CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 20

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

MR. W. C. BADDEN'S SHOWROOM

It doesn't look like a shop from tho outside, and there are, • perhaps, thousands of people in this city who do not know whore it is. But it is a place where ono can buy most of the things oue is likely to require for Christmas presents,, and it is situated in an upstairs room at 25 Panama Street. 'L'he name on the door is W. C. liaddeu, and Jlr. Badden has in his modest-seem-ing establishment a rare assortment of the prettiest and most dainty things made by clever hands in Haatern landsIndia, China, and Japan. As Christmas is a. season which belongs especially to tho children, it is, perhaps, fitting that the toys should be given pride of place here as they are in the shops. The selection otYering is wide, for the toys aro of great variety, and many of them are new devices. Something is here for the children of all ages, and the prices are such as not to alarm customers armed only with modest purses.- If a customer is prepared to spend half a sovereign ho or she may choose almost anything on the counter, and something quite pretty or amusing may be obtained for a couple of shillings or so, which means that the prices are less that sonio that aro being asked in these days. The mothers who will go along to buy for their children may perchance find something to buy for themselves, for adornment of themselves or their hoi ses. The show of lace 6 and embroideries is a very choice one. Particularly benutiful are the hand-made laces, and the other samples of hand crochet and other ornamental work of this kind. Among the pretty things of which there has been a dearth for a little time are kce or crochet bonnets for verv/iivtle people, and these can be bought in this little storehouse for quite a moderate sum, say, thirty to fifty per cent, less than tho rate that might be charged >n tho wrong shop. There are beautiful kimonos, too, pretty bath and bKiroum slippers, and dainty blouses. These last are embroidered iu Japan, and made up , here aftor our styles. Some Eastern jewellery and trinkets which women like to wear or to carry about with them, are displayed in another part. Lately Mr. Badden has secured an assortmfnt of eilks and crepe-tlc-chme, some in choice colourings which have been unprocurable in this country at periods of late. For the house an endless seltction may be made, from an inexpensive lamp shade to ornamonts to tost, sny, three guineas. Tho show of Oilental chinaware, brassware, Satsuma, and Cloisonne, is such that it is not impossible to choose an article of beauty at almost 'any price the purchaser may have in mind. Tho Cloisonne piecos Are of tho most beautiful markings, aud of tho best and rarest sorts, and every piece is of chaste design. The brass and bronze bowls, vases, kettles, urns, and so on, arc of uncommon type. Some of them look suspiciously Hk-i _ those which may bo purchased as "antique," but they aro sold at ordinary prices in Mr. Baddon's store. . They wore all mado quite recently, even if they are of quaint design. Tho china need not be described, nor could it ho described in any case, because there are scarcely two pieces in the show alike. Much of it is hand-painted, and it is all decorated after the fashion in art which has prevailed in the-Bast for countless years. The most important fact in recommendation of this store is that the price of tho goods is always low by comparison with that which might be obtained for them. Nearly every customer that comes to this little showroom buys somcthing.-(PuWishcd by arrangement.)