The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-17
TRIMMING THE TREE.

| Childhood's Memorable DeIight-TaIl
and Short Trees-A Myriad of At
tractive Recommendations, Drums.
Guns, TrumDets, Fishes and Lights
Decorated Stoclzings-Snow-Pow
dered Santa Claus-Fire's Danger.
The decoration Of the Christmas tree is
a serious affair. For, of course, there
must be tree. What matter if it dries
quickly in the furnace-heated air and the
needles from it bestrew the carpet? 1t
will be delight to the children to see
ana to remember. AS long as they live
the spicy blasts from cedar alleys
blown" will bring back to them the
quivering delight of the moment when
/ they inhaled the resinous odor Of
the evergreen branches as they entered
the room where Santa Claus had done
his magic work between sunset and
dawn.
The first sight and smell of the Christ
mas trees, piled on wagons or stacked at
the market or grocer's, will recall the old
delirious thrill that is popularity de-
scribed as feeling Christmas in the
! bones"
The tree need not be large, unless the
! custom is practised of hanging certain
gifts on it. This is seldom satisfactory.
as the weight Of the parcels impairs the
symmetry of the tree, by displacing the
branches. A small tree-that is tor deco
ratlVe purposes only-is full aas satisfac-
tory to the children, who are. after all.
the ones whom it is most essential to
please. There is no difficulty in finding
a variety in the trinkets to be used in the
work of adOrnment. AS the holiday APP
proaches the smallest and the largest of
toy shops are gay with ornaments for
/ Christmas-trees. The decorations are OF
all sorts and sizes, from the strings OF
colored glass or gilded balls, that bound
/ the ambition Of the poor children who
have coaxed their parents into promising
them tree, to the great silver-gilt globes,
the wax figures, and the smiling image OF
the Dutch patron saint that Will adorn the
| big trees that are dressed for the delight
of Sunday-schools. Between the two
there is large variety from which to
/ choose.
/ GLASS BALLS EFFECTIVE.
/ The gay glass balls of various sizes are
! always justly popular, for nothing is
/ more effective than they in decking the
! Christmas-tree. AS they sway among
/ the dark branches they bring to ones
mind the DID, child-beloved story OF the
wonderful jeWeled fruits Aladdin found
in the cave, and tor a moment it seems
/ possible that the dream may have been
| true. These fruits are Of a variety of
! shapes. Large spheres and small, egg
/ shaped balls and many-spiked ornaments
| that catch and reflect the light are among
1 the gay conceits the season brings, Little
/ T1ptG and hpr r.11rccel
come in this same fragile stuff, and there
is no reason why with their aid the tree
should not look on Christmas morning as
/ though the fairies had visited it over
night.
For those who do not wish to spend
! their money in adornments that are so
/ easily broken, come no less pretty orna-
ments in gilt and silver paper. Here are
/ tiny ships with sails full spread and here
are little unlimbered guns and drums
/ and helmets to please small boys Of a
! soldering turn of mind. Here, also, are
marvellous gold and silver fish and tur-
/ ties, sedan-chairs, diminutive Watering
| pots, baskets Of fruit, banios, violins,
mandolins, horns, rings, bells, lilliputian
/ pianos, and myriad OF other quaint and
| dainty devices.
FORGET NOT SANTA CLAUS.
And if one attempts to go in for bon
| bonnleres 10 hang on the tree, he is at a
! loss what to choose from among so many.
/ Stars TO crown the tree are not wanting.
and here also is the winged figure of the
! Christ-Child TO suspend from a branch or
from the ceiling. Best of all, perhaps,
are the figures of the dear old Santa
! Claus powdered with snow and bowed
under the weight of the laden Christmas
! tree he bears upon his shoulder. Stock
! ings, peculiarly fitted to hold the gifts he
! will bring, are decorated at toe, heel, and
top with tiny gold and silver bells
With all these beautiful things it would
| be strange indeed if the children OF the
well-to-do could not have a brilliant
| spectacle in their Christmas tree, with its
many wax lights doubling the brightness
| of the sparkling ornaments. But people
of moderate means often hesitate before
recklessly eXpending good round sum
in the pershabIe adornments of the
! Christmas tree, and they are glad to know
that with very little money they can
dress a tree that will delight any but an
ultra lastidious or 6iUSe taste.
POPCoRN-APPLEs-C
The old fashion of hanging tree with
! strings Of popcorn and rosy lady apples
| may still give pleasure, and when to these
are added few papers of the tinsel that
may be bought from toy-shops or street
vendors, as pretty, if not as dazzling. an
effect is produced as the more expensive
! OEudllleHlS Create Inc duOlLlOn OF a lew
colored glass balls may be made at triflinr
cost. while cornucopias and net candy
| Bugs complete the decoration.
1t is hard to say too much of the value
OF tinsel as q decorative agent. Cheap.
/ effective, easily arranged, it commends
! itself to every one. Occasional short rib
! bon streamers or peunon-shaped strips
! OF gay silk, or even Of cambria, are ex-
cellent for Frightening the tree.
! candies are SINE ana 1o5l bt1+ fbai,
/ placing and lighting must be intrusted
/ TO some steady-headed, grown person.
! who can be relied upon to secure them
where there will be no danger of
their setting fire to the easily
! lgnited branches. The tapers should
| be lighted just before the general
! public is admitted to view the sight.
and it is prudent to have the illumination
OF brief duration. The nervous elders Of
the party will breathe more freely when
the lights are extinguished. and there is
no further risk OF the children setting fire
to themselves or the tree in their trans
port of delight over their new acquisi-
/ tions.
CHRIST MAS AND THE Chill DREN,