The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-15

" MOVING the recipient of the gift, N you should know best what will A be most acceptable-and no amount of suggestion will be of much use; it may help but unless you actual ly know what is going on in the mind of your friend or brother you are help less any way and liable to the biggest sort of mistake. A little woman, for instance, whom I fancied would want a jewel for herself or some new orna- ment for her house, declares that she wants her husband to buy her per manent wave" at Madame Dennees With her hair naturally waved for ever she feels that she will have no need of jewels Another, whose every wish is, apparently gratified, wants only the privilege of spending two weeks with her invalid mother. who lives somewhere in Kentucky-just 'leave of absence" for her.
 But even if people never do get what they really want at Christmas it is satisfaction to know one has tried to guide something their way, and here is word of suggestion for the older folk. It is unnecessary, useless, indeed, to tell of the things that may be pur- chased for the little is needed to make the small person happy and vast va riety has been provided from which to choose. But for the older man or woman, varying degrees of intimacy or obligation complcate the field of possible gifts and these final days of doliday shopping will be period of frenzy.
 Without the ability to resort to bon bons and flowers and books as a token of friendship for the girls who have been gracious and sweet to them, many a mans life would be a dreary blank. So the flower. shops the next few days will be booking orders that will re- quire great skill in the fulfilling. Pretty Miss Charlotte Black at her tiny Five for Christmas flowers from the nurse ries, and Mrs Summers is another who expects to book a great many of these sales. for flowers are always tasteful and beautiful tribute. Sweets are as popular and the ornamental holiday boxes will be in decided vogue
 But to her whose claims upon you are expressed in something more sub stantial and intimate than bonbons or plumes for the ornamentation of new. chapeau might be sent in pretty holly box, if you have reason to believe these fine feathers 'are the sum of her desire. If the ban of her disap- proval or your combined necessities be placed upon the expenditure of so much money, box of gloves whose colors shall match her gowns would be a pleasant surprise. One of the most SiiNS AioAii oiit hphAoh Ao other is a boudoir cap. So--it isn't necessarily the money that one ex- pends. have seen boudoir cap give beauty to a countenance that paradise feather could not receive.
 There is no woman to whom the sheer beauty. of a Jewelled ornament fails to make an appeal. She may fol- low puritanical style of dress. eschew- ing all vanities, but. because she is Q woman she feels the compliment which a jewel- like a flower carries with it. The jewelry shops have never sparkled so brightly, never carried so large or so lovely an assortment of gems and metals and crystals as today
 Pendants, brooches, lavallieres, bracelets. rings .and earrings. chains for vanity trinkets. watches, fobs, band eaus, clasps and pins. lorgnettes cf simple or elaborate sort, jewelled hair pins and combs comprise some of the more or less ornametal trifles. And they range vastly in price; trinket that is distinctly good is not neces- sarily out of reach for the person of simple means but should you so desire.