Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-19
For the Democrat
PORTLAND LETTER.

4
the angels of light. Quaint baby figures
sweet little faces, birds, flowers, landscapes
fans, baskets, and the latest Is veritAble
card bell. The one noticed was pale blue
with lorely wild pink roses trailing acros:
1t. A very pretty device for holding these
| Christmas greetings was seen ut Loring
Short & Hsrmon's. An embossed scarlet
velvet square suspended by gilt ring has
] a circle OF gilt wire surrounding the words
christmas Offerings" in gilt letters
around this circle series Of gilt springs
hold the cards in place, producing yer,
charming effect against Morris wall pa
per. Illustrated books with fringed care
covers will form charming souvenirs oil
the bright Holidays.
The Quotation Calendars are very beau
tirul in design. and form most useful and
pleasing gin. Spencer, Shakespeare George
Elliot, Longfellow, Emerson and Frances
Ridley Havergal are the authors. Eacn
calendar contains quotation from the au'
thor chosen for every day In the year, aud
the cards are beautifully gotten up. Long
fellow and Emerson cost one dollar each,
the others fifty cents. Calendars are re-
ceiving a due share of attention this year ;
some lovely fringed ones bearing the How
ers appropriate to the mouth were shown,
aud Cupid's Calendar passed the
bound OF expectation and prepared the
way for anything in the line OF sentiment
aud beauty.
Prang's Prize Cards attrdc, great deal
OF attention aud show a marked improve
ment upon the two preceding years. This
year the amount was doubled aud divided
equally between two series ia the follow
ing prizes: $1,000, $500, $500 $500. The
committees being respectively the best
artists of New York, Boston and Philadel-
phis, and the popular vote OF visitors 10
the exhibition. Hence the names, Artists
aud Popular Series. The Judgment OF the
two committees united on the lrst, giving
the double prize to Miss Dora Wheeler of
New York, who won the second prize last
yeAr. aud who thus realizes the snug little
sum OF 5000. The descriptive circular
issued by Prang contains such perfect de
scriptOns, that will quote a. lioeraly a.
dare hope the editor will allow
"PRANG's PRIZE CHRISTMAS CARps-DE
scRiPrioS OF Tue DESIGNS. The idea OF
the design i very touching and its con-
ceptiou l. ia the highest degree artistic
Thclradiug thought, neutrality-suspicious..
j. that OF the light OF the world rising 10
dis pate the darkness which encompasses
poVrIty-striCken mankind. A dcsolate wo-
man, standing on the glnoe aud leaning
against barren, snow -ladeu tree. gales
mtrntly in al sgUuy Interpretation towards
"A vision Ia the clouds OF the Virgin with
the Christ Child ia her arms. Two thinly
clad little children, frightened Toy what
they do not understand, cling closely To
their mothers side, IN search Of aid and
protection The contrast between thrsr
groups, one OF heavenly beauty aud prom
lse ia sun OF hight, the other OF poverty
iulvuSe expectation, fear aui desO!attDn,
produces most striking effect. BDtu
groups are surrounded 10y floating clouds
died with joyous angels, aud by - border
quite Origiual In conception, which com
p.ete> the design most tremendously.
The reverse Of the card rvprOduces the
CLOUDY effect OF the vision, anu contains
verses by Mrs. Celia TbaNter appropriate
TO the ecstasy OF it, conception.
The Second aud Third Artists Prize
Card, were both Designed by Miss l..
Humphrey, OF Boston. The former repre-
sents Il littlegirl IN her nIght-dress, kueel-
ing before the open chimney, and sppAr-
ently praying Tor a full share OF Sauta
Claus, iavors. The border, wish faint
aud dusky outlines OF birds, aud the head
o., Santa Claus seemingly iisLening ~ the
prayer Of the child, gives the desisu a very
charming completeness. IL Is y sweet,
rich aud poetical card. Mrs. Celia Thsx-
ter has embodied the underlying thought
OF the artist in beautiful verses, which ATE
printed on the reverse Of the card, sur
rounded by border recallln. the birds OF
the diverse In snow.stOrm.
.' The other design 10y Miss Humphrey
LAYS more emphasis on the religious char-
acler OF Christmas, showing the Christ
mas angel poised on the crescent mOou,
holding AL ol!ve-branch IN one hand, and
sending forth from the other dove a. a
Inessesger OF peace aud goodwill. \
frame Ike border OF oliye-brAuches over a
lattice work. In rich r, d-OrOnzt tiuts. sur
rounds the desi IN. IL i card expressive
OF most tender earnest sentiment. The
reverse, r. peating The OllVebranch a. a
decorative motif, contains another original
poem from the pen y. Mrs. Celia ThaAter,
which Is fully IN accord with the artists
thought
The Fourth Artists Prize Card, by Al
| fred Fredericks, OF New York, shows y
| little boy in bed, awaking on Christmas
morning, and with happy smile perceiy-
| ing the various toys deposited on MS Gov
| eret. rich franchise border OF gold,
| into which molly and mistletoe, dove and
| butterflies, are happily Introduced, con-
| pletes the designs. As an Illustration OF
| child.life, nothing can DE more happy than
this design OF the great illustrator Freder-
| icks. He touches thereby the never-to-be-
| forgotten experiences Of every individual,
young or old; and as a picture OF the
morning OF the happiest day In the year,
the card has u particular charm. The col
oring is bright and cheerful, as BELTS the
| hour and the occasion. An ornamental
mistletoe design on the reverse surrounds
suitable verses by Mrs. L. 5. Forman, eX-
prss,ive OF the happy boys childish delight
at the many Christmas gifts which sur
round him.
THE Second Popular Prize was awarded
10 Walter Saterlee, OF New York. His de
sign has as q motif the solidarity, If we
may use the expression, between angels
aud little children. II shows the window
OF cottage viewed from the outside,
through which eager little children are peer
ing, listening 10 carol suug by other chill
dren outside, while cherubs hover near, at