Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-16
Views on Christmas Giving.

It avs o'clock and the tearoom was
crowded. Matinee girls, shoppers ant
only looking" women came trOoping il
to find a seat. and finding d single vacant
seat at this table or that were frozen
or at least looked over or down on by
the fortunate early corners who resented
intrusion-if occupying Tree seat IN
public tearOOm may be called so. In anC
out among the tables the all-by-herseli
shopper walked, seeking a chair at TIA
BILE where the occupants looked less hos
tile. What wealth of types. The
somewhat lonely walk down the length OF
the room was worth while. Well-dressed
women, over-dressed. daintilydressed OF
carelessly. poorly dressed. cconomlcall!
dressed. this years styles or last, OF
even older, bright happy, smiling faces
or screwed tight. colorless unlovely faces
faces that betokened prosperity and AL
the good things of life; faces that be
tokened if not poverty, at least black
and blue Punched d, seono ON seeking
At Il table near a far window sat i've
young women talking earnestly. The
shopper took hope, and pulled out tn
vacant chair. The women glanced up. no,
unfriendly. and continued talking. The
third party at first tried not to listen to
the conversation. But proximity and en-.
tartainment were too much Tor her ana
she found herself intent on n discussion
of Christmas shopping and giving.
II don't believe in getting your CHRIST
mas presents so far ahead of the day
You can't get into the Christmas spirit
until a. week or two before. | like the
rush and hustle of shopping. and the re
membranes buy or make then seem to
have more of the holiday spirit in them.
well that knocks out the popular the
DRY of beginning months ahead ioi
Christmas. I don't know but that you arc
right. One year | had practically all my
presents selected. packed and tied and
labeled at least month ahead--tnd th"r
there was so little left to do in those last
weeks that I felt out Of 1t, as If | Tert
missing something that belonged TO me
Since then have varied nv pltn--haV.
got some presents early ana som,f ,asc, o,
lections, and each birthday and Christ
mas I give them one or more additions
One friend is collecting fancy china plates
glasses. So you see it is easy to arrange
"I find that an excellent plan is to have
small book or card labeled Christmas
Memoranda" and from time to time &c
lot down suggestions pertinent to the SUD
ject. ! have scores of such memoranda
for this year, including the people that re
membered me last year and the nature OF
the remembrances; people l want to re
member this year, and with what. and the
nature of their tastes: miscellaneous INST;
of suitable presents where this that ane
sification as to dates. showing when caro-,
and presents must be mailed or expressed
etc 1t only takes minute or two TO sel
the book out and make the notation ta;,t ahe
it saves much time. labor and thought.
EVERY year. like other people, l &c.
some remembrances that fail to appeal t.
me and l wonder what made the giver'
send them. Experience has taught me
however that these things come In hano,
or useful or ornamental some Tune ol
other. / do not mean to be unSratefu
, or mercenary or cold-blooded about thi:
business of Christmas giving. No doub
I make mistakes myself and give people
things that strike them as being I'M
suitable. Just now l am wearing on m!
new hat a Jet ornament that was glveI
| to me about six years ago. At the TIM
I wondered what I would use 1t TOT.
nut it away carefully. Last week whei
| nv milliner wanted an ornament Tor m,
| hat 1 gave her this one and she said
| was beauty and the very thing. ;.
! can't multiply examples, for you woui'