The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-29
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
Timely Hints for Making Them-The Ma
terials I'm Use.

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Timely Hints for Making Them-The Ma
terials I'm Use.
GFrom Harper's Bazarl
The custom of decorating with ever.
green's is far from being modern one.
The Romans, 1000 years ago, did the
same thing; indeed, it is more than
probable that the origin of adorning our
homes with ivy, holly and bay must be
sought for in the Roman satrirnalia, held
every year toward the end of Decem-
Der. Formerly the decorations of rooms
consisted of few branches of evergreens
stuck here and there as might be con-
venient but now they are of much
more complicated character, and require
time and skill in their manufacture.
Where decorations of any extent are an
nually employed, the week before Christ
mas is busy time with the ladies Of the
household. as the making of the decora-
tions principally falls to their share. To
make effective and pretty designs re-
quires good taste, practice, skill, and a
general knowledge of the materials TO be
employed. A few hints on this subject,
therefore, may prove acceptable, as have
assisted in making many decorations at
Christmas time, and so can speak from
experience.
For garlands, wire or strong cord
shonld be used. The latter is, however,
preferable, as it is not 80 liable to twist
as wire; and, for what are called upright
wreaths or panels, fine iron rods are the
best. For ornamental devices, perfor-
ated zinc should be used I; for letters,
strong brown paper for narrow bead
ings, where single leaves only are ena-
ployed, tape wire; for crosses, picture
frames, texts, etc., flat laths, such as are
used in the construction of ceilings by
plasterers, or hazel rods; and for
wreaths, strong wire; for small garlands
fine twine is serviceable. In addition to
the above, several balls of hemp twine
Zine and coarse), large needles and strong
linen thread Ozark green or black, pair
of scissors, penknife and reels of binding
wire must also be at hand and, though
last on the list, one of the most impor-
tant articles to be supplied with is q
strong pair of kid gloves, to protect the
hands from the scratches and cuts which
they are certain to receive if unprotect-
ed from the prickly leaves of holly or
from the binding wire. Although l rec
ommend strong kid gloves, / do not mean
them to be thick or in any way clumsy,
as, if that we're the case, it would
be impossible to do any of the
fine work-such as letters in single
leaves-neatly. Having thus alluded to
the different materials required, let me
now direct attention to the manner in
which particular designs are manufac-
tured. AS has been stated, the best
material for the foundation of garlands
is strong hemp cord. A loop should be
made on one end, and this is slipped
over nail or hook fastened for the pur-
pose in a wooden table or anything that
will hold it firmly. Having supply of
evergreens at hand, cut to the required
lengths, bind them on to the cord with
fine twine; one firm twist of twine will
be enough to keep each bunch of ever
green's in its place, and so work down
the cord to whatever length it may be
required. A beginner will find it diff
cult to bind the garland even as it is be-
ing worked; but, if such be found to be
the case, where it is too full the pieces
can be thinned with q pair of SCISSORS.
If il be desired to suspend garland of
large dimensions at any height, the fol-
lowing shrubs will be found the best
adapted for it's construction, viz, arbu-
tus, euonymus (common), holly, ivy,
laurel, Portugal laurel, spruce and sill
yer frs, and yew. For giving color, OF
course, scarlet berries are indispensable
and first among these ranks the holly.
The best way to arrange the holly beI :
ries is to remove all the leaves and cut
off the stems, leaving that portion only
which is covered with berries. A piece
of fine binding wire can then be fas-
tened round the stem and passed round
the garland, and, where fastened, hid
among the foliage. In this manner all
the berries can be added after the gar
land is made. Some introduce flowers
made of colored tissue-paper, but / my
self prefer color being given with ber-
RES only. Small and light-looking gar
lands for suspending from gas brackets,
etc., can be made on fine twine in q
similar manner to those before de-
scribed, but for this purpose very small
leaved plants should pe employed, such
as prickly holly, variegated box, etc.
Upright wreaths or peadings are made
best on fine iron rods, and their manu-
facture is very similar to that of garlands,
save that the headings are made Oh one
face, and for binding them reel wire
should be substituted for twine. Fol
this style of decoration L like to see
branchlets of the dark green holly only
employed, its rich, glistening, sombel
leaves being relieved by large bunches
of the brilliant berries fastened on with
wire, as have before described, at equa
distance apart. Wreaths of very pretty
appearance can be made on strong wire
for ball lamps, ETC., by taking piece oi
wire and forming it into circle of what
ever size may be required ; on this bind
the evergreens with fine wire, using
plenty of berries in their construction
blooms Of laurustinus also work in vel
for this purpose. Ornamental devices
should have their foundations of per-
forated zinc cut out into whatever de
sign may be selected.
Notices formed of letters made OF
evergreens are often employed among
other styles of decoration. If OF ever
greens, the best leaves for this purpose
are the holly, as sharper outlines can oe
obtained with them than any other
plant, the dark-green or variegated kinds