The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-12-21
ABOUT MAKING XMAS PRESENTS.

There is a Xmas delusion that
amounts almost to tradition. 1t is,
that people prefer badly made home
product to the finest design from a
mere shop.
Now there is nice sentiment back
of this absurd notion. We do more
appreciate a gift that has sprouted out
of love than one that has grown solely
from money. We all like to look be-
yond the gift to kind, tender or
affectionate motive.
The idea of any barter in Xmas
giving is deeply distasteful to all kind
hearted, thoughtful people; but with
out shadow of a doubt we all also
like a gift that has beauty as well as
kindness; we want to enjoy pres
ent outside of its spiritual interest.
1 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 a rich aunt, who could have
bought me the loveliest creation of
tulle or lace, had the homemade"
theory and crocheted me boa of red
and white worsted. 1 think I have
never wholly forgiven her-yet her
motive was apparently unimpeach-
able.
1t is just that you must put judg.
ment as we'll as sentiment into Xmas
gifts. Sentiment may we'll adorn the
mind, but not invariably the body.
And sometimes the homemade gifts
is mere sel6shness. You give certain
presents because you enjoy that sort
of fancy work.
Yet it is easy to make people hap
py at Xmas time and without very
much money. Study the tastes and
whims of the people you intend to
favor-their taste about little luxu-
ries and comforts, their whims about
small personal and home adornment,
and you won't find it hard to decide
about their Xmas gifts.
+. The woman who intends to use her
brain to save her purse in making
presents, will do we'll to keep handy
throughout the year box in which
to collect nice bits of ribbon, silk, en-
broidery and lace. Don't fill up a
box with old stuffs, uncleaned and
uninspiring. Store things away fresh
and pretty, ready for your work.
basket, in December or earlier, if you
have spare time.
1t is naturally important in know
ing just how to freshen and make
ready for use any various scraps so
that they may be transformed into
beautiful as we'll as useful dainty
trifes. Everything unsoiled, merely
wrinkled, should be pressed and
wound on spools or photograph rolls,
not folded into fresh creases. Mate
rials at all soiled, yet of intrinsic
worth, may be washed or sponged ac-
cording to their condition.
On a quiet day take all the nice
pieces to the kitchen, heat some small
irons, and prepare basin of borax
water, strong solution to eradicate
every stain or mar. Dip very soiled
pieces right in the borax water those
of lesser degree may be sponged.
If you wash soiled velvet in this
way, and then press it on the right
side, you will have beautiful panne
velvet looking like new. If 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 cluster of flower
sachets, roses, clematis, poppies, ac-
cording to her favorite 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. Mother
will prize a dainty glove and hand
kerchief pad in mauve or cream with
orris root or lavender in the filling.
Father will thank you for book marks,
tne plainest kind, and at least half
dozen of them.
Grandma will be delighted with
some small neck pillows, filled with
pine odor, and the busy woman would
like really convenient needle book
with buttons and safety pins therein.
There is no limit to the variety OF
gifts you can get out of your scrap
box-gifts friends want-if you only
use brain instead of worn out theo-
ries, real love instead of sentimen-
tality.