Christmas Gifts that Furnish the Home 
ARTICLES THE STORES CONTAIN THAT WILL BE APPRECIATED TO COMPLETE A DECO¬ 
RATIVE SCHEME—WORTH WHILE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST 
BY S . C . W A V E R L E Y 
HERE is a well known 
fairy tale by one 
LI a n s Christian 
Andersen called 
“Everything in Its 
Right Place.’’ The 
story itself has 
nothing to do with 
the case in hand, 
but the idea con¬ 
veyed by the sub¬ 
ject is one to be 
recommended for 
the consideration 
of every prospec¬ 
tive donor of the 
Christmas gift that has a part in household 
furnishing. In this period of striving for 
simplicity in home making there either is a 
place for such a present or there isn’t, and the 
step between an acceptable gife and a white 
elephant is short and easily taken. 
To avoid the white elephant successfully one 
should either be quite sure that the gift is 
absolutely suitable, or else it should be made 
with the privilege of exchange if desired. In¬ 
dividual tastes are so widely different that un¬ 
less a place fairly yawns for a specific thing 
or a householder is heard to express a desire 
for it, it is much safer not to take chances. 
The real value of a gift lies in the 
thought put into its selection to make 
it fit a want. There are few house¬ 
holders who are without desires of 
some sort for their establishments, 
Three articles of oriental manu¬ 
facture that make pleasing 
gifts. The fabric behind the 
taboret is used for curtains 
and it should be easy enough to ascertain them. 
Small excuse can be left therefore for the un¬ 
happy recipient of the Christmas gift to have 
to face the alternative of living with a positive 
eyesore or lacerating the feelings of the donor 
by removing the eyesore from the scene of its 
usefulness. 
Taking for granted that the average house 
has at least a few pieces of mahogany and an 
oriental rug or two, it is safe to say that there 
is nothing more thoroughly acceptable than a 
gift that means an addition to one of these col¬ 
lections. The smaller mahogany pieces are not 
prohibitive in price when one considers their 
lasting qualities, nor for that matter are the 
rugs. The little Shirvan prayer mats that are 
so useful for filling in odd places can be had in 
various colorings to correspond with other rugs, 
and are only five to ten dollars each, while 
much larger Beluchistan rugs suitable in size 
and share for either living-room or hall are $15 
to $25. 
Practical gifts in mahogany that are within 
reach of the average purse include tea trays 
from $8 up, book blocks at $5 or $6 a pair, 
muffin stands that may be had from $12 to $25, 
the useful little magazine stand that is a com¬ 
paratively new piece at $15 to $20, drop leaf 
tea tables at $20, nests of card tables at $28 or 
$30, not to mention the more expensive “pie 
crust” tables and mahogany chairs of 
various designs, many of them charm¬ 
ing reproductions of Colonial pieces. 
There is scarcely a house to which 
something of this sort would not be 
These bells are exquisitely cast in the figure 
of a little, old-fashioned lady. They may 
be had in two sizes 
Andirons of iron are combined with a crane and 
the old-fashioned torch top. They are valu¬ 
able for large fireplaces of all sorts 
This set is particularly attractive for the guest 
room. The china may be had in various 
colors to match the scheme of decoration 
( 357 ) 
