Newspaper Page Text
~'jfc—■jag*.-..: •*#?-. -,''-¥
£/ , v'T V'\ •0* ’ '/' ~• * f. . ' * ',
t'; ’:, ,v .. ■„ -■ • - : - . *■"'?* •' ‘ : • "v :
ELJ3 •: • •■• •■ '• • 1 v- - ■ 1 —--** ■ -■-••- ■'-■• ■-•--I L—i-J
<§>tar of 'tßetVjleV[em.
BY PIGLHEIN.
T~“ : . ' ~ ‘ '
) "’ ‘• ' , £ J 'Ji.'iSt-' ”, ‘ ir-if\Y i
’ >‘!' k: '■>•:■ . .Kvv'
■ f - • '
'; .■ y- V/ ‘ : ■ : ■ y-■ '
,yj ;.W • j-.yiftS&w. > '■'■ 'Sr;ViJjfc. ryy.
V' *" ' -* A - '' ' . \l ■
• • • :*; . v f;Y. f' ;t--vy-.
■ v/, I . iVH'*®ivW'. f --' !■' )'
• ' ' ' J r Jv'.\ »>■*»' 1 , ' ’
~. . ■ : yyy - ■ -v
Vv v ~ ;-v <
Y Y:: Y n " f • , rW' '*s' ' > /' "■ -'y
P .* <ky>
ioMiJ
#****; « I'MA'S)' hearts' if not jm
ff* man tongues nri* , bvoii T nlow
* U * saying "Mt'i'i'.v Christmas.”
BL® ', * Mini the next few days will
*&&**».& bo the happiest ill alilbe
yoar. Tills is wheti unSel
flshnoss roiglvs Ipijyjeine, forgetful
ness is universal. for everybody is
pi Mini in,i: tb give pleasure lo others.
No one is busier than the bonio
.t'
> i - •
.v. ■ j
*
mill ONE. \‘
- ........ ‘ ~ - J. ..
maker. who lyo. not only, Ini' Cin'ist
mas ami supervise, bvy
she nios.u decora t# the house with soil-'
soiini'b ; JriVhs aup srtflVf berVios. 11l
fact, there'is* no koa&bii tiftiic (kspiilils
so urgently i• tn-belU*ihmruta that be
speak the most henfitlful M religions’
festivals, thebiwh ol' Christ.
Kt'fi is pptj-oniiiiqytly the Christinas
color, but it is uiot\\ effootifcso when
combined with ‘gfcCdi.CHidHj, winter
berries, cranberries ami ‘file ■ beautiful
poinsettia, which in iifany of the
world is known as the Christinas dow
er, are tluv favorite bits of scarlet find
bright and eheery notes of color
to rooms and olurrcbps. - £
And then a bunch of mistletoe must
bang somovtiiece -this •stTrfnge - little
wax.berry that has so many..
tat superstitions connected with, it.
Plenty'of green should be used in all
decorations, as it Irish tens the brill
iance of the scarlet, and It should bo In
this instance as in all others nature's
I background, the sotting for ail her
blooms. , •
Wreaths of holly tied with red rib
boii* or suspended by a wire from |he,
■TiiidTfTe YXfJpdow lend cheer to mi*
apartment, \>r wraiths vjf evergreen
tii'il with scarlet ribbon can be used.
The evergreen lasts longer, and it is
deliciously aromatic.
If tlie purse strings are ifpjg endfiuk.
to admit of iifen’sureTho JiviAig
org'l eeii to make
a festoon about the lriey.e of the room.
It Co«liS* : l)y ttie yard twisted in rope
fashion, and eiiAhgh.of it to use in this
manner can. be. small ;ev
l>euse. —-
• Y.rtie. little Norfolk Christmas trees
to the Christmas decora
tions. ' They are, however, unfortu
nately quite expensive, but they last
a huig time; in fact, longer than the
majority qf house plants,, as they do
rwt require such eonstaint moisten
ing. i -
There are Christinas bells fashioned
of immortelles, also ones of holly and
evengueen that can he used, with good
! results if suspended in doorways or
' from the top of window casements.
If there are open fireplaces they
! should be filled with sjiiey evergreen
| iioughs, and the chiirfney breast prop
! er can be made charming with festoons
V," . >.'!,• . ' '
Y >Y T'” Yf
>• it" , «•. . . '• 'X • 1 V; -
‘I U; A ««*; : '' •, tf,
S tjr.
J -I PLvsi punnijja.
pf evergreen. For example, take sev
eral yards of the -green aud divide
it. tucking the middle to the picture
molding and at the same time suspend
from it a large holly wreath. Then
let the rope drop about three feet and
carry it up again to the molding, fas
tening it there, and allowing the ends
To rail to the vyrntel «liClf ; IJ T *IC!TO
color is desired iiie Yvi Yath can !x lieu
with red ribbon, allowing the ends to
hang well do wn on the chimney breast.
Large doorways or arches can be em
bellished in the same manner.
Even the simplest homes should have
some emblem distinctive of the season,
and if wreaths and evergreens ready
to l)e put to immediate use are toe
costly, the loose holly in large branches
can be obtained and used as it is,
tied in bunches, or can be made into
wreaths by deft fingers and a little
wire.
The market is flooded with imitation
evergreen that looks like stage grass,
but it is devoid of either significance
or beauty, consequently it lias no deco-
Sflfl
|s[^£
MWsSk
rative value. One sprig of the genuine
Christmas green is worth an armful
of this poor replica of nature’s crea
tion.
Nothing is more beautiful or decora
tive than the graceful poihsettia and
a plant or spray of it in a room bright
ens it more than a bunch of either red
roses or red carnations, simply because
it, is distinctly a Christmas flower.
It also lends itself admirably to the
decoration of a dinner table.
Next to the Christmas tree in all its
splendor and beauty, which is natur
ally the most important even of the
day for the little ones, comes the
Christmas dinner and the setting and
enriching of the table for the feast.
The illustration furnished presents a
timely yet simple decoration for either
a luncheon or a dinner table. The
cloth is white, tlie serving plates of
red, gold and white.
In the centre is a miniature Christ
mas tree, which was cut from the top
of a large one. It is decorated with
glistening balls, berries and tlie usual
favors, a bunch of mistletoe tied at
tile top. About the base of the tree
is a wreath of holly and bunches of
winter or ilex berries, which furnish
a wealth of scarlet, which contrasts
well with the snowy white napery.
From tin* centrepiece run vines of
holly to each corner of the table. The
candles on the tree and on the four
of the table furnish ample
- A CORNER OF THE TABLE.
light and cast a radiant glow over
everything.
A charming centrepiece for a dinner
table which is most seasonable con
sists of three or four poinsettia plants
potted in a silver bowl. About the
table is a wreath of the same flowers
and their foliage arranged. The sil
ver candlesticks, placed at equal dis
tance. should be furnished with scar
let shades. If fruit is to be served
use red apples and white grapes, and
arrange them in low silver dishes.
A simple aud inexpensive table deco
ration can be made of a medium sized
pot of fine ferns, the pot wound with
red satin ribbons tied in a large
rosette-like bow on each side. A pleas
ing Christmas note can be given by
the use of red shades on the candles
afad a ball of holly suspended from the
centre gas fixture.
Spicy, red carnations are also much
used for tables. They require tall,
slender-necked vases of either silver
or glass. A large ope should be placed
in the centre on either a red and white
or an all white embroidered centre
piece, and smaller vases at the corners
of the table.
Gorgeous, indeed, will be a table em
bellishment that has been arranged for
a Christmas dinner. Covers are laid
for ten. A lace centered cloth, which
also lias a border of lace inset in the
top, the cloth designed to be used on
a round-topped table, is to be mount- j
ed on an undercloth of scarlet liberty j
satin. The centrepiece is to be a large i
L I
urn-shaped silver bowl, filled with
maiden hair fern. Four triple silver
candelabra with red satin lining the
silver shades and a few small silver
dishes will be the only other settings.
Inexpensive and pretty is a large
bowl of holly, used as a. centre em
bellishment, and over it hung on the
gas fixtures four wreaths, tied to
gether with a large bow of scarlet
ribbon.
In selecting a menu for the Christ
mas dinner, select p.s many viands ns
suggest tile &Cr.“CH ! S CdlC? as possible.
Even the bonbons can be colored red.
For instance, Hungarian peppers can
be chopped fine and sprinkled over
the anchovy canapes; lobster farci
served in the shells as a fish course—
this naturally following the soup
course; a stuffed tomato salad, served
after the turkey and cranberry jelly,
the plum pudding thickly studded with
candied cherries.
T 4 »ia&-v;
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY.
The holly and the ivy
Now are both well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of tire sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
The singing of the choir.
The holly bears a blossom
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our Saviour.
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
A CHRISTMAS CHIME.
Ring joyously, ye Christmas bells.
Banish all thought of funeral knells
And requiems whose music swells
Through sylvan glades and gloomy dells,
Till echo on the hills is sighing
Over another year that’s dying;.
Though on the ground its shroud is lying,
Of pure white snow, loose ye your roar
And ring your chimes for rich and poor,
In crowded town, on lonely moor,
'touch human hearts and homes, and eheer
The desolate; and bid men stay
Their angry strife, and live their life
Anew; for life is but a May,
And soon, too soon, will pass away;
As yonder pathless white will disappear
Beneath men’s footsteps in the coming year.
CHRISTMAS.
By Lady Lindsay.
W~en Jesu was a little child
lie slept on Mary’s knee and smiled —
She rock’d Him on her knee.
tSo pray you hearken, gentles all,
And give us cheer in house and hall),
She rock’d Him on her knee.
‘'Nowell, Nowell,” the angels sung,
Tlie dumb beasts spake in unknown tongue
For Benedicite.
(So pray you hearken, gentles all,
And give us eheer in house and hall),
For Benedicite.
The shepherds’ flute gave merry sound,
With hollies green they strewed the
ground.
For joy the Christ to see.
(So pray you hearken, gentles all.
And give us eheer in house and hall),
For joy the Christ to see.
Christmas T.ocation.
Site —“Sometimes I wish that Christ
mas'came a little later in the season.”
Ho (testily)—“So do I. I wish it came
on the 30th of February.”
Jff||§i§k
t
SrHEiJ-C;IV£R OF
mMsEFULiic
1 kA'GITT
| EXT in iniquity to tlie man
/ *' v who errs on the safe side
]\l and gives no Christmas
gifts whatever is the man
*Tt %\ who goes to tlie other ex
treme ana invariably presents his wife
at Christmas time with furniture for
the house or with necessary clothing
for herself.
The man who begins by giving his
wife an umbrella stand for tlie accom
modation of his own umbrella is prone,
at recurring Christinas-tides, to re
member the dining room with a new
sideboard, tlie library with a roll-top
desk, the yt-dten with a new range,
and,' finally, the cellar with a few
tons of furnace cod,’. Of course,
hall is complete without its ~difi-U'g]la
stand, no dining room properly fur
nished without its buffet, no kitchen
complete without its porcelain lined
refrigerator, no heat apparatus of use
without appropriate fuel; but these
ponderous tokens of affection do not
make ideal Christmas gifts. They lead
the unfortunate recipient to suspect
that the gifts would continue even if
she were not there to receive them.
If, in addition to being economical,
the man prove lacking in taste—or,
worse still, if lie have a great deal of
taste and all of it bad—his wife is
indeed to be pitied. She must live
not only with the man himself, but
with ins Christmas presents—the gor
geous rugs, the upholstered chairs, the
glittering lamps and, worst of all,
the pictures lie continues to bestow
upon the house as pleasant surprises to
his trusting wife.
It is misdirected generosity rather
than selfishness that prompt the giv
ing of these useful but inappropriate
gifts in many cases. Curiously enough,
economy of this sort often goes hand
in hand with a lavish expenditure of
money; but this only aggravates the
case. As the man increases in pros
perity, his gifts become more and more
expensive, yet, having started in this
way, this amiable, obtuse Santa Claus
still clings to the economical habit of
putting everything he fancies the house
needs into his wife's Christmas stock
ing. She, poor thing, is economical,
too, in her own way, and cannot bring
herself to give away or destroy a high
priced rug, or an expensive picture,
merely because it happens to be hide
ous; so she suffers in silence—some
times.
This type of man usually goes from
bad to worse—that is, from furniture
to clothes. He begins, perhaps, like
Johnny of the song, by bringing home
a “bonny blue ribbon,” stockings, un
derwear, or possibly silk petticoats for
the partner of his joys and sorrows.
The man, however, does not stop at
this point. Emboldened by his fan
cied success, he buys other and more
surprising things. From the hour of
his wedding lie lias secretly cherished
an ambition to give his wife one real
ly handsome gown—one that will stand
apart from all other gowns, and fill
all other women with envy. He is
vague as to material, but he favors
brocaded velvet or red satin. No faded,
uncertain tint for him. if you please.
But one such gown is enough. No
woman wants a man to buy all lier
gowns for her. She sees that some
thing must be done before the habit
becomes fixed. Happily, there is a
remedy; happily, again, it is worse
than the (iisease, or it might not prove
effective It involves the purchase of
—no, not neckties; a man expects those
and fortifies himself accordingly—but
a quantity of the vilest cigars that
money can buy, and a polka-dotted
smoking jacket A man who can face
powder and bullets on a battlefield will
go down before poor tobacco and polka
dots in his own den.
If perchance the man does not
smoke, his wife can still bombard him
with hats—hats picked up at bargain
sales. Heaping coals of fire on a
man’s head does not compare with
heaping that same head with miscel
laneous hats of assorted sizes. If this
does not finish him —although only the
most obstinate cases survive a course
of hats—she must, as a last resort, buy
him a suit of clothes.
The following Christmas she will
find roses at her plate, and a large
check pinned to her stocking with
this postscript;
“Buy your own Christmas present —
but for heaven’s sake don’t spend this
on anything for me. Lovingly,
“John.”
—Collier's AVeekiy.
a rriLM-fflri
