New-York tribune., 1918-11-24
SHOPS AND THINGS

who is closely in touch with Paris, de-
signcrs there have planned certain
number OF bizarre fashions for the
"munfion makers" wife, as the Paris
ians dub them. Hore there Is less Of
that feeling which demands at least a
! century Of wealth Of woman before
! It will credit her with taste. The
evening gown craze Is largely due, ac-
cording to this man, to the ac-
tivities Of the same kind Of woman
who has been anxious to purchase more
expensive and elaborate garments, but
was restrained by the war mood.
THERE is small shrine on East
l. Forty-eighth Street where devo-
tees of tho gospel of thoughtful Civ
ing can congregate with satisfaction.
Outwardly it is a gift shop-but once
within one finds that it is more than
that. 1t is an oracle, a reader of minds,
a friend in time of need.
Gifts have way of finding the way
to ones home from this shop in a most
mysterious manner. They come un-
heralded, but having arrived they prove
to be the very thing one wanted most.
They have character, personality and,
above all, utility.
This.o of course, is because the shop
has been founded on an Idea, which is,
to do away with "just gifts" to make
the gift fit the person and the use at
the same time, to make it cherished
possession and not something to be
thrown aside after bit of perfunctory
admiration.
The three commandments which rule
at this gift shrine are Use. appropri-
ateness and beauty, and they must be
contained in each article sold or made
there.
There are wicker-work and wood ar
ticles, for example, painted, of course,
as such things must be nowadays, but
not with the sticky colors that turn
pale at the sight of soap and water.
Cleanliness being an essential to scrap
baskets and clothes hampers and even
yarn holders, carriage paint is en-
ployed and one can scrub ones cher
lshed possessions necessarily without
lmpairing the colors.
For the children there is an insti-
tution--no other word is appropriate
which is unique. This year it is called
victory box" but though it changes
It's name and it's shape every season.
the essential idea remains the same.
Into a container there is placed d col
lection OF gifts, carefully chosen, ac-
cordlng to the age, environment, tenn
permanent and whatever other details
the owners of the shop can learn about
the fortunate youngster who is to re-
ceiNe it. This has been such a sue
cessful idea that one father has
ordered sets of this sort for his seven
children for years.
Another delightful idea of the shop
has to do with sweaters. Every
sweater, says the oracle in charge, has
a distinct individuality, and to expect
1t to stretch, rubber-like, over any and
every form is asking too much.
Sweaters, therefore, are made to order
here and fitted as carefully as any
tailored garment. e-....-..-. ,yy.t.
We'll, we must make our things at
tractive to make people come up three
flights of stairs to see them," says Miss
Elizabeth Pusey, one of the three
fusseys to whose credit this gift shop
stands. But she is wise enough t,
know very we'll that it's success is du
to the idea of thoughtful giving, an
that is proved by the trade mark of the
shop, which reads "the thought behind
the gift"