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Descent of the Christmas Shoppers Brings the Holiday Very Close at Hand Our Search for Original ? And Lovely Gifts Now Begins in Earnest ‘Paul Revere’s Ride’ Provides The Inspiration for Parody On Yuletide Purchasing By HELEN VOGT. (With apologies to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s great epic, "Paul Revere’s Ride.”) , Listen, dear readers, and you shall hear Of the Yuletide shoppers far and near, On the first of December, in thirty-nine, Hardly a person was not in line Who would purchase a present for Christmas cheer. They said to the stores, “If the days will march On fleeting steps from the death of time, Hang a red bell aloft in the first-floor arch Of the big main aisle so we’ll hear the chime, One in the morn, and two in the eve; And we at the end of the day then will leave Ready to go and tell of the fun To every interested daughter and son, For our Christmas shopping then will be done.” Then they said: “We’re off!” and in dreary ranks Silently rode to the family banks, Just as the sun burst out bright and high Where was looming up to touch the sky The local shop, Brown’s department store; A lighted place with each gift more Lovely than the one before And a huge green wreath that was magnified By the neon candles at each side. Meanwhile, the stores, through letters and ads Prepared f or the selling about to begin, Then on that morning around them rushed in The first of the crowds in the 12th street door, Clerks sharpened up pencils and pulled out pads, And the shopping started above the din. Drifting down through the waiting store. Then they climbed to the gift shop dazzling bright, By the escalators, with hasty tread, To the well-filled racks which ’round them showed Hats for ten dollars the latest mode— * By the moving stairway, slow and sure, To the highest and the topmost floor, Where they paused to gasp and look around A moment at the gifts there found, Then they started upon their chore. Right there, on the counters, lay the wares, In their Yuletide splendoi, all brand-new, Placed in rows, so bright in hue, Then they could see. with added cares, Forbidding price tags as they swayed Dangling aloft on a long parade, And seeming to whisper, “All is high!” A moment only they breathe a sigh For the place and the hour, and the Christmas time For the lovely presents so sublime; For suddenly their eyes are fixed On a present for father over there, Where the big aisle widens to meet the stair— A line of gifts that seem to say "This is for Elmer and Patty and Kay!" Meanwhile, impatient to sell in style, Black-frocked and armed with a hearty smile Behind the counters paced the salesgirls. Now they moved back from the aisle, Now gazed at jewelry, gold and pearls, Then, Impatient, tapped a toe, And turned and straightened another row; But mostly they watched with eager eyes The onward march in search of prize, As folks ran about the lovely store, Searching, and finding, and buying some more. And then! as they looked down the polished floor A scurry, and then a rush once more! They sprang to their posts with trembling and fear, And waited and waited, while shoppers did roar The Christmas shopping days are here! A flurry of feet in department stores, A hand clutching collars, a hand grabbing ties, And behind^, by the counters, in passing, are cries Screamed out by the crowd pushing right through the doors: That was all! And yet through the breadth of the land, The spirit of Christmas stretched out its hand; And the spark begun by that great demand, Kindled the world into flame with its roars. * * * * So through the days barged the Christmas crowd; And so through the days went the cry of the chase • To every department, counter and place— A spell of purchasing long and loud, A voice wanting bargains, a hand in the purse, And a crush that shall get constantly worse! For, borne on the history of the past, Through all our records, to the last, In the month of December and Christmas and cheer, The people will always rise and seek The worrisome presents far and near, And let everything go ’til Christmas week! Embroidered Pillow Slips By BARONESS PI ANTONI. Old helpful at the bat—telling you how to beautify your pillow cases. Embroider these lovely floral transfer designs on plain pillow Blips. You’ll have a set worthy of notice. As a gift, the set will please the bride-to-be. The pattern envelope contains six hot-iron transfer designs, each measuring approximately 3 by 17 inches; complete, easy-to-understand, Illustrated directions, with color chart and illustrations of stitches used; also what materials and how much you will need. To obtain this pattern, send for No. 1264 and inclose 15 cents in stamps or coin to cover service and postage. Address orders to the Needlework Editor of The Evening Star. 'I A 'p " ■ ---- ■ ' ■ "■■■■■■ . ■' — ■— ■■ 1 — ■ ■ ■■■' ■ ‘She’s Just About Your Size . . That familiar masculine phrase is almost certain to be repeat ed 429,876 times during the Christmas shopping season ichen the gentleman of the house buys any sort of wearing apparel for •‘the little woman.’’ Lingerie, housecoats and cosmetics will be favorite presents as always, and the feminine receiver will let out squeals of delight over those truly personal gifts. h ' il Dorothy Dix Says — Antagonistic Mother Deserves To Have Daughter Leave Home Dear Miss Dix- I am a girl of 18. but mentally I am years older. I am miserable because of my mother. Through the years she has instilled in me the belief that I have no talents and that I cannot possibly succeed. But, more than that, she has poisoned my mind about all men. She made a mess of her own marriage because she never be lieved in my father or trusted him, and she has made me believe that all men are rotters. I don't want to believe this, but years of this kind of thing have put my mind in a rut. I am in love with a boy, but, although my mother knows nothing about him. she calls him all the lowest things in creation. I know what she says is not true, but it keeps me un settled. I have been advised to go into service as a stepping stone for com mercial work, for which I am quali | fled. Would that be the right thing for me to do? Or shall I stay home and have my mind poisoned against every one and so lose my chance of ever marrying and having a happy life? DESPONDENT. Answer—The thing for you to do is to leave your mother and strike out for yourself. That will make for the happiness of you both, for probably you get just as much on her nerves as she gets on yours, and both of you will be relieved to have the friction ended. In tradition and story the rela tionship between mother and daugh ter is made the most beautiful and tender and sacred one on earth. Mother and daughter are depicted as always adoring each other and as having a perfect sympathy and understanding and living together in peace and harmony. But this al luring picture of mother-and-daugh ter love frequently doesn’t jibe with the facts. In real life mothers and daughters are often diametrically opposite in temper and taste, and, as the common phrase goes, rub each other the wrong way. Every one of us can recall cases of antagonistic mothers and daugh ters who made each other perfectly miserable and who seemed to ac tually hate each other while the daughters lived at home, but who * were turned into admiring and adoring friends as soon as the girls married or got Jobs in some distant city. So you needn’t think you are doing your mother an unkindness when you leave her to lead your own life. She will be as relieved as you are at having the pressure re moved, DOROTHY DIX. f Entertaining At a Dinner r_ *; In Hotel Parents Introduced When Guests Have All Gathered Dear Mrs Post: I will be 16, and on my birthday am giving a dinner in a hotel for 16 girls and boys. This dinner is not to be in a private din ing room at the hotel, but all 16 of us are sitting at a big table by our- ! selves, and my parents and a few of their own friends are sitting at a small table nearby. Will you please tel! me where I should greet my guests and whether I shall have to take all of them over to my parents’ table to speak to them and be intro duced to my parents’ friends? It's beginning to look involved now, and I’m getting rather nervous. _ . Answer—You greet your friends in the lobby of the hotel, and as soon as every one has arrived, your par ents leave their own guests and come and greet your friends. After they have seen you on your way in to the dinning room, your parents then rejoin their own friends and go in to their table. But there must not be any running from table to table. In fact, neither they nor you pay any attention to the other. * * * * Dear Mrs. Post: Would* gold trimmed paper plates and cups be in poor taste at a large golden wedding celebration? We are hav ing a great many people and it would not only be difficult to get sufficient china for this one occasion, but we thought carrying out the color motif would be nicer than using a motley collection of plates and cups. Answer—I think it might be very pretty. * * * * Dear Miss Post: Are gloves neces ! sary at an afternoon or evening re- I ception? Answer—Absolutely yes. They are | taken off only when you eat. In this 1 case they should be taken off (not ; turned back) and put on again aft i erward. - | Teasing by Adult Is Cruel Form of Bullying Shows Lack of Consideration By ANGELO PATRI, There are few laws one can set down for the rearing of children. We have to adopt the rules to the occasion most of the time. But there are a few that hold good for all occasions, and the one that says teasing children is wrong, cruel, un just and harmful, is among the first. No child is to be teased by anybody, anytime. Most of the teasing is done by grownup people who ought to have better sense. A gay young auntie says to her 2-year-old niece, "Look. I'm going to take your dollie along 1 with me. You don’t want it. Say ; good-by dollie.” The child reaches for her dolly and cries, "No, no, I want my dear dollie. Give me my dear dollie.” j “What will you give me if I don't take her? Will you give me a big kiss? All right, then I won’t take her this time.” That is stupid. All cruelty is stupid, but this sort is peculiarly so. It is completely unnecessary to frighten a child in order to win a ! show of affection. Children learn to hate those who tease them and such a kiss as this is an insincere one. Much good may it do the one who demanded it. Big brother teases little brother by dangling his pet toy just out of reach. "Take it, why don’t you? Take it,” and as the child jumps for the toy it is pulled out of reach. .Big brother laughs and little brother cries. Uncle tosses his small nephew up to his shoulder and says, “I’m going to take you home and keep you. o, yes I am. Here we go.” The child screams for his mother and uncle laughs. xaic auuicbtcm umuitn come 111 ; for a great deal of teasing. Sister is teased about her new hair do, her rouge and lipstick, her friends, with strong emphasis upon her boy friends. She is supposed to like it,' or leave it. When she shows temper, or cries, she is told that she is a poor sport and can’t take it. What kind of person is the one who gets fun out of the embarrassment of a sensitive young girl? The boy is teased about his awkwardness, his cracking voice, his new longies, his girl, his appe tite, his efforts at being manly. Just what good it does the teaser is be yond me. If he thought to add to his own prestige by showing up the childishness, the weaknesses of the children he failed to- do so. His self-respect must be at a low ebb to require the embarrassment of children to bolster it up. Life provides enough frustration, enough disappointment and humili ation for children to bear without any addition from grownup people. Life affords plenty of opportunity for courgae and self-control in its everyday treatment of children. We need never go out of our way to supply any. We might far better devote what little talent we have to the understanding of the children's problems and whatever strength of soul we have to their support. Teasing children is a form of bullying that nobody with a whit of consideration for them would countenance. It simply is not dene. Troublesome habits in children develop into traits that alienate people from them, as they grow older. Check the trouble at its source. Send for Angelo Patri’s booklet, “Annoying Habits,” in closing 10 cents in coin. .Address care of this paper. For a Little Old Lady A little pot of ivory, perked with a Christmas bow, will give a lot of cheer to the little old lady or inva lid friend. You might even paint the pot red or blue for extra bright ness. Care of Piano Pianos should not be sprayed with moth-destroying liquids. Many of these cause the felts to swell. Moths can be kept away by suspending small camphor bags within the in strument. 1 Table Arrangement No. 10 By MARGARET NOWELL. Grandmother’s old cake plate makes a delightful table center "gar den” for those dark days when the flower markets offer few suggestions. A tin cake pan may be fitted to the glass, china or silver compote. This, filled with soil and peat moss, holds a variety of trailing plants as well as bright colors and interesting foliage. Select pointed, spikey leaves, round leaved platycodon with its red stems; soft ferns and succulent sedums. Wheh the dining table is decorated with flowers, the green gar den will be equally interesting on a side or console table. 1 * Girl Asking Boy to Attend Ball Game as Her Guest Should Provide Tickets Turning Attic or Basement Into Playroom Will Solve ‘Parlor Dating* Problem By KAY CALDWELL and ALDEN HARRISON. "Dear Miss Caldwell and Mr. Harrison: “I have two problems with which I thought you might help me. “1. If a girl asks a boy who lives out of town to go to a football game with her, is it proper for her to buy both tickets, or Just her own, or Is the boy to pay for both if he wishes to? “2. Would it be correct for me to give a boy whom I>e known and gone out with for nearly a year a Christmas gift? On his birthday I sent him a card, but no gift, and he did the same on my birthday, which was last week. “M. T." If you invite a boy to attend a football game with you, he is as much your guest as though you had invited him to a party or the theater. You should therefore provide the tickets, buying them in advance so he won’t be embarrassed by having you make the purchase while he is with you. No man enjoys watching a girl spend money on him, and he naturally makes an attempt to pay the charges, even though he knows he shouldn't. It’s better for a girl not to give a boy a gift until he has led the way by giving her one first. We think you should send him a card this Christmas, perhaps adding to it some small remembrance, such as a box of stuffed dates or homemade candy. You can’t eo wrone with this Dlan.»> The young man will appreciate his favorite candy, made with your fair hands, more than some * gift you might buy. Yet it demands no cor responding gift from him, since he can’t logically be expected to whip up a pan of gorgeous seafoam for you! If it turns out that he does buy you a gift this Christmas, your candy is adequate recompense. If he doesn't, you will have been saved the embarrassment of giving him a gift when he had no corresponding present for you. "Dear Columnists: “I have delighted in reading your 1 articles, and as you have so excel lently solved many problems, I take this opportunity to ask you to ad vise me on one of mine. “If one is invited to a debutante party and is unable to accept, would it be poor etiquette to send the girl a corsage, taking for granted that one knows the girl quite well? What is the correct thing to do? “C. V. I.” It would be perfectly correct for 1 you to send the girl either a cor sage or a bouquet of flowers. Debu- j tante parties can never have too many flowers, and we know your , action would be appreciated. If you are in any doubt as to a suitable kind of flowers to send, talk the matter over with your florist.! He'll be glad to advise you. "Dear Kay and Alden: “Can you advise me what to do about a place to entertain my dates at home? There is only one living room in our house, and naturally the whole family—which is rather large —gathers there at night, leaving no place for my friends to gather. Any advice will be appreciated. “MARTHA F.” ( Yours is a very common problem in small homes with rather large families. Many girls have solved it j through a frank talk with their par ents, asking for the privilege of having the living room for their exclusive use one night a week. Most parents understand that a girl naturally wants to entertain her date without the entire fam ily as an audience, and they are willing to use other parts of the house occasionally. However, you can repay their kindness by not im posing on it. Don’t banish them to the kitchen or upstairs more often than absolutely necessary. We know another girl who was able to solve this problem by get ting her father and older brother to turn part of the basement into a recreation room. They finished it off with plywood paneling and since they did the work themselves it was not particularly expensive. The girl then dressed up the room with at tractive curtains and draperies, pic tures and knickknacks. The porch chairs and glider were used as fur niture and the family eventually equipped it with a pingpong table. This room provides almost a sec ond living room, and has solved the dating problem nicely. The older brother and sister pooled their re sources to buy an inexpensive record player, so there is music for dancing. And a chest in one corner of the room not only serves as a seat, but contains cards. Chinese checkers, anagrams and other games. If your house has unused space in the cellar or attic, you may be able to work out some similar plan. You'll find it's as much fun to fix up the room as it is to use it. You may even get some of your dates to take off their coats and pound a few nails, or display their prowess at putting up curtain rods. What is your particular problem? Kav Caldwell and Alden Harrison will be glad to help you solve it. Address them in care of this news paper, inclosing a 3-cent stamp for a personal reply. Pumpkin Pie Variety To flavor your next pumpkin pie, put a few’ chopped nuts and some candied ginger in the filling. And then, for a new topper, try a me ringue. When the pie is nearly done, roughly spread a flavored, sweet ened, stiff meringue over it and bake 10 minutes in a slow oven. Cool and serve. Charming Youthful Model Has Froth of White Lace . ^ I - 1 < 1-1— By BARBARA BELL. We moderns are rediscovering a fact that our wise grandmothers knew very well when they were: young—that nothing makes you look more winsome and lady-like than a touch of lace at your neckline and sleeves. Just try It, with this de sign. See if people don't exclaim ‘How pretty you look! ” whenever you have on this delightfully simple and charming dress. It's very nice to your figure, too, with a slim skirt, small waistline and softly rounded bustline. Best of all, it’s so easy to make that even beginners can do it successfully. Just a few darts at the waistline and gathers on the shoulders—that’s about all! Make it of old-fashioned, new-fashioned faille, velvet or flat crepe. Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1866-B la designed for sizes 14, 16, 18, 20; \ _ • lu and 42. Size 16 (34) requires 35g fards of 39-inch material with long sleeves: V/2 yards with short; 14 fard lace. It’s smart to sew your own! It’s sasy to do! Send 15 cents for our fascinating Pattern Book. Choose from more than 100 new designs for Ul occasions and all sizes. Make four own becoming clothes, with ;hese simple patterns. Step-by-step >ew chart with each one. BARBARA BELL Washington Star Inclose 25 cents in coin for Pattern No. 1866-B. Size_ Name_ Address_ (Wrap coins securely In paper.) 4