Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14
BY THE BoULEVARDIER.

THERE are SO many things one can
buy in mems stores at Christmas
that it is q source OF continual
wonder that so many mothers. daugh-
tiers and wives insist OH buying useless
things. There never yet was a man who
had enough socks. unless it was King
Solomon, who, according to report, didn' t
need any. Suspenders hold their charm
when all else fails, and as for handker-
chiefs-well If you've ever seen man
use handkerchiefs in cold weather you
don't need further enlightenment.
On. 5. tour. of the mems stores n few
days ago. the writer was surprised at the
variety of presents that were spread
forth at moderate prices. One Of the
first things that appealed to him was a
gift box of many colors, surmounted by
a sprig of imitation holly and tied with
large blue ribbon. The clerk opened one
of these boxes and showed under a thin
layer of paper, six pairs of socks. two
black, two dark blue and two light gray.
'They can be obtained in different col
ors," said the clerk, land the cost of the
whole thing Is S1.25.'
What make are they?" ] asked.
He showed the trademark. They were
the Isle socks that ordinarily sell for %
cents a pair. So that, in addition to pur-
chasing good, sensible gift for q man,
the purchaser would be saving him the
cost of pair of socks. assuming he
bought them, as most men do, couple
Of pairs at a time.
I'VE have continued the clerk, an
other gift set which we believe will be
popular"
to the one he had just opened, save that
it was without the holly sprig. It con-
tanned three neckties, one a plain blue
and the other two in variegated pat
terms. The neckties didn't reach to the
top of the box There was n lit e
square of raised pasteboard at the end,
and fastened there was Il small blue tie
fastener and blue stickpin. They gave
touch of individuality to the gift.
THE cost of this set" said the clerk,
sis S1.J0. The neckties are the kind that
one ordinarily pays 80 cents for. The
stickpin and tie clasp would, if sold
separately. cost % cents each
These are two Of the combination gift
boxes that are much In demand just now
Another gift box introduced by clothiers
is one containing pair of bedroom slip
pers, shoe brush and shoehorn
The latter articles arc not Of the kind
that advertisers put out. They are We'll
made, the shoehoTn having a wrought
metal handle. These boxes may be pur-
chased for as small an amount as $50.
They are arranged SO that the man can
after removing the slippers use the box
for his shoe polishing outfit.
Still another Christmas suggestion for
men who smoke is one of those short
wide-sleeved. smoking jackets In vogue
now. Thousands of people will send men
cigars and other smoking apparatus
where tens will remember that perhaps
they might like something to wear when
they are smoking indoors. Most men, when
smoking cigars and cigarettes. drop part
of the ashes on their coats. All men.
once they get the habit, would like a
smoking jacket to ship into. And these
jackets can be purchased for as low as 81
One thing for. the purchaser TO bear
In mind is that multi-colored jacket
will do more to scare the average man
than q loaded revolver leveled at his
head To many men the smoking jacket
will be an innovation, and 1T is as well,
when purchasing one, to keep the col.
ored ones out Of mind. They are max
ing them now in dull plaids of gray
and brown, and the more expensive
ones have black velvet collars.
II the purchasers acquaintance with
the man for whom the gift is to be
bought should be sufficiently Intimate
there is no safer and pleasanter present
than a collar-and-tie box, filled with
collars. Strange as it seems, most wom-
en- who by right Of relationship or mar
riage are privileged to buy their men
folk anything of an intimate nature
will usually ba1k at purchasing collars
price two for a quarter--after they
have spent a fairly large sum for col
lar box. And then they wonder why it
is that the collar box goes unused.
A collar box without anything in it
is about the most dismal sight that
man can face, save possibly pocket
book without money In it.
To encourage the buying Of collars
many of the haberda sh ers OF the city,
as well as the biz departmeut stores