Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-20
THE FLEETTNG SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies.
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THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
The Objectionable and expensive prac-
tise of making Christmas presents indis-
criminately is, happily, going out of
fashion, for in the anxiety, the ostenta-
ton, often the injustice of it, all the /
sacred associations of the day are utterly
lost sight of. 80. - 81 81 .
To make a care OF. what ought to be only
a pleasure, to impose the burden Of obliga-
ton, upon others, to pay social debts and
strive to win favor with gifts, is foreign
to the true Christmas spirit, which is that
of generous and loving helpfulness. -'if \
. The first Christmas gifts were offered to
d child and the day should be, first of all,
the children's holiday marking the passage
of the years with bright, glad, long-to-be-
remembered hours; not SO much on ac-
count of that which they receive as for that
which they may early to taught to give,
out of the fullness of their hearts, to 9TH
ers.
The first givers were royal givers, offer
ing gladly of that they valued most. Let
US give royalty, but most generously where
most is needed, not with sordid self-seek
ing, but with-the love that grows by Civ
ing.
eFor love is of heaven, and love was born
AS tender babe, one Christmas morn,
With love for the highest and lowliest.
And kindly deeds are offerings meet
To lay with joy at the Christchild's feet"
THE WORK OF OUR HANDs-HINTs FOR
CHRISTMAS.
A hanging knitting bag, a convenience
that will be appreciated by the devoted
knitter, lover of bright woods and smooth,
shining needles, is made of brocade with
lining of India silk. The bag is yard
| long and quarter of yard wide, one end
being slightly followed to oval shape;
this is folded over to within quarter yard
| of the other end of the
strip and forms the front of
the pocket Above this the back is
laid in the fan-like pleats, allowing the
| pocket to hang open. Finish the rounded
edge with cord and the bottom
of the bag with row of tassels
or fringe, placing loop of cord behind
the pleats by which to suspend it. When
knitting the ball is dropped into the deep
| pocket which serves as a receptacle for
the work and needles when not in use.
pretty toy for a baby is made by
winding inch-wide blue ribbon, gros- grain
| with satin edge, around an embroidery
hoop until the wood is completely COW
cred, then stretching q ribbon across the
center of the hoop tie it in bow at one
side and secure it there with few
stitches. Upon each of these cross-bars
sew six little bells to tinkle with every
movement for the little ones delight. II
any one can appreciate this gift more thar
the baby does it will be the baby's mother
An acceptable gift to a gentleman, and
valuable as being the work of the giver'i
own hands, is crocheted cravat. Will
one of the popular four-in-hand scarfs fol
, O model, crochet in ''crazy" or any othel
pretty, close stitch, widening and narrow
ing to the exact shape of the pattern.
Three spools of knitting silk are re
quired for one cravat, and any desirabl,
shade is used. The white ones are particu
larly handsome, and when soiled may b
washed and dried smoothly without iron
> ing. Expert knitters also knit these era
i watts in elaborate patterns.
An absurdly funny doll-like pen wipe
, may be made of single black Germantowl
wool, using about quarter of skein
r Tie this tightly in the middle after cuttin
D it in two, then fold it over and tie agai
I about two inches lower, thus forming
knob for the dolls head. Before tiein
the second time take up number of tn
:. strands and braid them in two braid
which hang from the top of the head to
little below the waist, then take up strand
a from each side, below the head, and twii
:. them into a firm cord. These represent II
= arms and are tied tightly near the end
leaving little tufts for hands.
y Now tie the yarn again at a suitable di
/, tance from the head to form the wais
!, trimming evenly the ends of the wo
which forms the skirt and serves as IL
pen-wiper. With white paint trace as dro
face as possible, adding small beads f,
It the pupils of the eyes, Tie a sash arour
: the waist, with little bows on the wris
20 and the ends of the braids, using for th
3 purpose soft lutestring or binding ribbt
te of brilliant yellow, and the funny dark
g is complete.
20 For a more attractive pen-wiper procu
a small bisque doll with flaxen hair han
ing in long plaits. Dress her like peasa
RS girl with short skirt and apron and lit
b. bodice over white guimpe with fl
q. sleeves. Fasten to her back by mea
of straps passing over the shoulders
tie straw pannier closely packed wi
ar strips of undressed kid, which is said
!, be the best possible absorber of ink. The
strips are cut from discarded gloves; tn
es are about third of an inch in width a
n long enough, when doubled, to come a
to tie above the sides of the basket, to
or bottom of which they are securely sewt
90 As it is desirable that the doll shot
ne stand erect the feet may be glued t.
ar small support, plush covered RIB
,re block making a very good one.
A homemade Christmas card often CIV
NO greater pleasure to the recipient than a
lg- of those the dealer in such articles can
nish, as the written sentiment is chos
with care to suit each particular case, a
for appropriately affectionate, sympathei
ice comforting or inspiring For these
tn rough-fnished correspondence cards, q
- write the chosen quotation or message
" a bold hand, spacing the lines somew
SO irregularly. A tiny painted design n
af- occupy o corner, or one of the very sn
,ur Christmas cards, which in design and
=. oring are often more artistic than the m
u1 expensive ones, may be pasted upon it,
IN this decoration is not required, for
&C. charm and value of the card lies in
,os thoughtfully chosen message A lady '
% once received such card remarked ths
DIG was the "loveliest" one she ever b
,ir but this was only because the cheer
words traced upon it brought to her &
consolation.
of For message which has in it the
ion times desirable element of humor, paste
ect one side of the card a diamond shaped
of of checked woollen goods and add II
lines:
''Times are the hardest that ever were know
ent And of course I've not got chequebook Of
~, own,
'er, AS a present for Christmas can't send a lot
lete Still send you this check, it's the biggest
got"
Christmas letters, too, are always
xas come espeeiallv ;f yvr;ttan 70 thosa
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