Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-03

Mrrru Gllrtstlnas, Mr.. Baxter

Chapter III.

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Chapter III.
I'VE ought to begin to think
about Christmas cards." said
Mr.. Baxter, as II the subject
had never been discussed.
II thought we had decided
70 eliminate them and save
money" said Mrs. Baxter.
"okay with me-" said Mr..
Baxter. THAT means, Of course,
that we lose touch with q lot
Of old friends"
Wen send cards to all our
friends who live q long way
or" said Mrs. Baxter.
you mean" said Mr.. Baxter.
''that you wouldn't send Sam
and Helen a card just because
they live two blocks away"
Darling. OF course We would,
They're our best friends"
II was just trying to find
out who you are going to elm
mate" Mr. Baxter said.
I'm get my book" said Mrs.
Baxter. She could produce any
birthday with q flick Of the
finger.
Last Years Cards
Now she brought out q
leather book containing their
Christmas card transactions
for years back. Last year"
she said. I'VE sent out 247
cards"
Utterly absurd" said Mr.,
Baxter. I'VE don't know 247
people"
Now I'll tell you TIE group
We can cut" said Mrs. Baxter.
That's young marrieds like the
Cassels. The trouble Is they
visit US in the summer and
then the following Christmas
they send US q card. Then
we're so flattered to be recog-
nized by the young that we
sent q card the next year"
Mr.. Baxter nodded ITS
good for us to keep up our
contracts with youth. No. let's
try to cut somewhere else"
Here's certainly q pair you
can throw out" said Mrs. Bax-
ter. II don't even know who
they are. Mr.. and Mrs. Joel de
Sanchez"
Mr.. Baxter looked panied.
Sometimes ! think you don't
listen when I tell you things.
Joel de Sanchez has been one
Of my chest customers for is
years"
"Business!" cried Mrs. Bax-
ter. Does 1t have to take over
Christmas?"
Mother of Understanding
Listen, dear: women don't
seem TO understand these
things" Mr.. Baxter was using
his patient voice. "One gets to
know certain people in business
In an intimate way. regard
Joel de Sanchez as a valued
friend. Now. here's one that
can 20. The James Wenickes.
Who in the world are the James
Wenickes? What a namel"
They're my cousins" said
Mrs. Baxter. They live in
Peoria and ] wouldn't think Of
not sending them Q card"
Mrs. Baxter snorted and
turned the page. Who's Henry
A-s.C?" she asked.
"Den't know" said Mr.. Bax-
ter. must be another Of your
cousins"
Never heard Of him." said
Mrs. Baxter. She drew q line
through the Henry Shells"
When they reached the end
Of the list they had eliminated
IL names.
There's another section over
here" said Mrs. Baxter. These
are people who sent US cards
last year and we didn't send one
TO them"
I'VE didn't ask them to send
rs cards"
.Of course not" said Mrs.
Baxter. but when someone
takes tie trouble to remember
you II seems mean not to re-
member them back"
Here's one we can cut-the
Browns" observed Mr.. Baxter.
They never send US q card.
Why should we send them?
never cared much for them
anyway"
Mrs. Baxter added up the
revised list. 1t was increased
by thirty-five names!
"One thing do know" said
Mrs. Baxter. we're going 70
have our cards ready TO send
two weeks before Christmas
this year. And I'm not going
TO pick them out alone. This
time you're going TO help pick
them out"
Mrs. Baxter had a special
place for buying Christmas
cards. It was a tiny shop OF
Madison avenue run by a Sc
rious young man with thick
glasses.
Piled on a counter was q
mountain Of albums containing
samples of Christmas cards
There was no room TO open any
one Of them. The delicate
young man kept picking up al
buns as they slid TO the floor
The Baxters went through
book after book. Here's one
that might be cute" said Mrs