The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-20
For the Sunday Sentinel.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
By xsl. sAIuIE A. HAMkeK.


There is hardly home 50 bare and GEM
fortress that something of the blessed Christ
mas time will not enter if 1t is not driven
away by neglect and anger There is hardly
a heart so cold and friendless that somewhat
of the precious spirit Of the Master will not
abide in il nd warm ii with its genial glow,
If the door be opened TO welcome its coming
But there are those who feel the stings of
poverty, who must economic as never be-
fore, and to them there will be sadness min
gled with the gladness of the holiday season,
for they can not laYishly bestow splendid
gifts upon their loved ones. There are many
homes where economy and ingenuity must
be exercised TO render the time as agreeable
as ever to the inmates. But there are so
many articles that the swift deft fingers OF
women can make with but little ex-
pense that there will be scarcely an
excuse for them to DO remiSs in the pleasant
remembfances of the time and we can imag-
inc that somebody will be obliged for few
timely hints, even If to many they are mere
repetitions Scraps of silk, worsted, perfo-
rated and plain card board, bright pictures,
zephyr, beads, autumn leaves, pressed ferns,
and almost everything possible to handle,
can be used IN some way to make pretty,
ornamental, or useful present for friend or
loved one. It Is always most difficult to fix
gifts for gentlemen, unless you have at your
command varied resources, and yet even
these fastidious mortals can be pleased. We
do not refer in any instance TO presents re
curing any considerable time or money to
make but to those devised and executed by
ingenuity and the artistic sense OF appropri-
ateness. Smoking jackets of dark blue or
gray merino or cashmere, nicely wadded,
quilted and lined. are thoroughly
comfortable and enjoyable, and will be APP
preciated by brother, father or friend. The
material need not be expensive, warm, soft
colors and pretty contrasting facings being
the most important items. If You give
pair OF slippers to gentleman, always pay
all of the expenSe. l must use italics to be
forcible enough. II possible have them eX-
act fits, made by your friends shoemaker,
and when you offer them have them posi-
tive gifts-no bills to be settled afterward to
mar the pleasure of the time. But word
of advice: Do not let your friendship for any
one force fsther or brother to pay unpleas-
ant bills. Be proud enough to be too honor
able TO give presents that you can not afford.
IL you are handy" with your crochet nee
die, a scarf is seasonaDle and durable. Dark
brown and cardinal red zephyr, or gray and
soft blue are pretty combina-
lions, and if finished with the
bright stripes of the Roman sashes
viii be very effective. The handSomest have
fringe of the principal tints of the zephyr.
Wristlets can be made in the same way,
either plain or in variegated colors. Many
persons, for the sake of the extra warmth,
line them with canton f1annels; others pre-
fer the single thickness of the crochet work.
These are nice for ladies also, especially
those who have cold hands and wrists, and
who are forced to be out much in the cold.
In fact, the list of croch-ted articles is al
most inexhaustsble and fashion books and
notion stores will suggest the patterns. If
you can embroider handsomely, a half dozen
WHITE Deckties viii be a nice present, especi-
ally ii the gentleman enjoys evening amuse-
ments. A fashionable bow is made of sheer
white, with q spray or flower in each corner,
embroidered in white silk floss
Fine linen handkerchief with monogram
or wreathed initial embroidered in the
corner, will show good taste as
well as nice handiwork. And when
these are neatly folded in a handsome
box they are only made the more attractive
And hint now as to these same handker-
chief boxes. If you buy them they will be
tOlerably costly, at least for pretty ones. but
you can make them cheap. Get an ordinary
box of pasteboard of the size you want, be-
ing careful that the sides are clean. In the
center of the outside of the top paste q
bright, pretty picture, bunch of autumn
leaves, a spray of delicate flowers or a sweet
face of a girl. but never anything coarse or
offensive. Then frame this in an edge of
neutral tinted. heavy paper, with the ex-
IRENE marlin OF gilt Line the box with
tissue put bottom Of thin wadded silk
Quilted- cprlnkle over TIE COTTON Wad01ng
some delicate perfume powder, attach mar
row ribbons for bands and bows to confine
the articles, and you have q dainty present
for either gentleman or lady. The inside
of the top may be plain or with the mono
gram in spatter work, or a picture
smaller than the one on the outside.
Those of your friends who smoke will like
pocket match cases of your manufacture,
though they already have them of tin. Make
exactly like, excepting about half as long
as, case for spectacles, using match to
measure the length. Use card board or
leather, covering with silk embroidered With
a ting vine or initials. Let the flap which
fastens the top be lined smoothly and nicely
A bit of sand paper at the back will be use |
fnl, ard the little article meet with favor A !
cigar ease 10 hang up by the side of the man
tel or mirror, well filed with good cigars 1
will be acceptable to most gentlemen Christ /
mas morning.. 4 round Of perforated card |
board, embroidered in some neat design with |
an edge of erocheted zephyr. at to?,and bot
tom. having little bag of thin silk hanging /
from il, is all that Is necessary. Make the |
card board net quite As long cigar, and
have a little round of stiff card board |
slipped in for q bottom % keep Che
cigars from slipping Cord and tassels
complete the. case square of perforated
cardboard seved into . cornueOpia WIKI |
make useful holder for lamp lighters and
4 headed by . narrow ruole of bright silk |
,r ribbon and bow will, when hanging in 4
! convenient corner. be both pretty and
landy. Boot and slipper pocket pincushions
re part of the standard presents. and save
Rany poor soul from yexstioh when but
ons come of or fail TO do their duty. and
VIII not Ne despised by the receiver. Little
ases for holding paper for shaving are pop
lar and easily made. Stiff cardboard, or,
S a friend suggests, stiff black bobinet, cut |
n the shape of grape leaf, with embroid-
red Vines and stems. filed with leaves Of !
issue paper cut a little smaller than the
inside ease, will be a nice adjunct to the
,ilet table The leaves are held in place By | ]
elastic band, and can be renewed at pleas !