Free press., 1908-04-18

S = " 3o3 John, explained
EA<9 his wife, $50 that
L get packages all
ssSs..- mixed up and
send people the
wrong articles by mistake
For instance, that little break Of
mailing pink baby booties to our es-
teened bachelor uncle" John assisted.
Yes" agreed his wife, hastily.
That particular bIunder was still
sore point The uncle was rather
Important parsonage, potentially, if not
actually. But more than that, John,
I'it's the foolish selections you make
when you are hurried. You don't
nave a chance to show any originality.
Mrs. Briggs, who talked beautifully
at the club Wednesday, showed us
that it was a positive insult to our
friends to give them things picked up
in a hurry at the last minute"
What's all this got to do with your
day ?" prompted her husband, select
ing third hot biscuit from the plate
at his elbow.
why, everything" said Mrs. Steel
by, lucidly.
please explain" insisted Steelby.
Well said his wife, "after listen
ing to Mrs. Briggs I made up my mind
to be as original as I possibly could
be in every single case. So I caught
the 9:t5 train this morning and SIM
ply put in the day downtown, looking
for things
Steelby groaned Were you part of
that throng of women which tramped
up and down the streets all after
noon?" he snapped.
'.Why, John! OF course spent part
of my time there, but nearly all day
7 just looked at things in the shops.
think it's the only way to get ideas
just look and look until you happen to
think of what you want"
ooh, so that's the idea, is ft?" in
quired Steelby, with noticeable lack
of sympathy. I'm glad to get line
at last on the processes of the female
mind
"Of course it is" Mrs. Steelby as.
sured him 81 don't know how many
counters I've stood at to-day. Every
thing is terribly crowded. But I al
ways managed to get attention, one
way or another"
"How's that? What do you mean?'
demanded her spouse, suspiciously,
but Mrs Steelby hurried on without
noticing the interruption.
''It was an awfully hard day, John.
You men have no notion what drain
this Christmas shopping is. Especial
ly when you insist upon being original.
By one o'clock 1 was completely
tagged out. I happened to run across
Mrc tbQn and wa went
up to the lunchroom and had cup
of tea. 1 wasn't going to eat anything
and she thought at first she would
just have glass Of milk, but every
thing looked so good that we ended
by ordering a chafingdish lobster and
some salad and coffee and ices. After
that we both felt rested"
HIN" remarked .Steelby to his
coffee cup ct takes these delicate
little women to put it all over g coal
HEAVIER when it comes to appetite!"
"But it is such a satisfaction to
know that you have accomplished a
lot" pursued his wife, drean1ily. II
don't mind being all tired out and miss
ing five calls and tearing my lace
waist in a basement bargain depart
ment I feel very grateful to Mrs.
Briggs for putting it into my head to
be really original this Christmas"
What did you get?" inquired Steel
by, with his first real appearance Of
interest. He placed his napkin on the
table and sat back in his chair, much
soothed in spirit by an excellent din
ner, and prepared to listen to bong
catalogue of novel and striking pur-
chases.
81 got" began Mrs. Steelby, inn
pressively, and paused. II get," she
went on after a moment, checking OF
the items on the fingers of her left |
hand, ''six monogram handkerchiefs
for Ned, game for Willie and calen-
dar for Sue, box of notepaper for
each of Cousin Harry's children, q I
book for your sister, a nscktie for
each of your brothers, and for you
a big, lovely box of cigarsl"
For moment Steelby remained star
ing at his wife. Then he burst into
roar of laughter.
"Originali" he gasped, between
paroxysms. FINALLY he quieted down
and wiped his eyes. Lets sample I
that box now, Mrs. Steelby." he sug-
gested.- Chicago Daily News.