South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-07

lSneu unWlnulnB the last lDCu o.
pink yarn from his fingers. and sank
back in her chair. a shimmering
mass Of black satin and tulle drap-
cries
Why, anything-and everything.
Mr.. Cutting," she answered. vaguely.
But that's Just it," declared the
Bachelor. 81 know everything would
make her happy-but 1 can't give
her everything
"Oh!" The Widow smiled COM
prehendingly, II wondered why that
furrowed brow and distracted mien.
Is it the old, old problem?"
Yes" The Bachelor sighed and
lit a cigaret. The perennial puzzle
how 10 make a girl happy at
Christmas time. I've nearly lost
my reason, my self-respect. and my
credit at the bank. already trying
to solve it,"
Poor boy" sympathized the
Widow, putting down her knitting,
and clasping her hands behind her
shimmering head. Perhaps you
are trying to make too many girls
happy. That's what gives most men
heart-fag, at this time Of the year.
Now. il you could just concentrate
on one-or two-or three? Time
was" he unused regretfully, when
a box Of flowers and a sentimental
message would set their little hearts
all itter-huttering; and a fellow
could leave q dozen orders at the
florists for violets or orchids, tuck
card bearing a pretty couplet or
quatrain in each, and call his
Christmas shopping, done, But
now, nothing short Of a motor car
or a rope of pearls can stir a single
thrill in them. And whatever you
send them, you can't tell what
| they'll think about it. If you put
your soul in pawn TO get something
TO please them, they'll think you an
extravagant fool-and if you don't
they think you a penny-pincher. If
you give them something too signi-
fcant and personal they think you
are going to propose the next time
you call, and if you give them some
thing impersonal and insignificant
-
That's it," broke in the Widow
with sudden conviction, "A man is
always worrying about what a wom
an will think, instead Of about what
she will feel. His burning idea is
to give her something which will
make her admire his taste, or his
| generosity, or his cleverness, in
stead of something that will make
| her happy. He is so bent on Civ
| ing her something that will make an
| impression, that he forgets TO give
her what she would appreciate more
than anything else in the world"
What's that?" inquired the
Bachelor. anxiously.
"a little personal thought, little
personal attention, "A little personal
study, Mr.. Cutting. F'ind out what
sort OF girl she is and what she is
most interested in"
"Oh 1 see! And send her some
thing appropriated How novel;
scoffed the Bachelor satirically, eff
she's domestic, send her a washing
machine! If she's a suffraget. send
her a set of Gladstone! If she's a
Radical, send her a bombl'
ION the contrary" answered the
Widow, quite unperturbed, find out
what she's most interested in-and
send her something TO make her
forget it!
Give her something to put a little
glamour on her life. If she's A quiet,
prim. little domestic mouse, send
her something foolish and frivolous
and pretty and utterly useless. No
body else will II she's blase and
worldly and sophisticated. send her
something TO appeal 10 her soul-a
book OF poems. or pearl-and-
gold-prayer book, or an incense
burner from an eastern temple. II
she's a high-brow, send her a vanity
case, or Persian kitten TO play
with"
cor a Teddy bear or a woolly
lamb" finished the Bachelor ironi-
cally we gods! You talk like the
kaiser!"
What" The Widow dropped
her knitting bag. wool and all.
When he found out that g. sol
dier's family was starving" ex.
planned the Bachelor. with fine
mockery, "he sent them his portrait
in full regalia."
We'll. anyway" argued the
Widow stoutly, 'it made them for.
get their troubles. and II puts lit
tie glamour in their Lies. AnC
that's what Christmas gifts are fol
to stir US out OF our dull, dry rou
tine, and awaken our imaginations
land sprinkle star-dust on our Wis
ions. Christmas is the mystic, magi,
time Of the year, when everybod.
should play fairy-godmother. o.
fairy godfather to everybody else
and go about touching dull, com
monplace lives with a magic wand
And since most men have no imag
ination. perhaps your old way wa
the best"
MY old way?" The Bachelo
looked mystifed.
Your old way" repeated til,
Widow. "of sending each girl flow
ers and a scrap OF poetry for Christ
mas, instead OF a diamond anklet
or a house and lot, or a pet leopard
After all. most women are romantic
lists at heart, however. blase anC
Sonb{Sffcafed thew NAV anDear OF