The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-21
TRIMMING THE TREE.
ohildren's Memorable Delight.
Trees, Tall and Short
AMYRIAD OF ATTRACTIVE THINGS
In tho Way of Bells,
Drums, Guns, Trumpets, Fishes and
Iiehts-.Decorated stockings-.snow.
Powdered Santa claus.-..Firo's
Danger.

The decoration Of the Christmas-trce
is serious affair. For, of course, there
must be tree. What matter if it dries
Quickly in the furnace heated dir and
the needles from it bestrew the carpet2
It will be a delight for the children to
see and to remember. AS long as they
live the "spicy blasts from cedar alleys
blown" viii bring back to them the
quivering delight Of the moment when
they inhaled the resinous order of the
evergreen branches, as they entered
the room, where Santa Claus had done
his magic work between sunset and
dawn.
Tho first sight aud smell of the
Christmas-trees, piled on wagons or
stacked at tho market or grocer,s, will
recall the old delirious thrill that is
popularity described as feeling Christ
mas in the homes"
The tree need not be large, unless the
custom is practiced Of hanging certain
gifts on it. This is seldom satisfactory,
as the weight Of the parcels impairs the
symmetry Of tho tree, by displacin1g the
branches. A small tree-that is for
decorative purposes unly-is full as sat
isfactory to the children, who are, after
all, tho ones whom it is most essential
to please. There is no difficulty in find.
ing q variety in the trinkets to be used
in the work OF adornment. As the hol.
iday approaches the smallest and the
largest of toy shops are gay with orna-
ments for Christmas.trees. The decora-
tons arc 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 a tree, to the great
silyer-gilt globes, tho 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 tho two there is
large variety from which to choose.
GLASS BALLS EFFECTIVE.
The gay glass balls ofvarious 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 old child-beloved story
Of the wonderful jewelled fruit Aladdin
found in the cave, and for moment it
seems possible that tho dream may
have been true. These fruits are of
variety OF shapes. Large spheres and
small, egg-shaped and many-spiked or
naments that catch and reflect the
light are among the gay conceits the
season brings. Little trumpets and
other musical instruments come in the
same fragile stuff, and there is no req:
son why with their aid the tree should
not look on Christina morning as
though tho fairies had visited it over
night.
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 sales full spread,
and here arc little unlimbered guns and
drums and helmets to please small boys
of soldiering turn Of mind. Here, also,
are marvellous gold and silver fish and
turtles, sedan.chairs, dtminutive water
ing-pots, baskets of fruit, banios, yio-
Inns, mandolins, horns, rings, bells,
liliputian pianos, and a myriad Of other
quaint and dainty devices.
FORGET NOT SANTA CLAUS.
Andif ono attempts to go in for bon
bonnieres to hang on the tree, ho is at
loss what to choose from among SO
MANY. Stars to crown the tree are not
wanting, and here also is tho winged
figure Of tho Christ Child 10 suspend
from a branch OF 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 Christmag tree he bears upon
his shoulder. Stockings, 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 chill
dren Of tho well-to-do could not have a
brilliant spectacle in their Christmas
tree, with it's many wax lights doubling
the brightness OF tho sparkling orna.
ments. But people OF moderate means
often hesitate before recklessly expend-
ing good round sum in the perish9ble
adornments Of the Christmas tree, and
they are glad to know that with very
little money they can dress q tree that
will, delight any but an ultra fastidious
or blaSs taste.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
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 reproduced as
the more expensive ornaments create.
The addition of a few colored glass balls
may be made at trialng cost, while
cornucopias and net candy bags COM
plete the decoration.
It is hard to say too much OF the
value Of tho tinsel as decorative
agent. Cheap, effective, easily arranged,
it commends itself to everyone. 0cca-
sional short ribbon streamers or PEN
non.shaped strips OF gay silk or even
OF cambria are excellent for Frightening
the tree.
Candles are asine qua nan, but their
placing and lights must be entrusted 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 ignited 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 tho party will breathe
moro freely when the hghts are ex.
tinguished, and there is no further risk
OF the children setting fire to them.
Z .anl,,nn or thu trna In THAR tranannrk Of