The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-17
Pe,zlous Undutaklne Buying
 Ch,zstmas Pyesenks For Dlen
Want Useful Things and Nothing Short of An Automobile Sky Scraper Would Please Some of Them-Sam
 pie List of What "One Would Like
ny DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

very plainest imaginable. 25-cent ink stand. Decent paper cutter. a 75-cent pair of shears and a muoh-blotted blot ter. And there you are" Perhaps the feminine members of your menage have at some time paid a visit to your office and have seen how utterly disreputable your desk looked and they thought perhaps a little bit of refurnish- ing and housekeeping might help" suggested.
 DO you think I'd stand for a minute those little yellow pans and cans and things scattered pell-mell all over every where7" he growled. why, the desk wouldn't know itself and I'm sure I man doesn't want knick-knacks and gew- gaws around when be is at work"
 What did you do about it?" l inquired in a dsgusted tone.
 At table when we assembled for din ner I quietly remarked that I had heard my friend Smith say that his wife was going to give him lot of brass trim kets for his desk for Christmas and that I thought she was bally idiot to do it."
 ''Ungrateful wretch." I declared.
 well, I hope 1t has rad the desired effect and think 1t did" said he chuck ingling. flor I saw the family winc- ing and looking at each other very ner- vously, as I delivered my opinion"
 If were in their place would give you those things or die," I said ve- hemently. T suppose you want mo- tor car or a skyscraper at the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street7"
 That would be pretty nice.' said the bachelor nonchalantly.
 Even then I suppose you'd look the gift horse in the face and tell him you didn't like the make of the car or that the building wasn't tall enough"
 "A fellows not really very hard to pleased he remonstrated after my per siflage. Now. I for one, am rather easy. I don't like women to give me smoking utensils, cigars. cravats. or"
 Then why don't you make out @ list of the things you would like and send 1t around to the friends you think like ly to give you present?' I suggested.
 dOO0 lQcd-l II QO IL noWs S6lQ l6 anu immediately pulled out his pencil and paper and proceeded.
 I resumed my work and after few minutes he cried triumphantly:
 Here 1t isl"
 And this is what I read:
 One dozen collars. size 1s
 One pair heavy tan gloves.
 One razon strop.
 One long towel roller for cravats, q hang mine on the chandelier now.)
 One toy steam engine. q am tired of making up excuses to play with my nephew's.)
 .One plain, serviceable umbrella. q don't carry a cane and a silver head doesn't make me any more likely to use one)
 Half dozen large aize bath towels. (The ones I have now are much too small)
 One pair of the overshoes known as goloshes.
 All silver backed clothes brushes, sil- yer photograph frames, cuff and collar boxes and cravat cases respectfully de- clined, also silver cigaret and match asfes which are both too pretty and too small for use.
 AS I smiled at his oomplaisance he put on his hat and as he left I heard him murmur:
 Hanged if I don't throw ever baIly one of those sweet-scentsd cases. home knit cravats, embroidered handkerchiefs and brass rubbish for desks in the waste basket if I get any of them this Christ mas"