The Christmas Gift

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 76, 22 December 1937, Page 11

The Christmas Gift

How To Choose Presents The well worn phrase, "self-expres-sion," is responsible for a number of ill-chosen gifts. Nowadays, people think so much about "expressing themselves" in everything they do that often the personalities of those with whom they come in contact do not get a chance. At Christmas time the egoist sets out to find gifts as expressive as possible of her own taste and temperament. She would hate to be assodated with anything; that might fail to reflect her personality, so she buys for a maiden aunt an advanced book which' the poor lady could not possibly enjoy, while a serious minded uncle receives a scarf which his die-hard prejudices will surely prevent him from wearing. The mother probably gets a piece of ultra-modern pottery which looks all wrong amongst her Edwardian mahogany furniture; and a young brother, whose thoughts are at present centred upon cricket and swimming, may have to compose a letter or a speech of thanks for a card game which he will never play. The egoist, however, has bought the things she herself likes, so sho is quite happy in the thought that she has behayed beautifully. That is the trouble. It does not matter much whether or not the giver is in love with the gift. It is far more important that the recipdent should like it. What may be excellent for one taste may actually offend another. Better give nothing thari ^ve toe wrong thing. Think only of what Is likely to please the people who are to reccive. It ii of no importance that the thuigs foolish, in poor taste, actually ugly, so long as you know they are going to hit the mark with the recipients. For the time being, personal likes and dislikes should be set aside, while a' little thought reading, or even a little careful questioning, is done for the beneflt of relatives and friends. Careful choice of gifts is espedaHy necessary now, because there is a dividing line between the old and the new in dress, fumishings, everything that enters into present giving plans,