St. Paul daily globe., 1885-12-20
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
Practical Hints on Making the Tree
Success.

Practical Hints on Making the Tree
a Success.
Various Methods of Decoration
Placing the Presents.
Written for the Globe by Mrs. Bernard Peters.
Since the night when lay awake to find
out for myself whether ST. Nick came
down the chimney Oh Christmas eve have
never ceased to take an interest in that an
nual source of joy and gladness, the Christ
mas tree. Macaulay always prefaced any
statement of fact that he made by the
phrase, Every school boy knows thus
and so," and writers Ofttimes think
it useless to recall any historical
statements for fear they may be repeat
ing only what ''every schoolboy knows"
1 find, however, that schOolboys often for
get. so may be pardoned for stating few
of the facts relating to my subject. The in
stitutOn of Christ mass is attributed to
Pope Telesphorus. who died A. d. 1873. At
first it was the most movable of the Christian
holidays. and was celebrated by the Eastern
churches in the months of April and May.
In the fourth century st. Cyril of Jerusalem
obtained an order from Pope Julius l. for
an investigation to be made concerning the
day of the Nativity. The result was an
agreement upon the 25th of December, and
throughout the world, wherever Christianity
is known, that date has been accepted. The
day is considered in the double light OF a
holy cOmmemoratiOn and a cheerful festl-
val. During the middle ages it was cele-
brated by gay fantastic spectacle OF
dramatic
MYSTERIES AND MORALITIEs.
The custom of singing Christmas carols
dates from the time tine common people
ceased to understand Latin. Preparatory
to Christmas the bells are rung at midnight
throughout England and the continent. In
the north of Europe Christmas is often
called the "Children's Festival" and is de-
voted to the giving of presents by means of
the Christmas tree. The custom of select
ing large yew bough for the tree, and of
trimming the houses and churches with
| evergreenS, is derived from an ancient be-
lief that sylvan spirits flocked to the ever
greens. Holly and ivy remain in England
| the favOrite evergreenS, though laurel is
sometimes used.
In our own country Christmas was less
generally celebrated in New England than
in the Middle and Southern states, owing to
the influence of the Puritans. but the Oppo-
sition of their descendants has been grow
ing less and less every year, and it may now
be claimed that a Christmas tree is to be
found in almost every house in the land,
and Santa Claus. originally introduced by
the Dutch settlers of New York. now shows
his jolly face in every home and showers
gifts broadcast from his magic hoard, which
somehow or other never seems to diminish.
l have often thought his store of gifts is the
crystalization of all uselfsh aspirations
which rise from the hearts of the mothers
and fathers, sisters and brothers of the land.
FEW DIRECTIONS
may not be amiss as to the best and most
effective way Of decorating the tree. To
those who have wealth at command it need
only be limited that money must be supple
mented by good taste and an eye for artistic
effect, OF the result may be a failure.
Where the parlor is large high tree may
be used. Let it be as symmetrical in pro-
portion as possible. Then deck it with the
different adornments that can be bought at
our leading establishments, light it well
either with candles or gas jets, hang the
presents on it or lay them at it's base, and if
love be at the distribution the result will be
Joy. But Christmas tree that will fuse
the whole household into one bond of
joyousness call be secured with very little
money. and l proceed to describe
two which are quite effective. Secure
a tree about four feet in height. with its
branches equally balanced; have it firmly
fixed in common soap box, which should
be covered with green paper; place your
tree on plain kitchen table. also covered
with green paper. Tack anything you may
have around the edge OF the table so as to
reach the floor, completely hiding the legs
of the table. This drapery forms re-
ceptacle for such gifts as are too large to
hang upon the tree Take number of
tiny wax candles, and by holding the end of
each candle in the flame of a lighted one
you can soften it enough to enable you to
stick it FIRMLY to the table, or you can buy
for few cents small tin candlestickS about
an inch in diameter which have tack in
the bottom, and the tack can be pressed
down into the table. The more candles you
have the better. When lighted they from
A GATHERING FENCE,
as it were, around the tree, and can be
easily eXtlnguiShed if any candle more am
bilious than the rest should try to get up a
small cOntlagratiOn on its own hook. Hang
strings of popcorn in fanciful festOOns from
the branches. Buy few cents worth of
alum and crystalize leaves and grasses. to
be disposed with taste here and there. Me-
tallic floss or shavings add greatly to the
| glitter and glow of the whole affair. Bits
| of cotton wool can be used as flakes of
snow. No one can imagine the amount of
happiness to be obtained in family if all
unite their efforts to deck the tree. The
| least of the children can string the pop
corn, the next larger ones can fix the can
dies. still older ones who can reach up high
| can deck the tree, while the parents can sit
quietly by directing, advising, or assisting
| in case of need. After the tree is decked,
then comes the happiest time of all. when
each one brings forth his or her gifts and
| tries to slip them on to the tree or under the
table, so that the person for whom each one
is intended may not get glance at the label
and so anticipate the important hour when
! all is in readiness for the grand distribution.
| Again, tree may be selected as high as
| the ceiling of your room will allow: have it
firmly planted" and strew moss or place
mats under it, then surround it by little
fence, which can be bought cheaply or can
be made by an ingenious lad who has taste
for carpentry. Let there be an open gate
at the side of the fence next to- the COM
pany, at which you should place figure of
Santa Claus, as though he were inviting
| A COMPANY OF FAIRIES
to come into the incosure and climb the
tree. Decorate the tree with flowers made
of paper, and bright, gilt objects, which
you can purchase almost anywhere. Hang
candles all over the tree by means of the
little arrangements which are made with
hook and weight at one end to balance
the candle and keep it upright Take four
or eight common wooden dolls about four
inches long dress them as fairies in different
colors of tarleton, fasten a black silk thread
on the top of each fairy's head, pass
| the threads LID nNer the CENTER chandeler