Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — GIFTS FOR CONVALESCENTS. [ARTICLE]

GIFTS FOR CONVALESCENTS.

They Should Be Chosen with Very Great Consideration. If there is anything more hopeless and discouraging to the woman recovering from optic troubles than to have adoring friends send her gifts of brllliantrhued flowers, it is to have them send her books. The Invalid, who is growing strong slowly on a diet of beef tea, groans in spirit as tropical fruits and Wonderful Jellies are sent her. In short, the

lack of tact displayed by the kindhearted people, who wish to do something pleasant for their convalescent, friends, is probably the cause of many a relapse. If one wishes to send dainties in the line of food the only sensible plan is to find out from the doctor, nurse or family as gracefully as possible what the patient is allowed to eaL Then send the favorite ice cream, or the grapes, or oranges, or the calfsfoot jelly, done up, so daintily the invalid’s eyes will be delighted before his palate has a change to be. It is wise in selecting books and magazines to remember that the mind of a convalescent is almost as weak as his body, and that the “powerful” tales which the well world is reading are not adapted to his men-, tai needs. Pretty, graceful, romantic stories that are not novels with a “purpose, ” light rhymes—never poems that lead to introspection—are the proper intellectu l pabulum. Flowers are generally a delight, but those with strong odors must be avoided. So also must those which long association has made symbols of death. Colored blossoms, with faint fragrance, are better than even the least heavy of the white waxy flowera—New Yerk Sun.