June investigates the Gift Problem

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

June investigates the Gift Problem

To> make the' tasfc sisipler,, I have cfcasfin. one which: should meeir all acquirements: Hr is simple^ it is, seasanali, ii does. mat. probe to enafiarxassing depths,, yet is geprifeeitfc anA sufficieniljj deep to wairantf analysis;. Ift is; sirapiy: "What dixii you yaw Vast year^abciut Christmas- presents?"

Easar enough*. sfqxiJE', admit. It is equally/ easy to judge; what y/amr anssv;exa will be. ©id- you not- vow that yonl' would' start your Christinas shagging, early;," sjojaraOTrnfire a&aufc. November, if not Qcfofcreu?. Arid) cttdsft you. mutten something about '^gta^ii^V'^eapnEss;!' andi sd> on>?' Did your aot swear- that -you) woul'd> have; evejjythirig d'onfi: liy- tißa mi*diilfe of' Decemtier,, aoc tttat you 6ould. ha;«e the^lk^ pm weeks cUean.?, /mdri didj you noit.adtii acunetliuigi about. raviKng! y^urr lis?i and1 cutting! out '"Gteafc -Aainrfc Cbnstanae?sJ" irairie; because, she sent you. back: the present: youl gaVna her: at. Teast; fewa years ago?' Have you* dime-' ainjy ofl.tiiQse. things; tiiisb year? Can you tauthfuKly answceit 1 "JsesJ" ftr Wxeo Vast at. these: questions; w'dih a glow of7 conscious' pridfe; or must youi shai/mefully admit: that the answer is in the negative amd that you hase* accompiished. none; of these, thirds?

Ferfians E caxr help}. "Sou haver a few.' 'flays left to- do ali1 that has- been, lefir tor the) last- mij/uute. Yau» have to concentrate 1 weeks o£ thought (into several hours, for your gifts thisvyean are> ts> be original^ cheap., and. must be suitable. Youf will find1 yacßJus* suggestions* in this^articlte; If ' jftsu* are st mother; siSfcer;, fathr£rt, or bxot&ei? you. are advised- not to look- |r* the paragraphs, labelled! with, your respective- * names and. cheat yourselvea off the element o£ saxrprise which, is part and; parcel" of ther fuir of- Christmas presents. E£ you* aree mother;, aunt,, granri&nother, sister,, and; cousin: them tttere. is But. one jtEiing to db. ; Tear up; tiiv. page;, wrag^ it. into. liti£&a balls, and 1, use it foi llgfiting: the copper nerjdt washday!.'

TUte- s&aps- ares sdrngrgy crammed-. wSfife.. lovely tMngS5 tfrats yoxur mother will! liav&. Oipie may be yauir aurrfe—ife sbo?, substitutes "aunt?" £brt "mother" an^ ueadi air.)) :M*wayss Jfeeejp mi nrindi .that your pnesentt tu> Heas- mustt b^sametiiihg; rathfii? special— aametiiing; tSafe ice esgrsasiwe o£; alll th/e love and / appneciatian y>am reailt feeli fiar h6^

13* you are rather- young; ant! ftawe a large family- of Brothers- and sisters^ toyshop ffor as well, cheapness-- will! naturally- be^ your- mraiin problem. Well1,, whatr could' Be cheaper than ane of those lbvel^" georgettes handkerchiefs- ever^rone is wearing' now?1 Ideal f6r- tying; peasant fashion, round the head for bridge parties; it can {also'-be used asVa2 neckerchief tor as a ;raf;her-graceful trailing, oriiamerit. The cheaper .'Scores stock, a

prettier Mamßt& sftacterii j^fa three colours, which ranss; Sana Browns?, pirjfics^ greens, and yellows (a reaiQisF Ifcnctef^ hatt&gF tfhis). The' price is somewhere; a£cQHiH 3jse 3cL. M you caii afford more you willl hsrae> at waifsE1 vaonifety in your choice. Paisley patterns,: fltaizafe*, storijpes, circles—all attractive, and. gangp-ng; fnrpxofee: fiction 2s 6d upwards. If you «ave>trnneviifc wQuifii b.eia good idea to embroider your nratEnearVikiifiaai oib the gift. As a pleasant httle Snasfcft, 'tacfe as smfUl bag of lavender or potpouiru nxbo' trtss! ? There t&ece ame fixcJidreds of varieties of the ever-aecept^&le TamxustdiT bag. Some are made of pattemeeS os^xi^le^ frilled and tied with satin bows; some "ate. BflaKiei of fine georgette and hold a miitcure- <3t;laxesc&h' and rose-petals; some are big and- same'sar© verflT small; none is more expensive itfaaui 551.~ , r FerJrsps: 'yqoar mother hgs a hankering for lovely stocMngs'w ICive a quiet poke round one day and find, "oat wjfciat she puts away "for best." Then daslt out and [buy several pairs—if you can. On°, of course,, stpi makes an admirable gift. Here, again,' a tinyj'lavender bag thrust into the parcel gives st dain/tly finish to your present. Lamps for her teending table or bedside will be tisoroughSr appreciated if you can afford something more eacpeWsive. A really attractive one with a stand of '^delph blue china patterned in white Sowers ancjT having a blue shade garlanded with a single spray costs only £1, but others from 14s 6d andL in all shapes and colours are also obtainable. /

How "about a evening bag for bridge parties and Pareitits* Association meetings; or an expensive lipstifidc in- a nofr-too-bright shade; a bowl ■'filled-wit^fji''al, fine, carefully-chosen powder (look at the broli on her dressing table for this); nice, comfortable, rather flippant slippers massed with feathers;, 'pottery, if she has a. penchant in that direction;;* talcum powder; bath salts (lovely boxes for 2s BH and more); a quilted and waterproof toilet hold-all, spotted or ■plain, if she is a traveller (4s *6d, -going up); a manicure set; a pair of soft,.,soft towels, pastel shaded .(10s 6d).

yott gp> nMiEBu. furtner wit&L a^his article I want you to do something ratfter unusual and completely modern —a spot of psychoanalysis. Itt& ife fasEabn ifeese dsasysjj so if you dash away to a quiet corner for a: spot o£ spiritua?ls conuojiunion—you know, the soul-speaking-to-souf Igjpe; oifi things—you ' will not be considered eccentric. However,, a wordP of warrdng!—you must make sure that it is your soul speafemg. £q< y,oun souli,. atnd not somebody else's! The first thing tc <£& is- to find & suitable question which you must ask yourself, andi wfiiehi must &e> aiss'wered with absolute honesty. This accoiidihg to> rule.

©time on, your brain must be seething with ideas rklw that you have had a lead.

~ -Do admit, now, that you ask the family, "What *can I give poor Daddy?" (Substitute ''Uncle" (■where necessary.) And, after some cogitation, i merely dash out at the last minute and buy him

; a stick of shaving soap, a .hanky, or fifty cigar■j ettes. All very nice, of course, but rather tough on father, who has most probably gone to no «nd

of trouble and expense (not to mention thought? to give you something that you really want..

How many times have you heard complaints about "that awful pipe"? Now, then! Here is your chance to rectify the cause of that particular bone of contention in the family. Have an earnest yarn with a tobacconist and emerge from hjis shop triumphant with just the sort of pipe you' know your father likes. After all, you've lived with him for some few years now, and'ought to know most of his tastes.

If you must buy him handkerchiefs, get a set of good linen ones—with borders to match his best suit. Be very careful about ties. This cannot be stressed too, much. You must spend a considerable amount of time over the tie question, and even when you do get it home you will find that your ultimate selection may perhaps be consigned to the depths of some forgotten drawer, never, to be thought of without a shudder of dismay.

Ties lead on to tiepins, and this Is rather a new idea. Get the thin gold ones, which.are so good that they are inconspicuous. Don't be satisfied with one, b*t buy, say, three, all exactly the same. Apart from being easy .to borrow, you will find that they are a much-valued gift, for, next, to studs, tiepins are the most elusive creatures.

Perhaps your father is a golfer? Golf balls, a new club, tees, practice rebound balls, bags, sponges, all leap to the mind as obvious presents. If he is a te.nnis player he might appreciate a pair of good balls wrapped inside a silk scarf, or combined with an eye-shade. Gifts for the sportsman are innumerable. Flies for the fisherman, new tackle, a pair of waders, rods, reels, lines, a sou-wester—dozens of presents for father and uncle. .

Try a pair of brushes backed with polished wood or metal, a zippered case containing shaving gear, an electric razor, cuff links, (gold and enamel), watch chains, watch straps. And, then, to go back to the conventional, you can always rely on slippers, shirts, pyjamas, collars, scarfs, and socks as being acceptable even though not very inspired gifts. A pity you did not start that knitted pullover for him just a little earlier!

Next in the list are your sisters, some of whom are most finicky. Well, there is a never-ending list of things that they will thoroughly like. Powder compacts (the new zip or mesh, bottom ones will be particularly welcomed), 3s 6d to 33s 6d; bathing togs, 6s lid, 12s 6d, 21s, £3 3s, and so on, ad infinitum; shorts; suntops; coloured sun glasses with: rims to match her new shorts, arid in a similar case; bonnets of floral material which tie under "the, chin (lovely for motoring, yachting, laurichings, or merely sun bathing); powder, lipstick, rouge, scent; stockings (very fine and extravagant); undies, blouses, jumpers; beach shoes (a wide selection), tennis shoes, slippers, evening sandals; bathing caps, patterned seashore towels, beach balls, bathing bags, a hooded cloak of terry towelling (for the swimmer, these); luxury soaps, bath salts, talcum powders, powder puffs (swansdown are always welcomed), 3s 6d onwards: bracelets, earrings, necklaces, stars for evening wear—to be chosen carefully and not to be obviously cheap; gloves (of very fine kid or suede), 255; handbags, evening bags—try tucking a matching scarf in the pocket of such a bag—you'll find that the final gesture is always the most appreciated.

My suggestions are, however, only from shop window and personal observations. You yourself