The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-23
THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS.
Some Suggestions for the Trimming of
Churches for That Day-A Beautiful
Custom,

walls is so common as to be almost universal,
but for some reason the house of worship is
seldom beautifed on Thanksgiving day.
There is wider scope for fancy in designing
decorations for this day than any other, but
excepting, perhaps, the regulation allowance
of flowers about the pulpit, the services are
usually held within bare walls. If decora-
| tions are appropriate on the other days,
surely they are never more so than on the
occasion when people gather together to give
thanks for peace, prosperity and plenty. The
ease with which thought i'll harmony with
the day can be typfied by the fruits of the
harvest for which thanks are given make it
a matter of surprise that they are not more
often utilized. An infinite variety of deco
rative effects is possible without the whole
sale display of fruits and vegetables which
sometimes make a church altar look
like miniature agricultural fair. In
cent number of Andrewss Bazaar some use
full hints are given in regard to Thanksgiving
decorations. 1t says if the inevitable sheaf
of wheat is used it should be of such a size
that it can be placed on the table; sometimes
three small ones are so placed one each of
| OetliCy oIlN ILlG vases, IL Iuty are
| in use, placed between, or on the outsides; or
the vases stand in their usual place, sheaf
| on each SIDE and in the center a cross made
on white of sprays of vine leaves, with alter
nate punches of black and white grapes
This at once typifies all the fruits of the
earth. Decorations of flowers and designs in
straw are the most suitable for this period,
and it may be useful to give some ideas for
| the latter.
First, we will describe a text made entirely
with ears of wheat A ground of red flock
| paper, twill or cloth, mounted on frame,
made the size you wish your text. Sort the
ears of wheat as much as possible into siZes
around this frame arrange them in sets of
| three in the shape of a heur-de-is. Two
| long ones in the center. two rather shorter
on each side this center one. and springing
from it, each two joining top and bottom,
| but slightly bent out on the sides to make
the shape of each two more oval Arrange
| these figures on the side of the frame, sew
ing them in their places and making the
tips of the outside sprays Just touch each
other; under them lay a double row to
| form a straight line, and from this line
If you wish to have a very handsome
| border, sew a reversed line or heur-
de-lis. The letter should be cut out in
red or white paper; If the latter Just tint
them with little yellow ochre; cover these
with the ears of wheat, sewing each one down
| in its place and cutting them where neceS-
sary to the shape. As these decorations are
notusually required for more than the day,
| the letters might be made of flowers; the
black bryony is most useful help for the
| purpose, and the rich metallic color en-
| twined with the straw is particularly hard
some on red background. The corners, or
even border, may be made of miniature
sheaves by splitting and peelng each straw
and cutting out from the back of the ear the
| unnecessary grains as you sew them in their
places. good design for a quartre-foil or
40 fpio 10 fC ocl,a ~,
manner, of course giving more roundness
and fullness to the shape; the binding should
be formed of trail of leaves, flowers or
fruit.
PRETTY WORK IN STRAW.
The first letter, or the whole of the letter
ing in a text would look we'll made with
sprays entwined with and falling from the
straw. A border to such a text should
be made of oats, forming them into a neat
wreath. Split straws work we'll into letters;
they must be sewed down, diapered, with
silk, and will last for years with care These
letters are, of course, quite fiat. A raised
and very effective lettering may be made with
the whole straws. For instance take the
letter l. make it five straws in width, on
the top of these sew four straws, placing
them just below those underneath, then
three, two, and one, or finish with the two
This is good plan in forming designs, as
the straws can be cut any size; but it
must be embered that all work in straw
must be carefully picked and peeled. or the
effect is greatly destroyed The letters made
with straw tissue are more suited to the
winter seasons-the tissue is nothing but
split straw flattened, pulled and pressed on
to paper.
We remember seeing country church,
where time and labor were ungrudgingy
given for the glory of Gods house an un-
| eiobt1y prOinctiOn n che Of
with the different corns, somewhat after the
manner of a sheaf. 1t tapered slightly to-
ward the top, rows of wheat, barley and oats,
the stalks peeled and dazzling with bright
ness, all laid perfectly fiat, were arranged
one above another; between the rows bright
trail of flowers or leaves was introduced.
The plated straw bordering would answer
admirably for such a purpose, or even for
the wreathing of pillar. In rural districts
this straw plating is generally well known;
it may be learned from cottager, or, per-
chance, you need not go further than your
own stable for the knowledge, but this
plated border of wheat ears is very hand
some, and nothing could be better on pill
lar so arranged for the heads to be top and
bottom, for which two lengths would be
necessary. A band of leaves or small oats
might cover the Joint in the center.
An extremely pretty wreathing may be
made, but it must be made very neatly, of
small sprays of oats, privet berries and Sibe-
rian crabs; wreathing of this, not more
than one and half inches in width, is excel
lent round an oak pulpit; if the same is pam
eled, let 1t outline the panels; if the center
of such panels must be filled up prepare a
small design to match the bordering; but of
all things, avoid hanging pots of flowers
on pulpit. Seeing is believing, or we could
not have credited that such an incongruity
could be attempted in this artistic" age.
Such design as described for the border
of text in straw may be carried out with
great success by combining ivy and other
colored leaves; the young and tender leaves
of the oak and maple, with their rich, deep
tints, are Just the thing; alternated patterns
of ivy and straw, or straw and these leaves,
IL. h. lsr.n IL