Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31
MANY M|SF|T GIFTS
The Exchanges Made After
Christmas Passed By.
HOLIDAY INCIDEN rs
WOMAN WHOSE HAT WAS A
HoRRIED FRIGHT.
Hubby's Mistake in Buying Slippers
Grave Man With Loud Neck
neutrality-suspicious..

Some of the storekeepers of Washington
are telling amusing stories of the after
Christmas customers who have flocked to
their establishments since Monday, not to
purchase goods, but to exchange inappro-
pirate gifts that were presented to them for
other articles more to their particular
fancies. The shrewd shopkeeper can dis
tinguish at a glance between the bona fide
buyer and the dissatisfied party who has
received from his or her mother, father
brother. sister or sweetheart, some article
that is not wanted. The dissatisfied party
wears a sort of Gloomy Gus expression
and appears nervous and disconnected.
For instance, a tall, demure and rather
lean man of about fifty years, entered
9TH street haberdashery yesterday. He
wore Grape on his voice." according to the
proprietor of the place. and looked las
solemn as a country parson at a funeral"
After gianclng nervouSly about the place.
the tail party sided sheepishly up to the
neckwear counter and handed a package
10 one OF the clerks with the remark in
stage whisper:
Just look at that assortment of freak
ties and tell me if you think they are Just
the thing for me-the proper thing, 1 mean
Tor man OF my age and circumstances
TO wear l have passed the fifty mark in
years and l live most retired life and am
deacon OF my church.
What the Package Contained.
The clerk united the package of neckties
which had been given to the sedate man as
a Christmas gift by his sister and a cousin
There was crimson tie with blue flowers
running through its length, yellow one
with brown dots on it. one of vivid green
and others of similar loud hues
Il am not the man to wear such gaudy
thlngs, said the tall man, land if you will
exchange them for something in gray and
piack Will appreciate it very much
Inc clerk did as he was requested select
ing most modest assortment of ties for
the ones of the brilliant hues, and the man
went away happy.
10 Il L., changed him from Gloomy Gus to,
Happy Hooligan or Sunny Jim in a jiffy"
said the clerk, land 1 bet we made a Gus
toner of him for all time
An avenue tobacconist had a lively ex-
perlence with severe looking man who
entered his place yesterday and deposited
box of cigars with bang on the
counter.
DO look like an individual who is given
to the habit of smoking cabbage leaf two
fers, SIR? demanded the man of severe
mien. Yet, sir, you have imposed this
box of vile things on my wife, and she, in
her ignorance of tobacco, gave them to
NE as Christmas gift
The storekeeper explained that had en-
deavored to induce the wife to purchase a
better grade of cigars, but she declined to
do so. remarking that her Christmas money
was running short and the box she plr
chased cost a dollar less than the others.
And" she added, "a cigar is a cigar,
anyway"
But these are not cigars, anyway or
anyhow" said the severe man. "They are
the rank product of an inferior growth of
cabbage and weeds Bah, 1 wouldn't give
one of them to hobo
A compromise was effected and the huS-
band went away with a smaller box, but
better grade of smokers.
Possessed Nightmare.
"Win you exchange this nightmare for
something else?" asked a nervous little
blonde woman as she entered millinery
store. She deposited a band box on the
counter containing a holiday hat her.
husband had bought as a surprise. and she
declared she was "surprised' in more
senses than one.
"You know" she said ''Adolph heard me
say l was very much in need of new
hat, and he said he would give me the
money for after the holidays. The
cunning fellow then came to your store
and selected one for me-and what fright
it is
With this the little wife lifted the hat
from the bandbox. 1t was decorated with
| green, yellow, red and blue IN most lnhar-
monious confusion.
| ..Horriblev exclaimed the wife, placing it
on her head and surveying herself In the
glass ut is the most freakish thing in the
L
induced him to buy such a Kaleidoscope
fright?'
The salesIady explained that the hat was
selected by the husband and trimmed by
his personal directions. He selected the
green and yellow ribbons, and the flowers,
a bunch of dark red American Beauty
roses, and then he exclaimed admiringly:
Now, give her dash of blue and sug-
gestion of white and gold, and you've got
picture hat fit for queen.
The shape and great size of the hat,
crested with it's wealth of color and silk
and flowers. was all out of proportion to
the petite form of the dressy little woman.
who appeared a midget crushed under a
mountain of silk, velvet flowers, brass ana
what not and the colors of the headplece
gave her face a CHASTITY, ghostly pallor.
"A Zulu maiden wouldn't wear such
horrid affair." said the wife.
NO. nor Choctaw squaw, remarked
self selecting a hat that would suit her, in
shane, size and colors
Wanted an Air Gun.
A boy who wanted an air gun but got
drum instead for his Christmas gift, was
a caller at one of the toy stores.
.'Old Sanity missed it this time" he said.
81 sent him letter through the mails
asking him to bring me an air rife, SO
can go cunning for cats, sparrows and
things, and he brought me this drum that
is only fit for small kid what likes to
make a noise.
ut was a compliment to me for Richard
to buy me these number one slippers said
a stately brunette, in shoe store, when
| she had called to make an after-Christ-
| mas exchange. HE is a good hubby, but
man like is not versed in feminine fOibles.
| No doubt he thought had very small feet
when he bought these number ones, but
| cannot get my toes into them, and I
| want to wear them to a dance Monday