Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-23
INSTEAD OF A TREE.
Some Pleasant Ways Of Distributing
Christmas Gifts TO Entertain the
Children.

The tastes and desires of the children of to-
day. says the Philadelphia Times. are entirely in
keeping with the progressive developments of
this wonderful age and it is only once in a great
while that the home mother of a hoUseful Of
miniature men and women discovers print
live taste in one Of her buds of promise and far
too often are our cultured matTons apt to con-
found such expressed inartifcial fancies with
foolish notions; on the other hand one is liter
ally astOnished at the magnitude of the Christ
mas ambitions of some small hoy and the fine
high art frenzy of a fair-haired household fairy
Don't have tree this year mamma: lust
hire carpenter TO build stable out III our back
yard and papa can buy me a live horse and q
sleigh for my Christmas present. Tbat1l DO for
me. and III tend to the horse myself to save
trouble. is the modest proposition of siX-voar-
old youth who is Just outgrowing lis first pair of
pants. In more refined and delicate tones his
companionable sister also vetOes the tree be
cause the leaves dry so quickly on account OF
the furnace heat and they are so difficult to re-
move from the carpet"
Then what shall we have? is the question
TIL elOthes-horSe and step-ladder trimmed with
eveTgreens and laden with TOYS were effectively
tried last Christmas. and this year many families
are going back TO the oid-iashoHed way of
hanging up stockings: Others will allow the
good old saint to distribute Gifts in person
while IN one family game of hidc-anG-seek will
kinds of odd positions and surprising arrange
ments-as for instance heads Of cabbage heets
and turnips on the kitchen table will be found 10
contain laces, ribbons or bonbOns while huge
fan in the parlOr OpeBs to disclose q complete
line Of silver spoons. large and small and a min
iature trunk serves as a case for an exquisite
set of coffee cups and saucers in delicate China
In the new gemmeG effects.
A most charming idea is to have q round or
oval table in the center of goud-sfzpd room
LET 10 Itf
tonne will dO-and that can be improved BY
FASTING some lines of gold paper upon il to en-
nance the effect Place handsome plush or q
chair concealed beneath rich shawl, and let il
serve "a throne for fairy queen. who should
be pretty. bright child the smaller the better.
dressed in gOssamer green and silver which will
be perfectly exquisite beneath the gasIight The
gifts should BE- in large basket by the side OF The
table and handed to the little distributor by one
OF her faithful servants. dressed like Of ROBIN
Hoods merry men. 1t the child can be taught
two or four lines Of poetry to repeat as she pre-
sents the gifts. it will add much to the enjoy
ment of the occasion.
Our bay windows seem to be specially de-
signed for tableau presentation. suggested bv
foreign authority. The curtains serve as
tapestry and sedan chair can be easily fash
Toned To hold the gifts, or a table NAV be used
instead The 6ouble curtains. hung so as to
hide the table from view can be opened when
all are ready to receive presents which should be
handed to them by lady dressed in antique
fashion.
One dress described as appropriate consists of
plain underskrt of satin. with waistcoat The
low bodice and train of brocade are made in
one. with Vatican pleat al the back commence
ing at the shoulders; elbow sleeves with lace
frills and long mittens- The hair should be az
ranged In towering puffs and rolls and thickly
powdered with white OF silver powder This
dress is for evening.
If the gifts are distributed in the morning
then promenade dress is considered en- regle
and one model shows a quilted petticoat plain
satin waistcoat, worn with a bodice and over
skirt OF brOcade. Over the shoulders but leay-
Ing the throat bare. is muslin fchu edged with
frills. the short ends carelessly tied in front
The hat, which has q very wide brim and small
hiSh-pointed crown is trimmed with tuft of
ostrich tips and 1t is placed on the summit of
the pur1S OF nair. Long gloves and black cane
silyer-tipped. complete the ancient costume
Inc japanese toy store may perhaps suit those
with mercantile tastes better than the more fam
cifui methods. and one or two boxes of toy
money Will supply a household with pIenty of
small change. A Japanese stall can be easily ar
ranged In the convenient bay window Over
the inside blinds or shutters Japanese cretonnp
can be hung pictures can be hung and JapaD-
csc oddities. birds and other things suspended
here and there The stall should be lighted with
Japanese lanterns the rest OF the room being kent
dark The shelf can consist of board placed
across from one window to the other or a sew
ing table can be used. either being covered with
tue suulc lduIlC Dr. tfidI uSeu wall haurllUS.
Tine statesmen or ladies can increase the enioy-
tGens by praising their goods, but only Insisting
on each one buying the present intended for
him or her, even If large reduction must be
made in the price.
Where there are number of bows the English
plan may be Illustrated. This is to have a long
narrow, sea rowing boat. painted white with a
white awning over it, stretching from bow to
stern Sails of equal height are placed at each
end. The soldiers are dressed In red Jackets
and wear white helmets. At the bow stands a
man dressed in dark blue knickeroockers. gray
tunfc, blue cap with battlemented edge and a
helmet Between the man and the sides of the
boat are deal boxes and on these the presents
are placed OF they may be slowed away in the
bottom OF the boat. Eight or ten BOYS would
enjoy the fun of being dressed up for the occa-
sion and the captain can hand out the presents.
Still another cOnceit is to have gypsy tent
In the bay window and let the gifts be handed
out oy beautiful brunette dressed in Oriental
costume with decoration of sequins and an en-
tlreiy eastern idea is to have the gifts distrbu-
ted bg couple OF beautiful dancing girls. who
take the articles one by one from the table upon
which they are placed. and to the accompani-
ment OF some joyous tune they dance to the re-
oipient, and still dancing place the present in
MS or her lap, repeating this until all gifts are
delivered.