HINTS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 50, 16 December 1893, Page 526

HINTS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

Everyone is now thinking of preparations for Christmas—that most anxious time for all of us poor grown-ups with large hearts and small purses. It is all very well for the children ; to them Christmas is a season of mirth and merry making, of good cheer, and pleasant junketings abroad in search of pleasure, and delightful presents more or less unexpected. But to tbe grown-up folks, and especially to the feminine half of the community, it means a great deal of trouble, extra work of many kinds, and expense, and the old cry of • Christmas comes but once a year,' has a very different meaning to them. ‘And a very good thing, too says the worried housekeeper, as she surveys her purchases, and thinks of the number of mince-pies, puddings, and cakes that will be required of her before the festive season is over. But though it means a good deal of trouble and a considerable amount of planning and prudent foresight on the part of those of us who are not over burdened with wealth, still I think we all enjoy it after all, and all the more be-

cause of the kindly feeling, and good fellowship, and old memories extending through the years, which the very name of Christmas somehow wakes in the mind. I cannot imagine anything more bewildering and mote tantalising than to be suddenly placed in the midst of a shop full of Christmas novelties, with a certain number of presents to be selected and a very limited amount to cover them. Between the rival attractions and the numberless fascinations of the show of pretty things one's ideas get so confused and one’s mind so distracted that it is well if we can retain any idea of tbe number of presents we want even, let alone remember the different tastes of the recipients of our gifts. And yet, half the value of a gift lies in its appropriateness and in the amount of thought and kindly feeling bestowed upon it by the giver. I think the best plan is to make out a list of the names of all those to whom you intend to send a present at Christmas, and the limit of expense for each, and then jot down one or two suggestions for each present according to the taste of the recipients or their wants, and thus equipped you can pass harmlessly through the dazzling displays of useless and inappropriate articles which yet are so pretty and so tempting. There are many trifles which you can make yourself and which are often more valued for this very reason, and cost far less, yet are more original and acceptable than some eostly trifle. For girl friends it is always easy to think of something at once useful and pretty, handkerchief or glove sachets, nightdress cases, lace and chiffon bibs for evening wear, and a hundred other things which a girl is always glad to have. I saw the other day some charming lace and chiffon fichus, or rather shaped tops with full sleeves to correspond, which would transform the plainest and severest of morning dresses into a thing of beauty for the evening, and which conld be copied easily by clever fingers in less expensive materials for a girl's Christmas gift. Then for married women there are a thousand and one trifles for the beautifying of the home, anyone of which would be acceptable and sure to be appreciated. horseshoe-crab letter rack. A convenient hanging-rack for letters may be made of the tough, thin, brown shell of the large horseshoe or king crab or lobster. Remove t' e horseshoe—the largest piece of the shell—place it on heavy pasteboard and mark around it carefully with a pencil. Cut this pasteboard back in a graceful curve, several inches higher at the top than your shell. Cover neatly with red silk or velvet paper, and glue the shell on, the points of the shell, of course, turning upwards. If preferred, the back may be left uncovered, and after the glue is dry the whole rack may be gilded. Little white horseshoes are often thrown up by the waves. These can be mounted in a similar way for watchcases to hang near the head of the bed at night. The back must be covered with velvet softly wadded, with a little gilt hook at the top to hold the watch. A ten holder. You can make a capital pen-holder of the stiff long tail of your crab. XVith your penknife cut off the wide end where it is attached to the body. Take the metal part from an old pen-holder and glue it firmly in the hollow tail. Put a pen in it, and try it before the glue sets, so as to be quite sure the three sides of the tail fit your fingers comfortably while writing. .Scallop-shells have been used for decoration ever since the days of the Crusades, when the pilgrims came home proudly wearing the scallop-shell—or, as they called it, the cockleshell—in their hats in token of their visit to the Holy Land.