The chronicle=news., 1912-11-19

until the bclated shopper makes the
last hurried purchase the night be-
fore Christmas. 1t will he more or
less OF II daily problem. The person.
all,y OF a gift must OF necessity en-
ter largely into the recipients ap-
probation. and that which has been
made with loving hands carries u
holier message. one more In spirit
ual accord with the festival sacred
to the Savior. than does the gift
bought In thes hops.
Stili. the majority must look to the
shops for tokens OF remembrance and
OF affection. And designers and
ma manufacturers do their honest best
to produce that which is worthy Of
the occasion. Before journeyins the
rounds to see what merchants have
to offer, let place be made for the
yearly Injunction: shop early" The
advantages are obvious and need no
recital.
First. for the kiddicd with their
beautiful belief In good old Kris
kringlc and his reindeer. who slips
down the chimney when amiable
little folks are asleep and Grams the
stockings full. letting tho overflow
scatter near the fireplace. Inciden-
tally. here's II secret. Makers OF toys
have been searching far for some
thing TO take the place of the Teddy
bear. Like the billikcn for older pco-
pie. the woody bear was a trcmcn-
dous hit. Millions were sold. hut chill
dren tire quickly OF the new play
thing. and the demand now is prac-
tically gone.
Had Roosevelt been elected. the
Eull Moose would have been the suc-
c.ssor. A manufacturer with II plan;
adequate to handle big propositions
stood ready TO begin production when
the returns were In. but the Wilson
landslide retired the Eull Moose TO
Oblivion. aud another business gam
bic went down to tho debit side OF
the prof; and loss page.
The newest thing for children Is
the doll wardrobe. No longer IL the
gown which covers the bisIuc limbcd
plnycthing put there for keeps II but
tons or hooks or pins Just W do
clothes for humans. There are frocks
and COATES. flnncl and silkcn petit
coats. stockings, shoes. hats and the
rest Of the feminine adornmcnt list.
all to he pu, on and taken off by the
play mother. Students OF child life
declare that the practical knowledge
gained by the little to; from the
dressing and undressing operations
Is of much value. and really Is ad-
vanccd kindergartcning.
For the boys. the mechanical mod
,eIs-thcy can hardly be called toys
are first. There are electric railway
systems with trackagc for the floor
or table sawmills. cement \miXcrs
and other apparatus In miniature OF
the bigger machines which are doing
real work In u real world. Here again
science and pleasure are brackcteh.
rhc musical toys show cornets. from
bones. violins, flutes and other in
strumcnts.
Most OF the toys still come from
Germany. where entire villages are
given over to their production. And
they are ordered In January for the
following holiday. Ameican toymak-
crs are turning out little that is
sivc creations. the cost of which Is
possible only to the very rich. Books
of course for the little ones who are
older. air guns for the lads. roller
skates for both girls and boys are the
usual standbys that never lose pres
tige. although parents are being dis
couraged buying airSuns and other
because OF the danger.
After all. providing for the chill
dren is not the big problem. Content
comes easily to the child: II Is In the
selection OF the present for the
grown up that begets perpleXity.
More and more Is the tendency to-
wards the useful in gift buying. For
HER. silk stockings. gloves, handker-
chiefs. handbags and the like are
cternally welcome. One of the fea-
lures in the shop displays this sea
son is the use OF French ivory on toi-
let, articles where It has displaced
sterling silver and ebony to a consid-
crabIe extent. The material, which,
frankly is not elephant ivory. but
composition with durable qualities.
Is a beautiful soft white and makes
u fitting addition to the boudoir.
The "limousine set" in the new ivory
makes an attractive display, compact
ly arranged so that The closed pack
age resembles leather cascd book
to which is attached strap handle
TOR convenience in carrying.
In the jewelry shops. the newest
vogue is for bracelet watches. the
bracelets being OF gold. plated or SOL
id, or of platinum with jewels insert.
priced all the way from $15 to $4,000
the latter having. besides many val
liable stones, n watch about the size
OF dime. made in Geneva. Switzer-
! land. The timepiece alone Is marked
at $1,000. From salad forks to lorE-