Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1935-12-18
SHOPPING FOR
MASCULINE GIFTS
EASY. SHE AYERS
by An Average Woman shopper


To many women, I know. the
joys OF Christmas are little COM
pared to the agonies of selecting
the proper gift for the proper per-
son, TO say nothing of getting gifts
that look" expensive for people
you just have TO remember. It
seems a bit cruel that after racking
your brains last year for original
gifts to give blase brother, uncon-
cerned (?) uncle, calloused cousins
and whatnot, you have to start all
over againi
But this season your task is
lightened considerably. In my shop
ping tour around the various stores
that cater to men, l found that
any number of public spirited
manufacturers have come to our
aid with new gift ideas. These are
all reasonably priced, and along
with the old standby gifts, add
greatly to the pleasure of Christ
mas buying.
OF course, the first stores I visit
ed featured mems furnishings. Ties,
hose. mufflers, slippers, pajamas,
shirts, suSpenders, garters-these
are the old standbys referred to.
They cannot be overlooked on any
Christmas list, indeed! We would
Mt want to overlook gifts as prac-
teal, as smart-looking as these,
gifts that are always certain of
cordial reception! Men are much
too negligent about replenishing
worn-out socks, frayed shirts,
frowsy ties and other clothing ne
cessities. Yet, every wife. sweet
heart and daughter knows how
much a new tie and shirt helps
any males appearance, to say
nothing at all of his disposition!
Woman know that wilt-lesS COL
lar on a shirt often concealS a
bundle of CHEEKY Good Morn
ing"i
Consider Novelties
Enough of that. We are all
convinced of the value
of "Wearables" as Christmas gifts.
incidentally, the merchants are
giving you a pre-holiday oppor-
tunity to get these gifts at worth
while savings.
Did you ever stop to consider
novelties" as toys for grown-up
men? That's just what they are!
Compare little brothers reaction to
his new train, with Dad and his
new gadget for his desk, den OF
liquor compartment! Our point is
proved, we'll continue!
Many of the mems stores we
visited had separate departments
set aside for these novelties"
Smoking accessories offered inter-
esting gadgets in the shape OF trick
pipe racks, lighters con-
tanned in curious and almost I'M
shapes, cigarette cases,
ash trays in modernistic designs
of birds and animals that are
strongly suggestive of your favor
tie cookie cutters and a raft OF
other fascinating gifts HIS IA
vorite store not only offers you
heavy wool sox, size 1212 Tor
grumpy Uncle Horace, but all these
new, delightful things as well!
A man needn't be an habltual
drinker in order to appreciate the
thoughts that add to the
pleasure of a casual Martini or
Sidecar. Cocktail shakers, clever
ly designed in glass, severely
modernistic chromium shakers
with chromium bases on the &C
companying glasses, simply SPLEEN
did decanters (the kind you'd Just
love to see adorn your own side
board and then, of course, the
many gadgets that men use to
squeeze, crush and strain, ana
whatever else they do in the kitch-
en- when they prepare the drinks
are all offered at the most rea-
sonable prices. You'll probably
come away with your arms loaoeo
with packages, so don't say we
didn't warn you
Military brushes, travelling klts
and leather goods in general, are
to me Just about as masculine as
ANYTHING could be. I must have
inspected hundreds and hundreds
of these and 1 found the statesmen
most helpful in suggesting what
should be given whom and why.
Visited Boys Departments
I also visited the boys depart
ments of the various stores and
found many things suitable for
bows of all ages. Any number OF
smart new leather jackets, snow
suits and furnishings. All are
STYLED exactly the way big broth
er's things are styled. Those new
fur and leather jackets would
warm the heart land hide OF any
outdoor boy. 1 can tell you! And
the sweaters and sweater sets are
not only desired by all boys, out
are as warm and long wearing as
what used TO cost about twice as
muchl :
NV shopping trip concluded, l
found myself with so many Smarl
gifts. I was surprised that was
ever frightened by the bug-a-boo OF
Christmas gifts. And what's more
I'm sure that my gifts will be
"different"l No, I didn't spend
fortune. either. That's because all
these things only sound expensive.
I'm sure that if you take the trip
7 did. around to the various mems
stores you'll have an unusual gift