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~'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