The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-11
EARLY HOLIDAY BUYER
GETS PICK OF GOODS

There is a lot in the notion that half
the trouble IN the world is caused by a
wrong way of looking at things. Get
the right view and keep a steady eye
upon II, and the right view OF christ
mas. I am sure you will all agree, Is
that IL is the maddiest, merriest DAY
OF all the S65. Indeed IL is very pun
chinellO of days-that is, If you are quite
ready and waiting to see II dawn. II
you are not-well please do not ask me
TO say just what sort Of a day II IS
likely to be. Having had this say on
the evils OF prccrastinauon, 1 hecr you
"Oh. it is easy enough to talk that
way when all one has to do Is to spend
As a matter of fact, you may spend
your little with common sense and dis
erection, may YOU not2 And, talking Of
and make no effort to give things you
cannot afford. It Is not an evidence OF
stingineSs to be careful. Circumstances
may force one to be cautious IN the
use of money, but nothing but a mean
spirit and a narrow mind is responsible
for stinginess.
It's the Spirit That Counts.
Therefore when you give your mil
iuonairesss cousin a token which cost
you 80 cents and a little bit of thought
and ingenuity. give it as gladly and IN
bIushingly as she might present $50
gift. If she looks askance at it-wen,
then with all her millions there is some
thing radically wrong in her make up,
and doubtless If you had Jumped your
entire Christmas outlay and laid II
! tremblingly at her feet, she would nave
not been more gracious
| The matter is over and done with
when you have done your best, whether
| that best be an afrship or tin whistle.
/ In your preliminary preparations It Is
: we'll to keep an eye open 10 the tancleS
of your friends and use all your wits
/ in having your gift fit into niche II
! doesn't much matter how small the
niche. either, when it is filled by your
| kind thought and merry greeting, II IS
filled to overlooking. Make your brains
take the place of money, and your good
other words, don't make perfunctory
gift.
Don't Be a Trader.
OF all the debasing features Of tht
great Christian festival, the trading of
OF tokens is about the most disgusting
1t takes the spirit out of everything
and makes the gift table a measly little
mart of trade. For my part, I think i
is a lot better TO refrain from givins
altogether unless you give simply be
cause you are sufficiently interested il
the recipient to make a little bit CT sac
rifice of time or energy or money Wnlcl
/ ever GOIEfIuOIllH COUNTS the AtAusL VIII
YOU. I am sure If there were Just III
tie more moral courage IN the WoTl'
there would be considerably less Christ
mas buying Doubtless, circumstance
compel some to put good face on al
! ungrateful task but Christmas is no
supposed to be a task day, so, unles
d. there is some pretty good reason for II
| I'd cease to pay unwilling toll And
wives and daughters, don't let you
} | generosity run away with you TO IN
! WreCking of fathers peace Of mint
| and his bank account at the same time
II YOU cannot give TiCh gifts JOyousl,
5 with a quiet mind, content yourself wit
the simplest sort OF a remembrance. an
! don't let any false pride or selfish sen
sftfveness drive you into sending tn
family excheQuer into three months
! eclipse
g IN the first place. fl is not right; /
= the second, it is not sensible, and in tn
d third Il simply doesn't pay, look al tn
D matter in whatever light you have
mind to. FRANCES CARHOLlA