Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-12-16
The Christmas Problem.

Once more the glad season of Christ
mas is ut hand and the one important
problem of life becomes, shall we give
our loved ones the presents they would
like. or those we think are good for
them?'
Deciding in favor of the latter. we
shall buy Bobby, who is yearning for a
new bicycle Il nice black suit Of even
ing clothes. This will be especially good
for Bobby, who has arrived at the age
where he despises being dressed up, de-
tests girls and is awkward in his move
ments owing to u needlessly large sup
ply Of feet md hands. For Sallie, who
IS new little girl, aged T. and add
dicted to boys plays, we shall buy a
large wax doll and a pretty sewing bas-
ket. For mother. who is a trihe too
advanced for her years, who enjoys the
boys games and carries flags for them
in all their football contests-for mother
we shaif buy a beautifully bound copy
of Thomas Il kempis and lovely white
knit shawl. Then for John-dear John,
How kind, though gay and up-to-date,
he isi-we shall buy IA smoking JACKET.
To be sure. John never smokes, but Il
man III a smoking jacket looks so coy
sitting in the family circle evenings and
Sundays. AS a matter of fact one is al
ways out playing bridge evenings, and
on Sundays John is always off playing
golf. Still, the smoking jacket is Il
sweet present: it is full Of domestic
traditions and is economical besides
With book for Cousin Mary. whose
eyes will not permit her to read some
stunning automobile goggles for Uncle
Bob. who is neuresthenc and nearly dies
Mt the sight Of an automobile. Il stylish
umbrella for Aunt Helen. who suffers
drcadfully from rheumatism and never
dares to go out in the rain. the whole
matter shall be disposed Of, and what 4
blessing. OF course nobody will like
what we have given him or her, but we
shall have done our duty, thank Heaven,
and-how excellent is the virtue Of econ
omy allied with common sense.-we shall
have spent so little that we can afford To
buy 4 small Christmas present for our
SelveS-the exquisite amethyst necklace
which we saw last week marked down
from S25 to S23.9S.
The Christmas present which IS GOOD
Tor us is commonly, on the diverse, a
present that is cheap. and it comes to us
adding insult To the injury it inIicts. IN
SCrbed with the hypOcritical sentiment
Behind the gift lies the heart OF the
@irer. Two principals govern rigorous
~ IN giving prescnts-the thing shall ne
snlt3he: it shall express an element OF
Seil-Sacritice 1t is this last thing which
on fiue analysis, Ruskin finds to be the
compelling charm of costly things Il IS
The absence of it which ofeuds and
wounds MS in tie cheap Gift we receive
from a friend
The English manner Of solving the
Christmas problem commends itself To
reason and to true affection. The Civ
lng Of gifts is limited to friends who are
near and truly loved. for the number OF
persons with whom one has more or less
agreeable but superficial relations, re
course is had TO cards. These cards, as
ornate and expensive as taste and means
ailow, are engraved with the name Of
The scnder-in the instance Of n married
woman or a man. the husband and wife
send enc card between them. With the
name appear the address and date and
some simple expression like. Best
" i>iies for Merry Christmas and q
Happy New Year" Thus are the social
duties" Of Christmas time disposed Of
sg"h fashion as TO leave one free to
iud aige in sentiment and even in good
cHeer.-Harper' Bazaar.