MODES OF THE MOMENT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 14

MODES OF THE MOMENT

Passing Notes by Jane Wellington, December 1. DC l Notice the date, my dear, and watch them dressing the windows with red and white! The problem of Christmas presents confronts Us> he . and now and it is rather interesting to see the different reactions to it. The self-congratulation at having achieved (he English mail with those gifts we actually did get off is still with us, and we have almost lived down the mental discomfort induced by the thought of those we meant to semi, and should have sent, but did not. The household, and those nearby within the gates of our friendship arc still awaiting attention, however and we shall feel much worse after the festive season ’8 Past, if we neglect tlicm I always mean to get well in ahead ot the time, and to have littlel pa cels and envelopes'addressed and stamped at least a week before they needed. When this first day of the month arrives, I think to myself, no I shall reallv tackle the job, I make a list. It is great fun making list. And then what happens? The last discount day for the gas, or what the apartment advertisements call “e. 1. shoes gone the way of all h e, stockings suddenly laddered, darned just in sight above the heel and „oi again; or gloves presenting an astonishingly passe appearance with the So niv list, made in faith and hope and friendliness, must be laid aside for another week. Only the salary-earner knows, I dare swear, the glorious weekly rebirth of what 1 may call the animation of living induced by a The* actual buying of presents is rather a divided sort of pleasure to the woman who has not much cash to spend at any time. The enjoyment of a search for china, glass, or some special form of household ornament, or jewellery, for a favoured recipient, is a real joy because she goes-a-buyiug among the lovely unnecessaries of the world so seldom. The selection is a long process because of being so unaccustomed a pleasure. Then the temptation to keep the things yourself has to be overcome. Has that ever happened to you? And all your money gone? But it’s a nuisance to hud that you can never regard the thing as really yours! _ In buying for older people it’s rather a tactful compliment to send them something to do with the small vanities of the world, don’t you think so? Face cream, or powder, or a little odd jewelled ornament to the greataunt or grandmother. Why should they always, be given, hot-water bottles or warm woollies? “Lavender water,” said a nice child just now, when 1 asked her what she gave her grandmother for a Christinas gift. “I always gave my grannie a bottle of lavender water. But then she was one of those lovely old ladies.” What a charming memory! You see the picture, don't you ? For the girls who excel at cooking there are delightful boxes to be had nowadays, gay with patterned paper or cretonne-covered, in which sweets, or small cakes, or one cake to fit. the box, may be, packed. Tied with a matching ribbon, and labelled with one of the bright little cards you can get at the stationer’s, your present possesses the appearance of the most expensive box of chocolates. That is a good last-minute suggestion. And with that I leave you. And I’m waiting for those wool-sale figures with an impatience you may imagine! I can see the inside of the theatre, all of you sitting round the dress circle, everybody downstairs yelling at the same time. What a Christmas it will be! With love. Yours, JANE.