The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-23
INSTEAD OF A TREE.
Some Pleasant Ways of Distributing Christ
mas Gifts to Entertain the Children.


Some Pleasant Ways of Distributing Christ
mas Gifts to Entertain the Children.
Philadelphia Times.
The tastes and desires of the children of to-
day entirely in keeping with the progressive
Developments of this wonderful age, and it is
only once in great while that the home mother
OF houseful of miniature and women dis
covers primitive taste in one of her buds of
promise and far too often are our cultured
matrons apt to confound such expressed mar
tiicial fancies with foolish notions On the
other hand, one is literally astonished at the
magnitude of the Christmas ambitions of some
small boy, and the fine higha art frenzy of fair
haired household fairy.
Don't have tree this year. mamma; just
hire carpenter to build stable out in our back
yard, and papa can buy me a live horse and a
sleigh for my Christmas present. Thatll do for
me, and I'll tend to the horse myself, to save
trouble, is the modest proposition of six-year-
old youth who is just outgrowing his first pair
of pants In more refined and delicate tones
his companionabe sister also vetoes the tree,
because 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 have2 is the question. The
clothes horse and step-ladder, trimmed with
eyergreens and laden with toys, were effectively
tried last Christmas, and this year many families
are going back to the old fashioned way of hang
ing up stockings; others will allow the good old
saint to distribute gifts in person, while in one
family game of hide and seek will be institute
ed and the presents placed in all kinds of odd
positions and surprising arrangements-as, for
instance, heads Of cabbage, beets and turnips on
the kitchen table will be found to contain laces,
ribbons or bonbons, while huge fan in the par
lor opens to disclose a complete line of silver
spoons large and small, and miniature trunk
serves as case for an exquisite set of coffee
cups and saucers, in delicate china, in the new
gemmed effects
A most charming idea is to have round or
nXnlf abl 10 int ha IF eizpd
Let it be prettily covered with tapestry-cre-
tonne will do-and that can be improved by
FASTING some lines of gold paper upon it to en-
nance the effect. Place a handsome plush or a
chair concealed beneath a rich shawl and let 1t
serve as 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 gas-light The
gifts should be in a. large basket by the side OF
the table and handed to the little distributor by
one of her faithful servants dressed like one of
Robin Hoods merry men, If the child can be
taught two or four lines Of poetry to repeat as
she presents the gifts it will add much to the en-
joyment of the occasion.
Our bay windows seem to be specially de-
signed for tabeau presentation, suggested by
foreign authority. The curtains serve as
tapestry and a sedan chair can be easily fash
Toned to hold the gifts or table may be used in
stead. The double curtains hung as to hide
the table from view, can be opened when all are
ready to receive presents, which should be
handed to them by a lady dressed in antique
fashion.
One dress described as appropriate consists of
plain underskirt of satin, with waisteoat. The
low bodice and train of brocade are made in one,
with vatican pleat at the back, commencing at
the shoulders; elbow sleeves, with lace frlls and
long mittens. The hair should be arranged in
towering puffs and rolls and thickly powdered
with white or silver powder This dress is Tor
evening
If the gifts are distributed in the morning,
then promenade dress is considered en- regie,
and one model shows quilted petticoat, plain
satin waistcoat, worn with bodice and overskirt
of brocade. Over the shoulders, but leaving the
throat bare, is a muslin ichu edged with frills,
the short ends carelessly tied In front. The hat,
which has verY wide brim and small, high,
pointed crown, is trimmed with a tuft of ostrich
tips, and it is placed the summit of the puffs
of hair Long gloves and black cane, silver
tipped, complete the ancient costume.
The Japanese toy store may perhaps suit
those with mercantile tastes better than the
more fancful methods, and one or two boxes of
t4y 5sYey vii s'rlT honsssad With rent1,
| arranged in the convenient bay-window Over
| the inside blinds or shutters Japanese cretone
can be hung, pictures can be hung, and Japanese
oddities, birds and other things suspended here
and there The stall should be lighted with
| Japanese lanterns, the rest of the room being
kept dark, The shelf can consist of board
placed across from one window to the other or
d sewing table can be used, either being covered
with the same fabric as that used for wall hang
ings The statesmen ladies can increase the
enjoyment by praising their goods, but only
insisting on each one buying the present
intended for him or her, even if a large reduc-
ton m ust be made in the price.
Where there are a number of boys theEnglish
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 jack
cts and wear white helmets. At the bow stands
man dressed in dark blue knickerbockers,
gray tunic, blue cap with battlemented edge and
a helmet Between the man and the sides of
the boat are deal boxes and on these the pres
ents are placed or 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 a gypsy tent in
the bay window and let the gifts be handed out
by a beautiful brunette dressed in Oriental cos
tune, with decoration of sequins; and an entirely
Eastern ideal is to have the gifts distributed by
a couple of beautiful dancing girls, who take the
articles one by one from the table upon which
they are placed, and to the accompaniment of
some joyous tune they dance to the recipient,
and still dancing place the present in his or her
lap, repeating this until all gifts are delivered
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