The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-03

can buy.
But in the midst of your troubles,
consider the professional shopper
Because Of her, thousands Of people
viii sleep soundly in spite Of the
fcason and view the Christmas
crowds with a supercilious eye.
For the professional shopper will
do their work for them. All Indian
Rpolis department stores have pro-
fessional shoppers-women who as
sist patrons in their purchases.
In Larger Cities
In larger cities, the professional
shopper aids even on a greater scale.
You tell her what you want and she
will get it. She knows all the shops,
both large and small-where the
oriental wares are--where old brass
and antiques can be purchased.
These professional shoppers know
how to buy. They know it's wise to
buy nothing but the best-that gifts
which please are those that are
novel and not too expensive.
Consider the case of Mrs. Chaun-
cey S. S. Miller, editor Of the Shop
per magazine at New York. On
her list this year have been such
miscellaneous items as, mauve gar
tiers for a dullish college professor,
a Jade leash for a pampered Pome-
ranian, a bassinet for a Pellinese,
frescreens for a house in Arizona,
"sonething for my divorced wife
not too intimate and not too for
NAL" diamond and platinum mesh
bag, a hair switch for grand
mother a shoe stretcher and a rope
of pearls-to say nothing OF those
terrifying items vaguely set down as
Something nice" or something
suitable"
Did she get them? She did. And
this is how she did it.
Personal Contact
ST shop early-and late, II neces-
sary-not only early in the year, hut
early in the week and In the day.
The hours between 0 and - are
golden, the clerks are rested and
gracious, the stock Is fresh, and
ones temper is at it's best. I rarely
shop at noon or late in the after
noon.
st try to form a personal contact
with a saleswoman in each depart
ment that 1 patronize. She will be
invaluable in years to come, by find
ing bargains for me, notifying me
OF sales, IDENTIFYING me when I write
checks, and generally taking an in
terest in my shopping problems.
1.-THE business Of pleasing individ-
uals by the gifts you buy rests
wholly on your ability to put your
self in the recipients place. Use
your imagination in choosing pres
ents. DO not give your friends the
things you would like, unless you
know they share your tastes. And
always, always, use tact"
Scales, for Instance
For example, Mrs. Miller has
bought dozens Of small bathroom
scales for gifts this year-but only
when the donor specified that he
wanted them.
"If a fat woman has admitted her
. weight, and is trying to reduce one
who knows her very we'll might give
her a scale, with the assurance that
she would not take offense. But
such a gift would be decided risk
from a casual acquaintance, who had
never heard her speak of reducing"
Gifts for men are always q vexing
question. This season has brought
several novelties for the masculine
relative or friend. There are num-
bers of TASKS and pinch bottles and
bottle sets that lock, either with
key or a combination.
The new ash trays play a little
tune so long as the cigaret is rest
ing In it's little groove, and stop
when it is lifted.
For the man who travels extensive
", there are fascinating small fold
ing chess and checker sets.
Should BE Conservative
The swank dress stud this season
is a huge black pearl, either real or
imitation.
"Women's gifts to men should be
conservative in color and style, for
men hate the loud or fussy things
that suggest feminine TASTE" says
Mrs. Miller.
Gifts for the household this season
are varied and novel. A firm in New
York is making hearth screens in
iron, using a silhouette Of the house
hold cat or dog or bird, and leaving
holes for the eyes, so the fire can
shine through.
Beware of household articles for
anyone whose house you do not
know ,"she warns. "The scheme OF
decoration may not permit miscel-
laneous additions"
For the woman friend who "has
everything" there are many subtle
kinds of fiattery to be conveyed in
gifts. There are the lovely exotic
candle sets, the boxes of assorted
sachets for her linens and lingerie,
the most delicate perfumes in beau
tiful containers. No one can have
too many of these things.
Simple Gifts for Children
Children's toys are so varied and
elaborate that the danger lies in CIV
ing too must rather than too little.
Simple gifts for children" is Mrs
Miller's rule, unless the client speci-
fies otherwise.
"The rule in giving presents is to
choose things that are the best Of
their kind, however large or small
Better an exquisite card or a few
roses than more pretentious gift
that does not live up to its preten-
tons.
Nowadays, the best gifts are
either very old, to meet the antique
vogue, or very new, to satisfy the