the books for the valu
of the articles. At many of the larges
and finest shops, they say that afte
Christmas they are very busy adjust
ing the claims of those who prefer t
select their own presents from thei
friends!
The best way to make our apprecia
ton felt by our friends is to wear o
use their gifts frequentlS.-and nothin,
forbids us to reiterate our thanks so a
to give abundant assurance that the,
have given pleasure.-Success.
A Christmas Hint.