Evening star., 1943-09-26

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER may
sound more like a song title than
q post Office request, but actually
that's when we must do our
Christmas shopping for the boys
overseas If their Christmas is to
be a merry one this year. Last
season, too many of them had a
lonesome Christmas waiting for
gifts that never arrived. That's
why the post ONCE Is taking no
chances and has set deadline
of October Is on mailing gifts
abroad.
Our men are going to like what
they receive better this year, too,
because We on the home front
have learned a lot as to what is
suitable and what is wanted over
seas. The men who have come
home have told us. Others have
written. To be sure, wanted items
vary In different theaters of oper-
alton. However, wherever that
man is, the thing to remember is
what his tastes are. He's the same
guy you knew and loved. A uni
form hasn't changed his prefer
ences. If he was an icebox raider
at home, then food is still good
bet. On the other hand, If he
rarely smoked pipe, he probably
won't appreciate the most ex-
pensive pipe in the world. In
other words, send something that
proves you still love him-some-
thing that shows you put some
time and thought into your gift.
Send Paper and Pictures
Since mail is one of his main
stays and since letter-writing
begets more mail, stationery Is
popular with the men overseas.
They particularly like it in a
handy folio that is large enough
and rigid enough to use as writ
ing board. A desk, they remind us,
is not one Of the luxuries of
combat zone. II the folio has a
space for an address book and
memo book so much the better.
Pen and pencil sets also rate
high with the soldiers and
sailors, but be sure to send extra
lead for the pencils and send
along ink, too, in an unbreakable
plastic container.
Next to mail, a picture of YOU
Is highest on the list. Send him
one in a strong frame or pocket
size leather Casa little bit Of
home to carry with him always.
OF course, you gave him a pic
ture before you left, but the boys
tell us that those are much the
worse for wear by this time. (You
ought to be glad of that; means
he's been incoming over it and
missing you0 If there is
Junior, by all means send along
a monthly record of the little
ones progress, and if there's
pet a snapshot will remind him
of the nights that Spot used to
greet him at the front door.
Light That Won'f Fail
Probably the most wanted gift
no matter where men are-is
the windproof cigarette Lighter.
They all beg for lighters that
will light in a strong wind" You
know and I know that lighters
are hard Chats understatement
for YOU'D to get-but an explain
atory letter saying, Sorry. there's
a shortage" is a poor substitute
for lighter il man wants one.
We know that one of the shops is
anticipating a shipment of light
ers in time to send off before Oc-
tober Is. However, we wouldn't
count on that. If we were in your
boots, we'd write every person we
ever knew saying, "Do you, by
any chance, have a windproof
lighter you could sell me? It's
the one thing Bill wants for
Christmas and I hate to disap-
point him." A friend of ours
just sent an old lighter of hers
off to the South Pacific in answer
to such request. And, when
you send it, tuck in some extra
fiints and wicks; that's the ges-
ture that tells him you really
thought about it. Incidentally.
We hear that men who don't
smoke want lighters. They find
them useful in a blackout to give
just enough OF quick light flash
to see the outline of a lanp most