Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-12-21

There i . Xmas deInsion shat
amounts almost % . tradition. II
10. that people prefer badly made
home product 70 The finest design
from q mere shop.
Nov there i . nice sentiment
back OF this absurd notion. We do
more appreciate : gifs thai has
sprouted out OF love than one that
has grown solely from money. We
ell like 70 look beyond the Rifs 10 :
kind. tender or afTsctIonats motive.
The idea Of any barter In Xmas
giving i deeply distastsfuI 20 ali
kind hearted tbouqhsful people: bus
without shadow Of doubt We al
also axe = Rifs lsss has beaasy sss
well as kindness, We want TO enjoy
present outside Of its spiritual in
terest.
l will never forget one awful
Xmas when as young girl vastly
craved a boa OF the fluffy ruching
variety. very fashionable and very
becoming, and q rich Aunt, who
could have bought me the loveliest
creation OF tulle or lace, had the
home made" theory and crocheted
me boa of red and white worsted. |
think ] have never wholly forgiven
her-yet her motive was apparently
unimpeachable.
1t is just that you must put iudg.
ment as well as sentiment into Xmas
gifts. Sentiment may well adorn
the mind, but not invariably the
body.
And sometimes the home made
gilt is mere selfshness. You give
certain presents because you enjoy
that sort OF fancy work.
Yet il is easy 10 make people hap
Ply at Xmas time and without very
much money. Study the tastes and
whims of the people you intend to
favor-their taste about little lurur-
les and comforts, their whims about
small personal and home adornment.
and you won't find il hard to decide
about their Xmas gifts.
The woman who intends to use
her brain 10 save her purse ia max
ing presents, will do well to keen
handy throughout the year box In
which TO collect nice bits Of ribbon,
silk, embroidery aud lace. Don't
till up box with old stuffs, unclean.
ed and uninspiring. Store things
away fresh and pretty. ready for
your work-basket, in December or
earlier, il you have spare time.
1t is naturally important in know
just how to freshen and make ready
for use any various scraps so that
they may be transformed into bean.
tifui as well as useful dainty trifies.
Every thing unsoiled. merely wrink-
led, should be pressed and wound
on spools or photograph rolls, not
folded into fresh creases. Mater.
ials at all soiled, yet of intrinsic
worth, may be washed or sponRed
according to their condition.
On a quiet day take all the nice
pieces TO the kitchen, heat some
small irons, and prepare a basin of
borax water, strong solution 10
eradicate every stain or mar. Dip
very soiled pieces right 10 the borax
water, those Of lesser degree may
be sponged.
II you wash soiled velvet In this
way, aud then press IL on the right
side, you will have beautiful panne
velvet looking like new. II YOU
don't want it "panned moisten
slightly on wrong side and steam in
the old fashioned way.
A lovely homemade gift for the
college girl is q cluster Of flower
sachets. roses, clematis, poppies ac-
cording TO her favorits color. They
are worn on underwear, in muffs,
coats and hats. OF course you must
use only her pet sachet.
The college boy will like a ribbon
cigarette or tobacco holder. Moth.
er will prize a dainty glove and
handkerchief pad in mauve or cream
with orris root or lavender 10 the
filing. Father will thank you for
book marks, the plainest kind, and
at least a half-dozen Of them.
Grandma will be delighted with
some small neck pillows, filed With
pine Odor, and the busy woman
would likes . really con vsnient needle
book with buttons aud safety pins
therein.
There is no limit 10 the variety of
gifts you can get out Of your scrap
box gifts friends want-if you only
use brain Instead Of worn 0ut thso-
ries. real love instead Of sentimen-
sality.