Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-13
IJITXTJRES FOR GIFTS
SELL LIKE HOTCAKES
IN TRUE XMAS SPIRIT
asirn of Prosperity" Say Busi-
ness Men-They Make Bet
ter Presents Than
Useful Things
HELP FOR THE sHUT-INs
vn.,,dIne today. there arc only eleven
sbonpIng days before Christmas.

voctudIng today, there arc only eleven
shopping days before Christmas.
70 it is ever right to capitalize the fu-
ure and spend the dividends that are
rald by hopes and dreams lin advanced,
/, ,s in this Christmas season. Christ
mas has nothing to do with money-mak-
de- but Il has a lot to do with money
snsndlne, and therefore the news that
comes from six big life insurance COM
panies' presidents that prosperity Is
hare is important news.
,,prosperlty Ia shown by the extraor-
a,rarv demand for luxuries," quoth one,
md II looked as If he we're right at the
rowder, puff and perfume counter of a
bIr store today. There were men there,
tno. with woefully perplexed counte-
nances. because almost anything a man
might buy at such a counter would be
,be wrong thing and 1t would be bet
,sr if they gave their wives the money
ana let them get It for themselves, under
ordinary circumstances.
put the fun of Christmas presents Is
,he surprise, and many wives are moved
a. tears Of touched affection at the sight
~ gifts chosen with the bungllng bad
,aste Of masculinlty, which, however, had
,.eant we'll II Is sad to think OF tho
MANY rings, bracelets, mesh bags silver
nuff boxes, ETC., that have to be taken
hack and exchanged after Christmas. But
they meant well; that Is tho important
thing.
To say that prosperity is shown by the
large demand for luxuries may, after all,
n g1Uinr that
ME are getting the right idea about
christmas presents, which is to give lux
ures and not necessities, right in line
with the splendid tradition of the gold.
franlsincense and myrrh. Umbrellas are
all right and there is a definite place for
them in the corner back of the Christmas
tree. But not even an umbrella maker
will say that an umbrella Is exciting, ex-
cent when 1t turns inside out.
But these small feminine trinkets and
rewgavs and chatelaine affairs or what
ever the names are that you ladies' call
them are exciting, and that Is what
Christmas presents should be. To like
people very much Is to give them all the
useless things they want.
There is a great deal to be said about
small things for gifts instead of big ones.
Small watches are much more endeared
ana endearing than "turnips," Just as
little feet are better than big feet.
Professional optimists are chatting
about big brown turkeys and English
steamlng hot plum pudding as things to
look forward to, typical OF Christmas
cheer, but many persons would prefer Il
little roast pig to the turkey and real
plum pudding TO the fake plum pudding.
The whole little pig Is carried in with an
anpla In, hia IN nuCh
symbol of Christmas as any hackneyed
turkey that ever strutted across a maya
zine cover.
Food, It is not generally known in polite
circles. is the most generally distributed
Of Christmas presents. Thousands of
baskets are given away filled with food,
A.thing one does not think of as a Gift
for the well-to-do except in the form of
candy.
In this connection the Shut-in Society
Is making strenuous efforts TO increase
the scope of its work at the coming holi-
day. A box has been placed at the Elk
change, III South 18th street, with the
legend Help the Shut-ins at Christmas"
And contributions are awaited Mt the Of
fee. no Chestnut street, for Christmas
dinners, ETC., for the "shut-ins." The
people called "shut-ins" are those whose
lot it is to suffer. lying on their beds in
homes, hospitals and almshouses, or sit
ting dolefully about therein, most of them
without the taste for reading which
makes the time fly for 'shut-ins" in moro
prosperous circumstances.
All of them are not in institutions. One
letter says; please send letters and
cards. I live In the country and II is
awful lonesome. 1 have never walked
although I am 20 years of age, but 1
manage to hitch around the house in a
rocking chair. I help to do the work and
can wash dishes, bake and sew in my
chair"
II may spoil Christmas somewhat for
The lucky ones, who are too busy think
ing about Christmas to be thoughtful
about Chrlstmas-it may be a pity to
bring up these sade pictures before thems
but facts are facts.