The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-04
An "Au-Year" Present


SSVO n SS~Ss WV
on Household Efficiency.
Christmas gift that will outlast the
year.
We are glad that not many of M
are shutins; yet in many senses
we may be shut-in from the outside
world because we are too busy to
take time to 90 after books or other
things we would like to have and
use and see. There are several
libraries which make q point OF
renting books by the week, bringing
the book to your house and taking
away the volume last read. The fee
is small; this might be just the
right thing to offer busy friend
who seldom gets away from home.
Others who like flowers, but who
have no time to grov them, would
welcome the small Towering pot
sent through at least each Of the
winter months.
One friend who knows my weak.
ness for nuts and the fact that !
cannot secure the best quality in
my neighborhood, last year as a
Christmas gift presented me with
a card saying that such-and-such a
firm would supply me with one
pound of q different kind Of nut
each month for the following year.
As do not know what kind of nut
the box will bring each time its
opening is a source Of pleasant an
ticipation and delight.
am quite sure that this idea OF
a sequence-gift could be carried out
with books. tickets, flowers and
many other articles, as we'll as with
magazines and periodicals.
Or taking this idea In a different
form, consider for a moment the
kind of toy which may be added to
or followed up each year. For ex-
ample, certain persons always give
Susie or Tom q gift. Instead OF buy
ing this novelty this season and an
entirely different and perishable
gift the next, why not have q more
definite gift plan In mind?
II Susie Is now about ave and
interested in a dolls house, why
not this Christmas give her pres
ent OF some Of the furniture or
dishes which the house may need?
Next season Susie will still be de-
lighted to look forward to other &C.
cessories and furnishings for her
still precious house. She connects
the personality Of this particular
giyer most clearly with her house,
and Just because there Is some con-
nection she may. and indeed will.
have stronger remembrance than
II II is always a "hit-and-miss" gift.
Tom may be mechanically in
clined. Start him this year with
one of the sets which make bridges
and models of many engineering
feats. BY giving him Set No. ! you
have opened a way to easy purchas-
ing next year by presenting him
with Sets 2 or and so on, thus en-
couraging the boy to take care OF
his toy, because by so doing he will
have the basis of future gift which
will bring him still more pleasure
and profit as he grows older.
The continued-gift idea instills
into the child greater care Of his
toy or outfit, and in many cases It
may develop a real taste In me-
chanics, engineering, etc.-a taste
which never could have been so
fostered by presenting him with any
old game or ball.
These Continued toys" II they
may be so called, are found in such
lines as small chemistry outfits
which may be added to and en-
larged each time; in wireless and
telegraphy outfits; in outfits for
magic OF sleight-of-hand, than which
no other possibly brings more pleas
ure to the bright boy with clever
hands. With girls the gradual Civ
ing of piece after piece of a much
desired toilet set, pieces of silver
for a chest, one volume after an
other of a much-loved author, and
so on, do much to make the girl
value each piece and think lovingly
of the giver.
While am not especially in favor
of the money gift for children, still
/ think 1t is better to give a check
or bill than foolish, wasteful and
unsuitable toy or gift. Close rela-
tives often do give a certain child
definite sums on each holiday
sums to be laid away for that future
older day when they may need IL.
And this 10 q good plan. Would
only that my fairy godmother had
started that plan when ] was q little
girl and ! might then have had q
much-needed sum when l entered
college!
Don't you think there Is some.
thing in this continued. gift" idea
and that you can apply It in various
ways? ] assure you II will make
your shopping easier, as well rs be
most appreciated by those on whom