Evening journal., 1906-12-20
THE BUYING OF
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Shopping District ThrOnged
With Persons Seeking
Presents
A SEASON OF TROUBLE

IA SEASON OF TROUBLE
Christmas time Is the time when we do
the wise and unwlse things mainly the
unwise one-when We take our sheckels
in hand and invade the shopping districts
and buy lot OF things that We never In
tended 10 buy. and which, az We wander
on to repeat the offcnse we wonder why
we ever did buy. This Is the time when
we huy a beautiful capdlestick for 20
cents 20 give 20 Jessie just because VIC
thought Il very beautiful, when we know
that Jessie has at least dozen candle
sticks scattered around her house; when
we buy book all about the clever things
J that somebody thinks about women be-
cause Il appeals 70 our sense OF the whln-
sloal and 'fantastlcai; when We are sure
that John never reads anything lighter
than the ledger-and when We do = null
titude OF things Just as sensible, but al
ways peryaded with the Christmas snlFltI
that makes US see all things in brigntI
ana beautiful light
After all Is said and done, though, II -
the CHILDREN 20 whom Christmas brings
the fullest OF Joys, 10 whom II means
everything that tradition meant for the
Yuletide. There is certain storo in this
town where a Santa Claus makes his
headquarters, appearing al stated inter
walls C controvert the absurd statement
that there Is no Santa. and n you want
10 get good idea Of the felicity Of
Christmas, go and stand on the corner
and watch the children as they lock with
! ave and delight AT the really rightly Santa
/ Claus separated from them By a pane Of
bevoied glass. what ectasy IL there In
their expression, In what a tumult Of glee
/ they wave their mittened hands. many OF
y the mittens having the little holes that
I detracts not "A whit from tho faith OF tho
4 child. but shows that there Will not be
q mucl, allurement for Santa in a monetary
(. line
Isn't II pathetic" said ono woman 70
y another. as they watched several OF the
? little ones. evidently belonging 70 parents
not wealthy IN this worlds goods. Those
: children will get so little for Christmas
! could just cry"
: Nonsense" exclaimed her companion.
b "The mothers will get them a little rag
= doll, and there viii be the Importance ara
|, the secrecy that goes with Christmas and
+ children, and perhaps she viii buy q
2 little tree and trim II with raw cotton,
4 end ] fancy there are not many PAM
h p,ree earnings with a nursery fun OF new
q gifts who will have as jolly time as The
! poor child with its one or two new toys
And the last woman had the Christmas
. spirit, which is a thing taking account ot
= quality and love, and not quantity and
J, expense.
Does the shopper with a full pocketbooiS
who soos through the stores get as much
real Christmas as the little woman who
= has u debate whether a nice pair oi
gloves or a sweater viii be the best thing
for Tommy and who knows she can't gel
= both. There are many OF both classe'
y abroad and fewer among the latter class
y who viii tell you that they arc dad
: tired and Christmas is an awful bore.
hut have you seen the maiden shop
ping for him" There was one on Mar.
ket street tho other day. ana she mel
her very best girl friend, who greeted
\ her with smiles, only 10 have the greet
: ing returned in a dreary, Il don't care II
Il rains expression,
what's the mattery inquired the r
! sololtousiy. Have you lost your pocket.
bocky"-tho worst thing that could hap
pen IN These Christmas ehopping DAYS.
No" said The girl with the drears
r expression. Il haven't, but wish had
4 You know ! saved I'd an awful lot Of
money 10 get a beautiful stickpn fci
Billy. and the one I got Is a perfsc
beauty. l have been for a week gloat
ing over Il and thinking how pleased hoo
he Wei, this morning went mi'
Blanks jcweiry shop, and, do you knew
there he was. with that horrid Juno
girl, and I'm sure mo was buying her
Christmas present. Now / wouldn't CIV
him the pin for anything. I'll give II &
Arthur and let Billy know that Two don
II. ard TN give Billy that 25-oent asl
tray that bought for the letter carrier.
or such arc the tragedies Of Christmas
DC you see the man buying christ
mas present7 He is a nice man, ana b
Is rather brave man to venture into IN
> Christmas rush and hustle, and no ha
"a something Of the air Of a conquorlnl
hero os he pushes his way through IN
crowd with his bundle under his arm
lie likes to buy his presents az a. jewelr.
Il store. as tho clerks arc always 70 synpl
thetlc, and he does not mind II u ne "a
20 pay a few dollars more than he a
first intended TO spend-he has had IN
e. mpsthy and the advantage or the super
- lor Judgment Of the jewelers. clerk. IN
clerk always knows what his sister woni
like-his present IS always for his sister
% indeed, the jewelers. clerks must have
very high opinion OF the brothers OF thi
great and glorious country.
But there is ono good thing-most yir''
sisters" especially. do not let a ma
know when he gives them a bracelet on
they would so much rather have a locke'
or vice versa. They smile and tell hlr
how charmed they are and what goo
Taste lie has; and Il is az this point tina
he becomes minated with pride and for
gets all about the good advice snd N
sympathy Of the jewelers. clerk.
And q will go merrily on until N
nigh, before Christmas Then very. yer
late the cash will stop jlnglins, and n yo
listen very hard and have lots Of fait
you may hear the jinsling OF the bells
= aye and see old Santa and his tiny rem
! deer.
u
Rose Hahn was given a medal By III
German Housewives Society for havin