Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-22
XMAS SUGGESTIONS.
DISTINCTIVE HOLIDAY CHARACTER
OF The SEASON AT The SOUTH.
Tho Significance Of Prcsents-iiomc-ha Wade
Cins--The silver Craze-sumptueuS
Shades for Observation-Disclosures

Much Of the sentimental Christmas de-
parted with the yule-Iog, the ancient
boars head, and the more recent out as"
extinct plantation festivities OF theSouth--
still considerable sentiment fingers about
this season. II is a chosen time for family
reunions and almost every one wishes 10
commemorate tho day by some good ueeu
and share his OF her pleasures with those
less fortunate Il Is indeed q period OF
general lCllity for much OF winch u"
Doubt. the insiduous Applicability ana egg
noeg are responsible. Uncle Setn IN u
bonalv way embOdies much OF the ChIl'u-
mas spirit in the following:
Then your heart It keep a--wolin' til II near!
bust your SIDE. I'D, ,-,r
An by night your jaws we're Hchiu WIN 49,
An, v6ur enemy i tho wo'st one, you'd just grab
his hama and say: 49, ~.
" McbAe bath Of IA was wrong, John. como le' .
shake It's Chramas-day
Christmas is essentially a southern hou-
day. Presents are gwen IN all ATTITUDES a.
this season, but as regards an oh5sl Na,lIu
Of the dar IN the way Of teastlnL, II IS Only
IN The South that Christmas dinner SUI
yves. I'm the North Thanksgiving IS iuc
time OF festiylty
sIGNIFICANCE or PRESENTS.
"Whcneyer make a Christmas present
I like ii TO mean something, not naces,a-
rIiv INV sentiments toward the person 10
whom give It, bur sometime sl eN?rr--
| sion OF what shout Ike that person TO
do or 10 be-" Mr.. Stockton thu, emhodirS
pnAlnchingly IN words the hitherto uuI'-
| fined thoughts Of almost every one III re-
gard 10 Christmas presents. 80 murh
d. 4 fltrr q frtl II Z q
| that one willingly submits O. any amount or
! personal inconvenience IN the way oI nur-
| chasing and family INTERVENING. inc
| father Of O charming family, who has been
rendered temporarily unhappy. by ms
active cOu1uifatlCn, says with path9'
| that IL would all be very well II the emil
| dren would stop with giving e2ch Oth'r
presents. but that now q ncW feature mas
| been developed and all the dolls IN ihe
| family are giving presents % the otheF
| dolls,
TIME OF RELAXATION.
Christmas is tho relaxing time Of the
wear. However Gustcre the rl-ldlty OF
spirit or mind ordinarily, under this GENIAL
influence of peace and good Will 10 is ln-
uo.lb,c tor II not To expand. Christmas,
| il is generally conceded, Is strictly icstl-
val for the rich, as regards outward tokens
Of happiness. The poor, however, IN Their
own way get about equally as Wucu ple'-
sure.
Happiness. after all, is purely relative.
HOMEMADE GIFTS.
Crystal boxe, made Of glass and bound
with ribbons nave come 20 be cOnsucfcl
almost indispensable for gloves and
handkcrchic.s. The glass can DO cut any
size one wishes for twenty-five cents. and
| seven yards Of ribbon an inch Woo IS o
LAVISH supply for binding and bOw5--a
thin piece OF pastc-bOarJ covered loosely
with SATIN and scented is added 10 lay the
contents upon. If intended for handker-
chiefs the boxes are generally made up IN
triangular style, the sides measuring eight
inches and the height two inches. y for
gloves the boxes are fifteen or eighteen
inches long and four inches in height.
An entirely new and stylish case for
evening gloves Is made by taking two
strips OF pnste-Loard three quarters Of n
yard long and three inches broad, and
covering them loosely with a slight full
ness Of white China silk, leaving a space
Of an inch between the boards at the
back TO give space for the gloves. The
| case u tied with narrow yellow ribbons.
and broad bow OF wide ribbon Is placed
III the centre.
THE SILVER CRAZE.
Quite every lady. young or old, Of high
or low degree, has the silver craze, and If
solld-silver pieces are preferred there are
few more expensive fads. OF course ii Is
an immense satisfaction to Fnow that an
article is sterling silver and OF the best
workmanship, but, after all. il IS a passing
fashion. 4 piece Of silver for the desk or
bureau Is at al times most acceptable
aud appropriate present. A new thong IN
silver for the dressing-table i tho rlng-
tray. which resembles an unfinished can
dle-stick very nearly. Silver candie-sucAs
| are considered by some as Indispensable,
| and are an appropriate present.
Silver pin-trgvs are SHOWN in exquisite
designs-heart-sLa OblOng, ana oval,
with a repousse border and lattice-wOrk.
| leavin. "a plain shield for the monogram.
ColOgne-fasks, shaped somewhat Ike the
more familiar travelling flask, only mar
rover, are the prevailing style.
sUArTUoUs SHADES FOR LASpa.
1t ia a satisfaction 70 know that the
sumptuous shades for the banquet and
sfandiug-!amps. which are seldom less
than Gfteen or thirty dollars. can be made
at home for FIVE dollars and fifty cents.
Thisincudes the price OF four and half
wards of silk. or crepe de cnlne and four
wards Of handsome deep silk, lace or ch't-
| f0n 10 trim the cGgc. The silk = seWed
at the ends and one sewage gathered
around the base OF the shade. the other
hangs over the ends of the frame, forming
| a deep valance over winch the lace OF
chiffon falls. These shades in miniature
on the single silver stand, holding a lamp,
or for single caniiestcss. are very effective
| for the dinDer-table.
Notwithstanding their expense It Is safe
| to predict that sofa cushions will be avery
| ponulpr Offering tins season.
Party gowns are being ruthlcssly lie
| epoiled OF their gorgeous brOcates. Ono
must enter into the making Of a cushion
whole-hearted and with resignation for a
large outlay. SIX yards of material IS re-
uuired for the large cushions II the silk IS
wide.
BROWNIE PAPER DOLLS.
The Brownie Books have endeared all
children to these grOtesque creations OF
Mr.. Palmer Coke, and now they Will be
glad to learn that an entirely new thing
this Christmas are the Brownie Paper
Dolls" OF course they are absurd little
monsters. They come with their garments
all ready to be cut ont in handsome book.
PIE-CUsHIoNs.
The day will probably never dawn when
| n pin-cushion will not be a thoroughly ac.
ceptable present 10 a woman, and the
men are beginning 20 appreciate Jneu.
In addition 10 those of silk and lace. the
newest shown are the exact counterpart OF
| n winter apple resplenient in red and
yellow tints. The squash Is another
| fayorite design and cannot be
told at short distance from
| a real one. Very handsome pIn-cushions
can be purchased for $3.50 each. One can
| easily DO made at home by gathering a
| quarter Of yard of rich yellow china silk
around a piece OF slik-coveced paste-board
the size Of a half dollar. This IS softly
| filed with cotton and drawn tightly at the
top. Strands Of yellow silk are then
| drawn from the top TO the bottom 10 out
| line the ridges of the squash. A piece OF
rrnen snrnh one and One-half inches long