The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-01

will be able to work a back-breaking jill |
jitsu on fathers bank account.
A Case Of Real Distress. j.
To the Editor of The Journal.
I wish to make protest thru your
columns which, it seems to me- has be-
come almost necessity to people in
moderate circumstances.
In my morning mail have come eight
invitations to showers and weddings.
Others will follow, and with at least
twenty June graduates, it is scarcely pos
sible for me to meet this demand on my
finances.
Is this a right custom? The increase
has certainly become alarming. In adj
dition TO a simple wedding gift-which
was not even considered a necessity in
former years-each prospective bride is
now given Showers" Of every sort, to
! which not only friends Of the bride are
| expected to respond, but friends of the
BRIDES friend Then come anniversary.
presents. and now the graded school grad
yates must be remembered. r.-e--a,.s s...--
Where is it all to end? Many people
| share my own sentiments in regard to
this matter, and appeal to h u r.
| n a l to bring it before the public and help
| to abolish this pernicious habit Of polite
| begging. IS. A.
At the eminent risk of being de-
| clared "just too mean for anything"
The journal must respond to
this appeal. 1t comes from the
heart and represents case of real
distress. The writer of the above
communication has only put on
paper what it seems to us must be
the sentiment Of a great many people
| of moderate means to whom the bur-
den Of gift giving has become I'M
bearable and from which all the joy
Of spontaneity and voluntary tribute
bearing Of love, and esteem and graft
tude and good will have been
eliminated. Birthday gifts and
Christmas gifts and wedding pres
ents and tokens of one kind
or another on Easter and st. Valen-
tines Day, wedding anniversary pres
ents, graduating presents, going-away
remembrances and greetings on the
homecoming and then these SHOW
ers'' for brides which are no doubt so
very helpful in setting up housekeep-
ing-all these things and many more
like them were doubtless conceived
originally in a spirit of generosity and
good will and are often altogether adj
mirable, but when they cease to be
the voluntary offering Of the giver
they are worse than a nuisance and
often prove a severe strain on the af-
fections.
Eight invitations to Showers" in
one mornings mail! No wonder
r there is a. storm Of protest. Perhaps
7 it Ought to be said that the under
3 standing is that the "shower":is some.
' thing for which the showered is SEX
3 dom to blame. It Is almost invariably
: the kindly: thought Of some good
friend who wishes to do a favor and
f who gets up the affair on her own re.
2 sponsibility and invites, lassoos would
l be better word, a number Of he1
0 friends acquaintance into the
t lscheme, which Is of course a. com plete
s surprise and 80 perfectly lovely 9:
: you" 4ssss44s5s vs.
: But.the situation is not utterI.
e without hope Of relief. Some peop1,
e appreciate it and are taking pains tt
8 let it be known that all their Friends
and acquaintance are not obliged, il
2 TACT are not expected OF OeSlTeu, 10 In
= poverish themselves that they ma.
q keep up with a custom beautiful il
n it's proper application, but oppressiv
! and ugly in it's senseless abuse TIL
IS voluntary gift of friend to friend, in
+ spired by love or esteem or gratitude
. is always a blessing to giver and to re
i cipient, and these tokens on occasio,
F.. and without occasion will alway
. sweeten the course Of life, but ,socia
q custom which lays tribute on urfwn
ling subjects and takes toll of thei
= prosperity or their poverty In = tn
! name of affection and good Willis Ger
: tainly destined to become exceedingl
:, bad form. In fact, has already be
: come so, as we are informed by
competent authority.