A violinist, obviously, should wear no earclips or ring or shoulder piece. A hair jewel is appropriate, and perhaps a touch of jewelry at the waist. A pianist likewise should wear no adornment on hand or arm—a bracelet, moving and gleaming as the fingers flit along the keys, would be most distracting. In this case a diamond earclip would be appropriate, or perhaps a jeweled pin in the hair on the side toward the audience. The essential, for such performers, is to avoid distracting jewels. For a speaker at a meeting, or on television with the world watching, the general principle of suiting the adornment to the personality holds. Neither a singer nor a speaker, of course, should use pendants, which by movement with the motion of the head would attract undue attention. With a low-cut gown, the necklace should not be a choker (which might seem to move as one speaks) but a loose band, following the line of the dress. It might be safer, indeed, to avoid the necklace. Instead, with a V-neck dress, one large clip or pin will sufficiently hold the eye. With a square-neck dress, a pair of smaller clips, one at each corner, will be unobtrusively attractive. * * * * * The cornerstone in the etiquette of jewels, whether one is the center of all eyes or one of a party, remains erect on three values: good taste, harmony, and beauty. CHAPTER 12 _Jewels as Gifts_ It is indeed a gift, not shared by all, to be able to select a truly appropriate present, one that fits the occasion, the recipient and the donor. Without this threefold accord, something will seem lacking in even the most expensive bestowal. _Give Yourself_ Americans have long recognized the complex ties of sentiment that should come together in the neat bowknot of a gift. Emerson devoted an essay to the subject, making the point that the best gift is one that includes a part of oneself. Lowell, in his great poem _The Vision of Sir Launfal_, compresses the same idea into a trenchant line: “The gift without the giver is bare.” We are not all—like grandmother, each of whose six grandchildren received a linen table set embroidered by her own hands—able to create our presents; but we can all choose thoughtfully, so that to the gift clings some savor of our personality. Nothing is more disappointing—even to those who expected nothing—than to receive a box of candy evidently picked up at the corner store, or a bottle of quick-bought wine or whisky. If the wine is of a rare vintage, the gift shows taste in the donor and respect for the recipient; but other considerations should be weighed too. _Gifts of Lasting Value_