River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-12-06
Suggestions in Line
of Christmas Gifts


Now that. the last month of the year
has begun it's hurried march on the
sands of time, every one seems to just
begin to realize the fact that Christ
mas is but three weeks off, and Nine.
| Merri is besieged with letters, the
burden of nearly all of them is, what
shall | make for Christmas? Let
i me tell you Of one little woman |
know who is really going to enjoy her
holidays this year without any more
than the absolute necessary hurry and
hustle that always comes with the
! 'last days" no matter how careful
] the preparation may have been. By
| the middle of November her gifts
were all carefully done up and ready
| to be delivered by post, express or
messenger, as the case might be; this
month she is looking out for her char
+ ity cases, individuals whose lives she
may brighten, making list of those
! to whom Christmas postals may be
1 sent and in a thousand and one ways
endeavoring to bring the true Christ
| spirit into her plans. This she calls
| her ''real Christmas" But to go
back to the subject of what to make
for gifts; I want to tell the readers
how one young woman has solved the
! present question in most salts
factory manner to herself, and I am
sure it will be to the recipients of
the dainty gifts.
She has made turnover collars for all
of her friends, regardless of age,
color or social position. A peep into
the box revealed some charming Gre
atoms Some were made of sheer
est lawn, plainly hemstitched; they
were to go to the friend whom the
dark angel had visited and taken a
beloved member of the household to
spend Christmas the other side of the
veil that lies so lightly between this
realm and the next. / noticed the
package was tied with lavender.
| Eyes" she said, IT just could not use
| red ribbon, but I'll tuck bit of holly
on top when / send it.
Then there were embroidered
stocks with cuffs to match; turnover
of lace attached to plain ribbon stocks
and newest of all were collars made
of Persian ribbons with two little
tabs attached.
A set of six neck lengths of ruch-
ing was tackled to a cardboard COW
cred with red tissue paper and bore
! a card marked Grandmother; then
there were some fine little turnovers
to go in a Christmas box to an Epis-
copal clergyman far out on the from
tier to be worn to protect the back
Of the stole. To friends whom she
Just wants to remember and in lieu
I of a Christmas card, one turnover
| will be slipped in note conveying
the seasons greeting. Every one
likes practical gifts, and / thought the
j turnover" Christmas was going to be
a great success. This scheme may
prove adaptable to some one who is
struggling with the what to give
question, or as one bright woman put
! it, what not to give"
Long ago an experienced house
! mother told me she had simplifled the
! Christmas problem greatly ever since
she had made the practice of combining
her gifts to one, or perhaps two ar
ticles; thus she has what she calls
her handkerchief year, apron or
book year. Having made up her
mind, she is on the lookout the sea-
| son through for novelties in her
chosen line of presents.
| VIII Nine Merri kindly explain in
| her column the correct way of award
ing prizes at a cinch party?
At all the parties I have attended
this seems to have been the method
/ adopted: If the club numbers so to
| so members there are six prizes,
| three for the ladies and three for the
| men; in other words. first, second
and third prizes for each according to
the scores. If the party numbers
from 80 to so there are four prizes.
/ In nearly every instance there is a
consolation prize for each lady and
j gentleman having the lowest score,
and this is something nice, not funny,
for surely no one needs a reward
mere than the person who has had
bad luck. If there are any fixed rules
for delivering prizes do not know
of them, and have consulted the best
card players of my acquaintance.
MADAME MERRI.