i fl Jd fe lis! Tho demand troon our columns for adver tising space certainly show3 that business men recognize the val ue of "The Columbian"' as an advertising me dium. VOL KLOOMSBUUG. PA.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21. 1894. NO 61 29 b A MERRIE CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. SUGGESTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE . FESTAL EMBLEMS. Lanrel, Holly and MlitUtoe, and Bow They May B L'tllli.d Aid. to ChrUt ma. Cheer The HI. lory of Th.lr Vh Cta irch Decoration. The use of evergreens at Christmas Is of very ancient origin, the custom In England having been derived di rectly from the rites of the Druids. The Greeks and Romans used ever greens freely, the laurel and bay be ing held sacred to joyous festivals, and green boughs were strewn during celebrations of victory and peace. The Hebrews and Egyptians also made free use of evergreens, and the palm and lotus have become emblems of re ligious sentiment The modern cus tow of evergreens at Christmas Is due to the grafting of early Christmas practices upon the heathen rites ol Northern Europe. Our Teutonic and Saxon forefathers brought many pleas andt customs and poetic ideas to th service of Christianity. The Puritans passed laws prohibit ing the use of green as a heathen prac tice, and away back In the year 1600 the austere council "enacted it was not lawful to begirt or adorn houses with laurel or green boughs, for all this practice savors of paganism." But to day the custom is uuiversal, and even puritan New England contributes hei share to the universal decoration. Among the popular Christmas ever greons, the holly, with its splendid red berries and rich green leaves, sig nifies, rejoicing, and can be appropri ately used anywhere. Rosemary means remembrance, as unfortunate Ophelia was aware, and In the early days of "Merrle England" was used to decorate the wasaail bowel. The mistletoe Is the mystic plant of Christ mas to all English-speaking people, emblematic of jollity and mirth, ol domestic love, and the sly confidences of lovers. The suspended sprig ol mistletoe Is a veritable ally of Cupid. All of our American evergreens are A (Striking Chrlitmas Mantel, appropriate for use at Christmas, In wreaths, ropes, or otherwise, but the mistletoe and holly must not be for gotten. In decorating a church for Christ mas, beside the ordinary wreaths and clusters of evergreen In the body of the building, beautiful effects can be produced at the altar and font with some very simple devices. Very dis tinct and perfect outlines in lettering can be obtained from holly leaves, and when completed, the motto or monogram may be made 'to look as if frosted. This is done by brushing the leaves over with mucilage and then dusting them with glass powder, which can be obtained for a trifle at any glass works. The glitter and sparkle give a brilliancy that does not seem artificial. Ferns can also be used to great ad vantage in church decoration, and quantities of them should be gathered .4 8Hl CHRISTMAS 1 4 in the auoumn, ana Kept iresn in the cellar by being packed in barrels, with a layer of ferns alternately. The evergreen kind Is found all winter, but a heavy fall of snow near Christmas will effectually hide them from view. The small ferns or leaflets of the larger ones, make pretty letters, bor ders and other designs, while the long, light-looking fronds hanging over the edge of the font, have a very good ef fect. Twigs gathered from tree shrubs can be made to do good service In the decoration of the dinner table. The are invaluable attached to baskets, and then bronzed with metallic paint Tied with colored ribbons they make the most delightful ornaments on the table for ferns, as the bronie-is so at tuned to the green foliage. A pretty design for a decorated mantel Is shown In our first illustra tion. The main feature is the motto, "A Merry Christmas," consisting of a plaque of green, with the letters in rod holly berries. The plaque la framed in holly leaves and berries. The Idea can be adapted to a mantel without a mirror. The hallway and stairs afford the proper starting point for decorating a house at Christmas time. The hall way may be adorned with mottoes made of brilliant berries and appro priately framed in greens, and the balustrades of the stairway may be twined with evergreens. A pleasant feature of Christmas decoration, and Design of Decoration for a Doorway, one of the most appropriate, may be made of a dooway, preferably that ol the reception room. Our Illustration shows a design for decorating such a doorway. The space above the por tiers is adorned with holly, while wreathes of leaves and berries are twined gracefully over the portieres, and an ample sprig of mistletoe Is sus pended from the centre of the rod. The main idea of Christmas decora tion Is to give the home a Joyous as pect There should be no ostentation decoration Is for the home and the dear ones whom it shelters. The mak ing of Christmas a home festival is essentially Saxon in origin. In Eng land and In Virginia, not the day; only, but the season, which lasts til! Twelfth Night, or Candlemas Day, is one round of merriment and all the houses continue their adornment of green boughs and laurel wreaths. Even the simplest form of decoration Is appropriate and not to be despisod. Simple bunches of mistletoe or branches of holly may 'be placed over a picture, stuck in a vaBe, suspended from a chandelier, or used in masses anywhere with but little work. Gar lands can be made of the running green with slight expenditure of time or labor, or a single set piece used at some central point. Even the small est branch of green can be utilized to bespeak the time of merriment and good cheer. Every home should ex hibit Borne sort of docoratlon oa Christmas. He could lift ihree hundrvil pound, licix tor t-ii or iwmiiy roiindK; II a could .print a wondrous distance without sioppinir; , , , Hut lila triumph f 'und a chock j llu cuiiifl out a totul wrock, Wliuu he liulduud up a tour ol Christinas shop- ,,luf Washington Star. flff jP !. i Ih&ih of an Agd Oitisea. John S. Sterner, expired this life on Thursday, the 13th instant, at 10 o'clock A, M., at the age of 80 years, 6 months and 13 days." He had been complaining of Bright' disease, more or less, for several years before death took place, as the culmination of this ailment. Hi's aged wife, 79 years old, and five children survive and mourn the loss of a father. Of his oflsnrinor there were four sons and one daugh ter, named respectively as follows: William, James, George, Charles and Mrs. Thos. Gorry. The deceased was born in Conyng ham township, Luzerne county, in 1814. His parents resided ior a time on the Lehigh between Allentown and Bethlehem. His grandfather was a resident of what is now known as Wilkes Barre during the occupancy of that section by the Indians. Being on friendly terms with the Indians they saved his life by admonishing him to go over on the Lehigh just previous to their attack upon the whites. From this grandfather the name of John was transmitted to de cedent. The burial took place in Rosemont cemetery on Sunday at 2 o'clock, and another of the older inhabitants has gone to his eternal home. Death of Mrs. Wm, Beers. In the death of this beloved and motherly woman we are convinced that there is a loss to earth and gain in heaven. Unassuming in character she yet possessed the motherly quali ties and was always looking after the comfort of others. In her family she was the ruling spirit through love and motherly devotion. She easily secured and held the respect of all coming in contact with her. As a boarding house keeper she studied the indivi dual pecularities and tastes of her patrcni, and by catering to them as fat as her limited means would allow, she was successful as the keeper of an un pretentious boarding house, where well- cooked food and plenty of it, counted for more than cut glass and silverware. Taken with pleuro pneumonia on Friday, the 7th instant, she lingered till Thursday afternoon when she ex pired at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 19 days. Rev. P. A. Heilman, pastor of the Lutheran church to which she belonged, conducted the funeral services at the house on the following Monday and her remains were interred at Canby among her im mediate friends and relatives. A hus band and four daughters survive and sadly mourn the loss of this kind hearted and beloved mother. Death After Tears of Sickness. Mrs. Kate Vanderslice, so well and favorably known in Bloomsburg as a devoted christian mother, expired last Sunday night at her home at 10:30, after suffering some five years, more or less, with that fell destroyer, con sumption. She attained the age of about 49 years, was the daughter of ex-commissioner John Ent, of Light Street, the widow of C. M. Vander slice, whom the writer remembers very respectfully; the mother of seven children, four living and thiee dead, the dead being all girls. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church and a willing worker in the moral vineyard and has evidently gone to her promised reward. The burial took place Thursday afternoon at 2 o clock, in Rosemont Cemetery, where she was tenderly laid to rest beside her precious dead. The services at the house were con ducted by Rev. W. G. Ferguson, her respected pastor. A Prosperous Church. The Methodist Episcopal church of this place, Rev. W. G Ferguson pas tor, has had an increase in last two years and half of full members (after deducting all cases of death and re movals) of three hundred and thirty one, which is fifteen more than doub ling its membership. The builders of the new Dormitory of the Normal have commenced work n it. Its erection is in charge of and under contract with Messrs Logan and Long, reliable and experienced contractors. When finished it will no doubt be both ornamental and useful. The following letters are advertised December 18, 1894. John T. Black wall, (.) Mr. R. C. Chase, Miss Anna Convers, Miss Lillian Fowler, Mrs. J. L. Harter, Mr. D. Langell, Mrs. J. F. Licon, Miss Hattie Miller, Mr. J. F. Miller, John J. Rosencrans, Mi'sj Anna Walters, H. Winbush, dames . Yost. Will be sent to the lead letter office January 1, 1894. James II. Mercer, F, M. BRIEF MENTION About People You Know. rrof. C. If. Albert is nttendini? teacher. institute nt VYilliamsport this week. Mrs. I. M. GioMina will entertain fricniL from Dnnville during the holidays. Mrs. O. B. Melliot is entertaining her sister, Miss Martha Uachman, of Shamokin, Arthur Grotz, son of Cashier Harvev Grotz, will spend the holidays at home from school. Mr. T M. Giddine returned from Thila. delphia, where he had been on business on Saturday. Mr. Max Gross and daughter visited Dan ville on '1 uesdar, on business and pleasure combineJ. S. A. Goodhue, ami Frank Ricketts were among their many friends in Bloomsburg on wcanesuay. Carlton A. Caswell, a student at the In dustrial Art School in Philadelphia, will pass me nouaays at nome. John P. Creasy, of Forks, and lohn C. Shellenberirer, of Almedia. are amontr those recently granted pensions in Columbia county. Mr. Amos Buckalew, who was reported recently as again in dangerous condition, we are pleased to learn upon inquiry to be fairly convalescent. Mrs. Freas Brown and Doctress Honors Robhins are now in the mild latitude of Florida, where it is said they will sojourn for some months. We are pleased to mention a friendly call at this office on Tuesday afternoon of an old subscriber in the person of Dr. D. II. Mont gomery of Milllinville. .Ex-County Commissioner, Washington Parr, of Franklin township was a visitor at the county seat and a friendly caller at this office on Tuesday last District Attorney Hanly and Richard Oswald are again at home after an enjoyable outing with dogs and guns. As to the game they got I ? t ? Mr. Emanuel Wenner, an industrious young farmer, of Van Camp, gave us the friendly clasp of the hand on Saturday. He was in town on business. Mrs. W. F. Bodine was a visitor to Potts town this week attending the funeral of Dr. Knapp, who was cut off while in the vigor of manhood and usefulness. Jacob Wenner, a trustworty farmer of Van Camp, and executor of the wills of Hugh McBride and also that of Mrs. Susan Mc Bride, was in Bloomsburg on business last Saturday. Miss Hull, from Wilkes-Barre, with Har ry Jacoby's little orphan children ( the sad details of whose orphanage is so well known) will spend the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Schuyler. Mr. II. W. Beishline, a popular young school teacher of Van Camp, cave this office a friendly call on Saturday, and after looking over the plant he concluded it would do right well as a print-shop. Among friends coming from a distance to attend the funeral of Mrs. Wm. Beers we mention Mr. and Mrs. John F. Pursel, of Uugliesville, Mrs. faust, of Montgomery, and Jacob Lorah, now of Central. Mrs. Dr. E. W. M. Low, of Lime Ridge, we was pleased to meet among Bloomsburg holiday shoppers on Wednesday afternoon. "Oh where are the friends of our youth," since age, we notice, is creeping on. Miss Bessie Kuhn was the executive spirit who arranged for the fine musicale given in the Lutheran Church on Thursday evening The talent enlaced was sufficient guarantee of its proving to be an enjoyable entertainment. We are pained to announce the death of Mrs. swank, the beloved wife of Commis sioner J. G. Swank, whom we had been led to suppose was in a fair way to recover. She expired at her home in Miftlin township on Saturday and was buried on Tuesday. Among the affable and welcome callers at this office lately we are pleased to mention Mr. W. J. Purman, the obliging hotel-keeper of Espy, and whom our townsmen will re member as the owner of the prettiest team of ponies that comes to town. Mr. Purman has the requisite qualifications for a good hotel-keeper. One of the most pleasing features of the thrifty Normal School of Bloomsburg is to be found in their various programs for musical enter tainment from time to time. An ex ceptionally fine concert was given on Tuesday evening under arrangement and guidance of the talented Misses Haas and Stump who have charge of this department, and who are indeed well qualified for their work. In fact we may safely say that all the depart ments of the Normal School are in charge of efficient instructors, from first to last. Messrs J. J. Musselman and Adam Belles, carpenters and builders, are engaged making extensive repairs and alterations on A. Soleder's building on Main street. The work is being conductedunder the contract of P. H. Edgar who will arrange the building so that it will make a very nice store room. The Evangelic church will hold its last quarterly meeting for this confer ence year over Sabbath, the 13d in stant. Rev. A. H. Irvin will be pres ent to officiate. . ' J. C. Rutter Jr. has purchased the Richard Stilea property on Iron street near Fifth. Its a very desirable loca tion and a nice home. Wsefal &r$tma& Presents Faultless night robes, - - - 75c. Elegant neckwear, - 25 and 50c. Silk mufflers and handkerchiefs, - 25, 50, 75, & l.OO. Gloves & suspenders - 25, 50 & 1.00. Shirts & hosiery, - - - 25 to 1.00. Hats and caps, - - - 50 to 3.00. j EWELRY, Fine trunks MACINTOSHES YOU Can Certainly buy y ourself or boy a fine suit or over coat at such low prices as they are selling them at THE PRESENT TIME is now coming. In fact, the time is here when you're looking for articles suitable for gifts. Our line of now was never more complete. We have the useful as well as the ornamental articles. We mention a few items: Dress Pat terns, black Dress Silks, Table Linens, Napkins and Counter panes, Fancy Chinaware. Cut Glass, Lamps, Onyx Tables, Jewelry and Silverware, Pocket Books and Bags, Che nille Curtains and Covers, Kid Gloves, Mittens, Hosiery, Un derwear, Fur Muffs, Boas, Fur Capes, Cloth Capes, Coats, Fur Baby Robes, Fur Floor Rugs, BIG VALUES IN HANDKERCHIEFS, Wood Easel3 and Screens, Woodware Shelves, Cabinets, Photo Boxes, Ice Cream Sets, Chocolate Jugs, Silk and Gloria Um brellas, Umbrella Stands, Flower Stands, a large line of Framed Pictures and Medallions at all prices, Sewing Machines cheap to close. See the Initial Handkerchiefs and little prices, Down Cushions, Stamped Linens and all materials for fancy work, Silk Lamp Shades, also frames to cover, Colgate's Fine Perfu mery, Toilet Bottles, Manicure Sets, Trays, &c. We invite all to call and see. H. J. CLARK & SON. See the Chinaware and That's the position we trade. Our shoes are est styles, all wiatns, ana soia ax prices wixn in the reach of all. A fair trial will convince you that our s is me your snoes. darks' Building, Main and valises for the LADIErt and HOUSE COATS U mm Cut Glass. maintain in the shoe of the best makes, new- piace at wnicn to uuy Street. ft j