Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS MAIL.
CARDS LOADING DOWS
FINE xlRED LETTER CARRIERS.
Ge1ns % ths Latest Noveltaes Prepared for the
11es1ay Bssson--11Acir Appropriateness Of
1Dessgn asd Beanty Of Exccution--Heavy
Postal Business.

The Christmas mail Is unusually heavy
this year, not only by reason of the vast
number OF Christmas cards sent through
tho mails, hut on account OF tho nu-
tnerous Christmas packages sent from
and received nj the Lancaster postoffice.
In consequence OF this there has been
lively work at the postoffice in the
past two days aud Postmaster Marshall in
formed us that the amount of mail matter
hn1 been about 65 per cent larger than last
Christmas The greater part of the mail
Consists of packages, and the increase np-
plies to that delivered in Lancaster rs well
- sent abroad. Sunday hours will be OBJ
served at the postoffice tomorrow.
The Christmas Cards of the Season.
Although there arc none of the more pre-
tentious prize cards in the ordinary speci-
mems tho manufacturers ard designers have
outdone themselves this year. In these
favors banners and bannerets occupy promi-
nent places. There is q star card in two dc
signs. One Of these represents the child
Christ playing with the lambs surrounded by
chcrubs the other shows church interior
with rosy-cheeked children singing carols
within the star, while tho star itself is sur
rounded with holly and merry Christmas
bells. The backs of these cards are orna-
mented with aconventionald design of fdrapery,
with picturesque winter scene in the back
ground. These designs are bright and pretty.
They are made either with plain edges or
bordered with rich silken fringe.
There is another pretty set in three floral
designs. One is bunch of the thistles of old
Scotland, another is the sweet-scented clover,
while third is bunch of the beautiful
golden rod and asters These. like the cards
mentioned above, are shown either with plain
edges or bordered with silken fringe. An
other very pretty design is made out of the
cards in this set by combining two of them in
n box form, and ornamenting the combination
thus formed with richly colored satin fringe
and silkcn tassels No adequate idea of the
richness and beauty, or the artistic manner in
which the different colors and materials har-
monize and blend together, can be obtained
from any illustration in prosaic black and
white.
In addition TO these, there are many other
beautiful cards, which include some very
are four oil chrome designs representing diff
ferent members of the animal kingdom rs
rejoicing over the goodwill and cheer OF
Christmas day. One has an old bear, with
its front paws which serve as its arms, loaded
with holly, dancing before two cute little
cubs in clumsy glee; another bears three Sc
date owls pcrched before book of music, from
which they are chanting with solemn glad
ness hymns of praise; a third has timid hare
and ungainly turtle wishing each other {
merry Christmas, while the fourth represents
two playful kittens gravely seated before
book, from which they are singing a tender
"mew-"sic in honor of the day. The back
of each of these cards is beautifully illuminat
ed with design representinga most solemn
looking owl perched upon one of the horn'
of q crescent, which Is moving through light
fleecy clouds. The other specimens ar
equally as fine and beautiful, and togethe
form as pretty a line of these cards rs has ye
been brought out