Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-06
GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS
Articles Desired a. Varied as Tastes Of
the Recipients.

the Recipients.
War has revolutionized gift-giving in
America. according to the shop keepers
The home folks, the girl in college. even
the children. no longer come first The
main question hereabout is how to give
the greatest pleasure. the most comfort
and encouragement to the American SOL
der who soon will be fighting in the
trenches. The government Is helping the
senders for the reduction Of postal rates
abroad to domestic rates has been or
dered, and the authorities have given de-
tailed instructions concerning the mall
ing of presents to the troops. Articles
bought at the shops are wrapped and
mailed as easily as any other parcel post
package, says the New York Times Mag
azine.
II you are sending your soldier books. 1t
will be we'll to remember that probably
your soldiers taste is about what 1t used
to be. He still has favorite author and
type Of literature. War books, though
he may like them, are not popular with
the senders, according to the booksellers.
1t has been said that poetry is best liked
by the soldiers, and that book of verse
is passed from man to man In France
and gets more wear than any other kind
Many of the English and French SOL
monicas. and dreary camps have been
made merry with a few mouth organs.
Cameras of the pocket size are being
sent in quantities, as are emergency
cases, tiny enough to tuck away in a
knapsack. containing SUFFICIENT lint. gauze,
tape and other material to dress minor
wounds. A pocket knife, tobacco
pouch. a purse, a package Of needles and
strong black and white cotton thread, a
pair of small scissors and buttons are
odds and ends that are necessary to the
comfort of the soldier AND may be put
into the corner of the package that con-
tains other gifts. Writing material ia
another suggestion. There is a boom In
toilet articles for the front-tooth brush
es. combs, rasors. foot powders. soap. tai
cum powder. towels and wash cloths.
Boxes of sweets and smokes" are In
demand. Enterprising confectioners have
prepared boxes OF candles especially to
be mailed abroad. containing such can
| dies as are not too soft and perishable
and sometimes a package Of nuts, rails.
| ms, and almonds. The candies are In
glass Jars or in oiled paper wrappers, and
a box of cigarettes may be included
Pipes. tobacco, and cigarette papers are
put up together in army packages
Chocolate, which is very nourishng ant
palatable. and cakes In many sizes may
be had at the confectionery and grocer.
shops.
| Although the government supplies thu
soldier with uniforms and few necessi
ties. various articles Of wear needed b.
the men must either be given to then
or bought by them. Many Of these arr
already scarce in Europe. Knitting
sweaters for the soldiers, as everybod,
10 wi
the women. and no less energy Is being
put into the knit mufflers. socks, ant
worsted caps which slip over the head
covering the ears. neck, and head ant
leaving only the face exposed. Thost
| who are not able to make these thing,
may purchase them at price just littl'
above the cost of the material from thu
trench comforts packet committee. 9th
er articles of which the soldiers will meet
more than is supplied to them are un
derwear. heavy. strong strings for thu
boots. mot less than three yards long)
wooden outing shirts. flannel undershirts
suspenders. belts. handkerchiefs. ant
gloves.
At all times there will be a demand fol-
magazines and newspapers. Any period
icals which would otherwise go to waste
can be mailed as second-class matter
There are organizations which will &C
cept them and see that they are sent Il
the front.
To make a comfort packet you take Z
pair of new flannel drawers or warn
socks. a flannel under or outing shirt. {
large size sweater, a muller, a croche
or knitted worsted cap. and add to thes'
three yards of strong Irvine for the boots
three yards of black and white stroni
cotton thread strung on two strong need
les. hve pantaloon buttons strung oil
a No. safety pin. four sheets OF writing
paper. four envelopes. one addressed I,
the donor Of the packet one pencil. an,
a cake OF chocolate or other sweet. Wral
the whole In a bandana handkerchief O
towel and then wrap securely In paper
Put In picture postal card. Package
should also contain candles made of roll
ed paper soaked in hot paraffine. Thes
have been made by American women ant
children by the thousands. and will burr
long enough for the soldier to cook