Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
II 0LIDAY GIFTS
CoMPLAcENcY OF THOSE wHo
ARE READY.
written for The star.

40 1orehanded people Christmas brings
naught of dread, but to the belated or
undecided individuals Its proximity
seems appalling. and frantic efforts are
being made to still spend time and money
to such good purpose that Saturday night
may find all In readiness. Sunday must
be counted out as working or shopping
day. much as is usually accomplished on
Christmas eve in the way of last arrange.
ments for the great festival.
With all that the previous years have
brought us 1t would seem that there
could be nothing new under the sun in
the way of Christmas offerings. but hui
man ingenuity seems unfailing and end
less, and many novelties, wholly or par
tally so. at least, make up a goodly
showing for this year of 1905.
silver. cut glass. green bronze, real or
as finish for pottery and glass-these
make the time-honored but always at
tractive and sought-for. articles which
lead In point of value and usually of
In silver the old-fashioned flower bas-
ket shape Is the favorite form for fruit.
and always pretty, whether of wicker or
more solid material 1t is rather the new
est thing this season, and so is apt to be
selected when a gift Is in question.
These are very open, the wicker-work
designs being simulated somewhat. with
charming effect
Other fruit baskets are also old fash
Toned In design, small and round at the
bottom with the flare at the top pro-
nouneed and sudden. like high-crowned.
inverted hats.
A Lovely Pair.
One lovely pair has thin. slat-like d.
visions spreading toward the top, very
much like delicate peach basket and
then heavy border in repousse. grapes
and leaves gives an elegance and rich
ness to the slenderness below.
Cut glass shows its newest designs in
basket forms also, the dropping sides and
high arched handle giving the Identical
form for flowers al In silver for fruit,
ands-very graceful receptacles thay make
for either arrangement
1t Is interesting to note how fashion
chooses the same shapes as receptacies
for various things, and also how the
same design Is used In SO many materials.
Not only In silver and glass does the
embroidery, on dress fabrics and as mo-
tifs in lace.
Lace Baskets.
An exquisite gown was lately displayed
of white chiffon over pink, and its deco
ration consisted mainly of appliques of
small baskets filled with flowers. ALL of
lace. the leaves touched up with a few
stitches in green silk and nesting among
them three tiny roses In each basket
made of pink chiffon.
One OF the prettiest pincushions seen
for sale this winter had linen, or,
rather, null top, with a basket of flowers
embroidered as Its sole decoration.
Pale straw-colored silk was used for
the basket itself, with the more delicate
shades of silks in Dresden tints for the
flowers and leaves with which 1t was
filled.
A full frill of lace, drawn up on pale
blue ribbon, finished the edge.
A pretty shaving case was of gray
heavy linen, with basket Of flowers
embroidered on the front, the SOFT pastel
shades being chosen, one of the flowers
being plainly the fashionable hydrangea,
which was worked in the natural color
ing as nearly as possible; the shaving pa
pers themselves, of yellow, when cut in a
basket shape, conforming to the outside
decoration.
A Striking Design.
Another beautiful gown which had bas-
kets of flowers as Its design was an i'm
ported model of heavy silk, the ground
being white and the design baskets of
flowers at least four inches long from END
to end. placed almost diagonally at in
tervals of ten inches or whereabouts.
1t was very striking and Of elegant
quality, and very little trimming was
used. upon it. There was lace on the
bodice and the bias front seam Of the cir
cular skirt; there was gold cord laced
through gold eyelets ending with tassels
at the front.
The basket, then, seems the pronounced
decorative favorite of the seasons de-
signs, and delightful in Its varied uses,
materials and combinations.