i Kuttie^
|>eraratiatt§
CftfiShtia**
by JULIA BOTTOMLEY
OME people have the knack
of arranging t-bings. They
lake hold of a house or a
yiSi room, be it ever so com
'y;monplace, and transformit
with the Materials we all ,
have at hand, into something beau- !
tili'l. 1 recall a lady who used to buy
an ugly house, move into it, and be
gin making changes outside and in j
In about two years the whole place |
was simply transformed and she had
spent the time happily and busily. |
Hut her occupation was gone, so she
would look up another place that
needed regenerating and put that
w liich she had completed on the mar
ket. She cashed in her ideas and
went happily to work again. The lit
tle city in which she lives is beautiful j
and she is one of tho chief educators J
of public taste. She shows others !
how to improve their surroundings. :
I knew another woman gifted in man- ;
aging interiors. She had little money
—less time, for she was a wage earn- j
er; but she had the faculty of making
things sweet around her. I want to !
tell you of the Christmas decorations j
which transformed her small home j
Into a sort of bewitching Christmas
bower, not to be forgotten, and yet
fashioned from just the same things
we all have at hand. This is her ree
ls e:
Sometime before Christmas, say six
weeks, buy a roll of dark red crape pa- j
per. and one of olive green, crape pa
per. also a sheet of pale yellow tis
sue paper Buy some cheap bonnet
wire irom the milliner. Use a real
poinsettia blossom for a pattern or
buy one already made of paper, and |
proceed to make up two dozen poinset
tia blossoms. First cut patterns,
from a piece of wrapping paper, of the
petals of the poinsettia. Open the
•X w '
Bonbon Basket of Paper, Tinsel Star.
Poir.settia Flowers, Paper Bells
roils ot crape paper and stretch them.
A roll of ten feet will stretch to fifteen
ar.d be improved thereby, for some
purposes. To stretch the paper let j
6ume one hold one end for you while
you pull the other gradually, or tack
one end to the floor, stretch the pa
per and tack the other end. allowing
it to remain for a few hours
Cut from the red paper, according
to your wrapping paper patterns, the
petals, which will be in three sizes.
Cut a yard of the green paper into
length wise strips, half inch wide, with
which to wind the wire for stems. A
piece of wire G or S inches long is cut
cilf. Four little wads of the yellow tis
sue paper tiie size of a large pea, are
. loli covered with a little piece of the
same paper, an inch square. This is
brought ov« r the wad and twisted Into
a little stem. Then little wads are
fastened to the end of the piece of
wire by wludlng with a coarse thread
or a fine spool wire. The latter is
best. I'lt\ce two or three small petals
of the red paper around the eml or the
wire to which you have Ju.u fastened
the little yellow wads and fasten thorn
with thread or wire. Next place,
larger petals and finally the largeat
Kiie, following the natural blossom, or
the paper one bought for a guide, as
nearly as possible. Wind the wire
stem with green tissue paper. Full
the edges of the petals slightly to Rive
them a natural look. As the paper
poinsettltt blossoms are finished put
theui In a hot bo*. In two or throe
evenings ns many us will be needed
•re easily made.
After the polnsettia is finished make
little baskets of the red paper For
foundations use little card board di*h
ea such us confectioners use for Char
lotto Itusse, or those which may be
bought for the purpose. Make ban
dl<-» of win Cover the basket Insid*
and out with the red paper, pasting |(
to place and pulling the cl|{.-a Into
rtifflea Make an many llttlu baaketa
n •l.re are guents to-be. Cover the
handles by wrappln« the Mire with
narrow stripe of the rod pn|» r , j, iu
l»h with little bows made of but»y rib
bon or narrow strips of the paper
either in red or ureen Put th«- little
bask eta away with »h« i"tn ttia
Next a few candle or elertrl Until
»l>ad>'* are to be made As the crane
paper «»eta n«< itmre when lm t>ruote<|,
* i ulr. Sf city tli tire pro fed **
rtety when buying It.
•yl out card board dlai-a I.', inch, a
I iiatneier with ilrcl.e cut lr«»m tb»
ci tit' r, -j In 'bea In diameter Tbeao
rent on the metal stmrte supports.
From the paper napkin or dolly, cut
a circle at the center 3V4 laches In
diameter. With a needle and thread
gather this up to fit the metal support.
Place the dolly over the card board
disc and tie the ends of tbe thread
flrmly about tbe metal.
As soon as the stores begin showing
them, buy a few strands of red tinsel
balls and two packages (about six
yards) of silver tinsel. Two dozen
of the small paper Christmas bells In
red and, two bolts of red buby rllrbon.
These things are to be found at the
ten cent stores, and cost very little.
(Jet thorn early and put them away.
Ncthing further is needed but the ever
greens which are bought just before
they are used.
One small well-shaped Christmas
tree will be needed and then a lot of
A
—- w
The Little Yule Log.
A Festoon of Red Tinsei Beads Strung
on Baby Ribbon.
greenery-boughs that have been cui
away in trimming trees, or trees that
do not sell readily because not well
shaped may be bought l'or a trilie or
these may he procured in this coun
try. The sweet smelling kind add a
distinct pleasure to Christmas. Bring
your boughs and trees hoaie two or
three days before Christmas. Cut the
branches from the trunks. With small
branches wound to wire with dark
cord or heavy thread, make wreaths
for pinning to the window curtains.
Saw from the end 01 one of the tree
trunks —(which will be from 4 to G
inches in diameter) a piece 18 inches
long for a miniature yule log. Tie red
baby ribbon around each end and sus
pend from tl chandelier or in a door
way. Hang a tiny bowl to represent
an old-time kettle over it, using the
baby ribbon to
ji!~"£/iSndeliers but do not cover thera
too thickly with greens. Take the
remaining greens and place them In
the fruit baskets which you previously
covered with green paper. Use holly
with them. Set these wherever they
look prettiest; in the windows, if the
sills are deep enough. Pin a wreath
to the curtains at each window. Now
all your greens are placed and the red
is to be added. The secret of using
it effectively is to be sparing with it
Bring out your poinsettia and place
two or three blossoms in a group
somewhere in the green about each
door and window. Fasten one flower
at the top of each wreath. Festoon
your little red tinsel balls among the
greens at the top of the door by which
your guests enter the living room. Use
the remaining ones in groups of two
! on the Christmas tree.
Decorate the Christmas tree with
the silver tinsel and in the manner
—■ <*«»»• .. ■
The Paper Candle Shad*.
to which you have U < n aecuatumed.
for the Huku of old lluiim.
I'lac a the rettutinlng itnMw »n the
maiitele. piano or ou lb* dreaalng
cgaea tu Iw ua»'tl by the giteata.
Your d< niatu.g la dou<, aud when
the ll*hta are tit ami begin tu g!«>»
through the rv«l abadoa, you will re
Kitl.l the little ace tie with a heart
throb of xatiilat'llon When tin- guest 4
arrive all will l» (tot In a lively good
humor t>» the • harm >4 their aurround
inga Iroia the living room and dtu
inK room ovt r l*» th« ut au«l proceed
H, . u|o) anything uml c-verything
wbich you have i»»un.'4 or they mg
gent-
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1910.
BOTTOMLE^
EEST and merriest of all
dinners, that of Christmas,
sweetly compels us to take
extra thought and put forth
extra effort that it may be
set forth instate. At the
call of some one, whose heart is "good"
toward us, we gather round the bright
table. Sweet with fir, beautiful with
holly, gleaming with white napery and
twinkling glass and all lit with rosy
candles, it sets the heart aglow, be
speaking a loving kindness, which is
the salvation of our workaday world.
The dining room Is the heart of the
house and its great day is Christmas
day.it is really very little trouble to
!ecorate it for a Christmas dinner,
and dressing the table cannot be
spoken of as a trouble—it is a pleas
ure.
The dining room must be entirely
clean—the windows newly washed and
the walls arid furniture wiped off and
polished up a bit, before the placing
of decorations begins. These should
be simple and in green so as not to
distract the attention from the table.
If a hanging lamp or a chandelier
is suspended over the table, nothing
is much more effective than the fes
toons of green from lamp to the cor
ners of the room. Ropes of ever
green are made by cutting off small
branches and winding the stems with
dark cord or heavy black thread. The
lamp, or chandelier supports, may be
dressed with sprays of evergreen and
holly and the evergreen festoons ar
ranged along the walls, underneath
tho plate rail, the festoons to be
caught up with sprays of holly.
Branches of green over tho windows
and door casings and wreaths pinned
at each window, on the curtains, are
the time-honored Christmas decora
tions that cannot be improved upon
and are dear because familiar.
But in setting forth her table tho
hostess has a chance to exercise her
r — "-"■ " r — r~n
Christmas Candle Shades and a Mic*
Shade for Protection.
ingenuity and be as original as she
may please.
The table Is to be made amply long
so that it will not be crowded, and
spread with a protecting pad, and an
immaculate cloth, smooth and shin
ing. Silver and glassware are to be
scoured and polished and the china
treated to the same freshening proc
ess, until everything shines. Lay a
dinner napkin at each place and pro
teed to decorate the table.
A centerpiece Is to be provided. A
very handsome one is made of a bolt
of No. 80 red satin ribbon. Two
lengths of this, each 1 •<& yards long,
are crossed at the middle of the table,
lying flat aad the ends extending
toward the corners of the table. In
the center an ornamental fern dish
is fashioned of the ribbon about a
plain fern dish.
The ribbon is made Into standing
loops, each about six Inches in length.
These are placed In a row about the
dish with the loops upstanding. The
dish used may be an ordinary milk
pan previously covered with red pa
per in crepe or tissue. Fill the pan
with • moss or sand. In the center
stand a miniature Christmas tree, a
natural baby tre« if possible. L»e.o
r»te the miniature tree with tiuy can
dles and the smallest of red tinsel
balls. The cnndles are uot to be
lighted. Place few decorations and
have them all In miniature The effect
is charming.
Another pretty center piece Is made
with five ordinary tin caudlestlcka,
supporting five red or white caudles
Set one of these on an Inverted paste
board box In the center of the table
aud the four reuiaining candles one
.-tt each corner of the box, on the table.
Vse a small box. not larger than the
bottom of the candlestick. Cover the
candlesticks and the box with sprays
of ev- igreen and holly and sprinkle
over these the "diamond dust" which
muy tie bought, or made by cutting a
piece of tinsel rope into little parti
cles. .Make shades for the candles,
,s!ng red paper. Buy the fireproof**
kind for safety.
The shades are very easily made by
cutting four petals of paper and
mounting them over an Isinglass pi i
' teclor on the brass nhade holder*.
I»nll out the ••dges ol the paper iu
iii,« ruffled effect Tie the shade*
about their sun 'it *ltb « small cord
Over «•»!* place a piece of tinsel fln
! talking It In u 0,1 '"N' l
i candle will appear t<- spring from a
I I nest of gr« n The candles aie to be
I lighted * lien the dessert is served A
, tutile shade such a* •* described is
I t»ho» nln the picture
Iv third pr< tty centerpi « e la iuau>
{ u t a small round baud mirror aud all
vur tinsel In the form of * IW. poiuted
star. Cut (he star from a p!ec» of
white wrapping paper, making It 12 to
18 Inches across. the paper star
In the center of the table and place the
small mirror In tho center of the star.
Cover the paper star completely with
silver tinsel. Place a tall slender vase
in clear glass on the mirror and fill It
with poinsettla blossoms or red carna
tions or bright red roses. If natural
flowers are not available a tall candle
In a glass stick, surrounded by shorter
candles in shorter candlesticks, will
do nicely.
At each place at table, a little bas
ket is to be set containing salted pea
nuts or almonds, or red cinnamon
drops and green mints. These bas-
A Bonbon Basket for the Dinner
Table.
kets are made of red paper with a lit
tle spray of holly fastened to thfl
handle. Or they are pretty made of
brown tissue paper twisted into cords
and gilded with gold paint. A jjasket
of this kind is shown in the illustra
ticn.
It the table is long, candles may ho
placed at intervals around it, but
c! her wise, the centerpiece, with one
cr two candles at opposite ends of the
table, will be the better arrangement.
Place these candles diagonally oppo
site. White candles with red shades
are as pretty as red ones for the din<
ner table.
Cranberry jolly, which is nearly al
ways a part of the menu, served iu
glass dishes, or set in a glass howl,
is decorative. Gellatin in two colors
(red and green) in tall sherbet glasses
is also fine as an aid in carrying out
the Christmas color scheme. Triangu
lar slices of bread or rolls of bread
tied with red baby ribbon and placed
on the bread and butter plates gives
an additional little finishing touch.
When the silver is laid and the wa
ter glasses placed, a small spray of
holly for the buttonhole or corsage is
to be placed for each person at the
table. It rests on the napkins.
In order that the candles may last
out the dinner it is as well to postpone
lighting them until the dessert Is serv
ed. Other lights may be turned lower
at this time. The effect of glowing
candles is very inspiring to the guests.
Often the Christmas dinner must bo
served in the early afternoon. If arti
ficial lights are desired the hostess
must darken the dining room. Hut
there are pretty decorations from
which candle light is omitted. The
center piece for such a table may rep
resent any familiar winter or Christ
mas scene. One may buy, at a trifling
cost, a Santa Claus, on a chimney top,
about to descend. These are made of
painted pasteboard and a doll. At
the confectioners' there are all sorts
of Chris* "ias pieces In the form of
large candy boxes. Santa Claus and
his reindeers are fine for the center
piece mounted on a small box, con
cealed by evergreens and holly.
A table for daytime light may bo
arranged with a small mirror In the
I center about 18 Inches square. Sur
' round this by evergreens to represent
1 a skating pond. Dress two or uioro
Decorations for the Christmas Dinner
Table.
tiny dolls to represent skaters. The
closer you can come to making It luok
like u real pond In miniature the more
you and your guests will be delight
ed. At the ten-cent stores one may
buy small red houses and even glass
icicles. Icicles may be represented
by little pieces of tinsel also After
you once get to work the thing will
grow under your hands and you will
be enthusiastic at the end. When all
is finished the Christmas table Just!
ties the thought and work put on It
the play Is Indeed worth the candle.
If one must count expenses careful
ly the decorations will be found to be
mure a matter of ingenuity than
money Evergreens and red paper,
wax candles and cheup candlesticks
are within reach of nearly all of us
of all days Christmas Is, for that very
ienoon, the one for Which we should
■uake our vsry best eudeavor,
Christmas Precaution
"Mother. If Suuttt Claus touies
do*it th« chimney, he'll have to **lk
through the kitchen, won't lie?"
"I suppose he *lll, dear."
"Well, don't >ou thiuk we'd maybe
perhaps better lock up the pi»
serves?"
CHRISTMAS
SDGGJGANQ
GIFTS
BY JULIA BOTTOM LEY
HHISTMAS shopping Is an
easy enough matter for
possessor of plenty of
money, but for the must
of us Christmas time
shows a great disparity
between the size of our pocketbook
and that of our heart —the latter Is
so much bigger. The world is full
of pretty things, waiting to be bought
by those with money enough. There
is consolation in the fact that the
gift which costs timo and thought,
and is a little tax on tho resources
of the giver, means more to the re
cipient than any other.
We are eager to remember our own
dear people and some of our friends.
Now the question is, how much can
we spend and how shall we spend It.
to include them all?
We will start out with mother; she
should come first. A search through
the shops shows a lot of pretty gifts
that may be bought for little money
and a greater number that may bo
made at home at a saving. She will
appreciate our circumstances. Some
good things may be found at the ten
cent stores even, and they are the
stronghold of the little folks who want
to make a dollar go a long way.
Mother will like the pretty waste
paper basket shown in the picture,
of white moire paper with delicate
roses on it. Here may be found good
: looking candlesticks of clear glass,
which are as pretty as those that
cost three times as much.
Lacquer boxes, from Japan, are
cheap and artistic, and very durable.
Such boxes for gloves and handker
chiefs range in price from twenty-five
cents to a dollar or so and are to be
found department stores.
Selecting a present that may be
made at home is easy because the
outlay of money is usually small and
the finished articlo a success. There
j are pin cushions and bags of flowered
A Waste Basket of Flowered Paper,
Pin Cushion and Collar Bag of Silk.
ribbon such as are shown In the pic
ture. Pretty little muslin aprons and
hand-made laces, made of Rennals-
Banee braid and simple stitches. Tow
els with large initial embroidered in
the corner never fail to delight either
mother or grandmother. Combing
Jackets, like that shown In the pic
ture, are made of squares of figured
cotton or silk or of largo handker
chiefs. They cost almost nothing,
since one may make them of a rem
nant a yard square or of four cheap
cotton handkerchiefs (with pretty iig
ures) and two yards of narrow satin
ribbon. These handkerchiefs are used
for short kimonos, laundry bags, sofa
pillow covers, and smaller embroid
ered handkerchiefs for pin cushions
Bed slippers, made of elder down
ilnnnel, make an acceptable present
for an old person. They are prettily
finished with fancy stitches and rib
bon and cost next to nothing
Getting a present for father or
grandfather taxes the thought; men's
wants seem to bo so fow compared
to those of women
Handkerchiefs, ties and slippers are
among those that cost little and are
acceptable. Dill purses, for the safe
carrying of money, cost from 25 cents
to two or more dollars. A good plain
fountain pen gives a man continual
satisfaction, and other articles for
convenient writing he likes. There
are |>ortfollos with paper and blotters,
and other articles. Desk fittings, and
especially those made of Japanese
antimony, are tasteful and a great
convenience.
Among the things that may lie made
at home, the list for men Is not long
House Jackets and slippers are dear
to the heart of the man who wants
to be comfortable. Hatb robes are
not difficult to make and a great
comfort. lied slippers, for the old.
#re a luxury they enjoy Young men
like ties, stick pins aud handkerchiefs,
books aud kodaks
It Is easy sailing when we start
nut to buy a present for grown up
or nearly grown sister Hha will like
til the pretty thing* for her dressing
rase, the candles, pin cushions, and
a lot of little foolish things beside
Hterllng silver shoe hut toner* and
I f hoe «|H>ons are to be had for •
i quarter Buffers nail files, tooth
| brushes with sliver hatidlt s, apical
in the taste for Ituury *hi<h girls
• o »• i* Hhe can never huv.i too
many dainty handkerchiefs and neck
pieces, or too many gay ribbons t<i>
her hair or lingerie. All those caa
be found at an expense ranging from
twenty-five cents up to two or mora
dollars.
Young girls like ornamental pic
ture frames, pretty jewel casus, puff
boxes and hat pin holders. These
are shown In tasteful designs for fifty
cents each.
All girls love perfumery and
sachets. They like calendars with
pretty verses, to hang In their rooms,
and chain or mesh purses delight
them. These may be bought for fifty
Tea Apron of Muslin and Lace Collar
and Chemisette of Lace.
cents to fifty dollars each. Fans aro
shown in a like variety.
If you prefer to make a present at
home nothing is more likely to delight
a girl than a bedroom set for her bed.
window and dressing case. These seta
consist of spread with flounce, cur
taina, pillow shams and cover for
dressing caso. Muslin and casement
cloths are used for making them and
cost from five to fifteen cents a yard.
Fancy bands for the hair, made of
ribbon or tulle, especially if bright
ened with spangles, are acceptable to
the girlish heart. The floating veil
of chiffon and the soft scarf for tho
head and shoulders will make her
eyes sparkle with pleasure. One haa
only to buy or 3 yards of material
and hem it, for these. Silk muslin
makes lovely scarfs and may be had
from thirty cents to a dollar a yard.
A scarf of this fabric is shown in the
picture.
Big brothers will like the same
things father does and besides, ha
will like pictures of sports, baseball
and football subjects. College flags
for his room, sofa pillows, pipes and
pipe racks appeal to him. He will
flourish silk hosiery with great satis
faction and if one may spend a suf
ficient sum he likes a good suit case
or the fittings for one for traveling.
The younger boys and girls rarely
leavd us uninformed as to what they
want. The girls want dolls and min
iature housekeeping things. Small
sets of furs please them. Hoods, leg
gings and mittens, bright hair rib
bons, a length of goods for a new
dress and school aprons are among
their gifts. Beads for the neck, and
handkerchiefs they treasure. Girla
are fond of finger rings and purses,
and they enjoy kodaks as much a 9
boys do. In selecting presents, it is
well to get those which will keep th»
girls out of doors as much as possi
ble. Skates for ice or roller skating
and mufflers for warmth are glftt
that do much good.
As for the small boy, he voices his
preferences with some insistence. He
likes mechanical toys, skates and
sleds. Albums for his picture post
curds or his collection of stamps and
books of adventure, give him much
pleasure. A good boys' magazino or
a mechanical magazine (if he is old
enough) will be fine for him. He
likes tools for building things and
above all plenty of good things to
eat. In his Christmas stocking
Tho baby and the tiny people Just
out of babyland uro delighted with
I I ,
Comblny Jacket Mads of a Large
Handkerchief or a Square of Fabrlo
all ttie toye, of which there aro so
many. made lor them. They like the
toy untmal* be*t. ItuililliiK block*
and picture book* they never tire of
and the dear old fairy tales please
them forever It la no trouble to
.elect a iclft for them There are
hundred# on sale that .coat little. 01
much, an you They are a* happy
with a doll from the ten rent »t >r«
with one for ttve dollars, and I avo
known to prefer a ra« on: » to
% talking prodigy.
At hoiuu one may make for 1 •n , nt
little shoes and ttonunta. or :>i tkets.
unity decked with ribbon, contalulni
their toilet requisites: soap v»-<lliie
and ftne tab powder A plain ha .at,
glided and lined and decked ■■ >th r.»
net tea of baby ribbon, please* t •
>ounM Wother l.lttle boots of <ro
, l„.t eiderdown or «I »mols <» Int er#
ha wis and tncks «r« for »»»# yo»u»|
infant.