Evening star., 1940-12-10

buy gifts for the members OF her
own family. On top of that, she is
probably asked to kick in contribu-
ton to buy the boss another travel
ing bag, which he neither wants nor
needs.
If you're new on the job, you'll
probably have to play along with
this gift giving gone wild. But If
your position in the Office is we'll
established, we suggest that you
head a movement to abolish the
practice, or reduce it to a mere
exchange of gay or gaggy tokens
which cost not more than a dime or
a quarter.
Now for that puzzling problem Of
whether or not you should give a
present to the boy friend or the girl
friend. and if so. what. If you're a
girl, it's safer to give Johnny Stag
something only if he's led the way
by giving you something in the past,
or If you're positive he is planning
to give you something now. III
YOU think he may, but aren't quite
sure, there's always the tried-and-
true dodge Of buying him a gift,
wrapping it prettily, and then hold
ing it in reserve until he comes
through with your present, if any,
Gifts which will please most fell
lows, and still observe the conven-
tions against getting too personal
or too expensive, include books and
magazine subscriptions dealing
with his hobby or chief interest, II
you're smart: phonograph records;
games. prints and pictures; tie
clips and chains; monogrammed or
initiated handkerchiefs; bill folds,
key cases and other leather goods;
a personal clock perhaps in a
leather case); novelty pencil
sharpenerS; cigarette case, box or
lighter; fountain pen or mechanical
pencil; sports equipment except
clothes) gadgets in general.
BOYS can feel free to give pres
ents to girls whom they have been
dating, as long as they are not too
elaborate or too intimate. Almost
everything mentioned above would
be all right, and in addition you'd
be safe with toilet water or per-
fume. monogrammed or initiated
stationery. inexpensive trinkets or
costume jewelry, book ends, engage
ment pads or address books and the
good old flowers and candy.
Readers have sometimes asked US
whether it was better to mail gift
or present it in person. That's en-
tirely a matter of convenience, but
we think the personal delivery Of a
gift on Christmas Eve or Christmas
afternoon is a nice gesture for a
boy to make. If Johnny and Jane
have a date just day or two be-
fore the holiday, that would be the
natural time for them to do any
gift exchanging which might be on
the program.
If the suggestions we've made
above still leave you with a doubt
as to the propriety of a gift you're
planning for some one, we think
you should subject the whole idea
to two tests.
First, what is your motive in CIV
ing the gift? If it's secret desire
to curry favor, attract attention or
put the recipient under obligation
to you, don't do it.
But if you're sure your motive
is generous and Christmas-y, rather
than calculated and selfish, you still
want to be sure that the gift itself
is okay And the test there is to
avoid anything which might en-
barrass the recipient either because
of its nature or its costliness. Re-
member, the spirit behind the gift
is more important than the mere
merchandise.
"Our Favorite Party Games"
will be big help to you in your
Christmas entertainment. and
the booklet is yours for 5 cents
in stamps or coin. Address Kay
Caldwell and Alden Harrison in
care of The Evening Star.
(Copyrght, 1910, Associated Editors)