The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-23


The accounts that have come down
rs us or the feasts ana revels OF the
olden DAYS giving time tongue
are fun Of suggestions for our modern
nerry-r1ab kings. ard at this season
when the holiday spirit is ripest and
every hostess. is wishing for some new
way 10 give It expression, why may
we not borrow crstpms that are 50
old as TO be new
Good cheer is inseparable from tl1e
thoues1e Of Christmas. so that dinner
IS perhaps the fittest form for hos
pstalifv to take followed by a cosy
gathering about a roaring wood fire.
--tiae nearest approach to the Yule log
pvailabae perhaps where stories,
songe. anecdotes and legend tales that
make the flesh creep with delicious
horror.
The custom is growing every year for
people who have country houses. TO
open them for a few days at Christmas
and take possession witls a merry party
OF friends
The Christmas spirit, however, may
ind entrance anywhere, and modern
City dining room may be transformed
fnto a bower with bougtnS of ever
green, box, laurel and holly, and the
help of a few small Xmas trees" in
the windows and corners, that win
give one quite a sense Of remoteness
from our prosaic nineteenth century,
'.The world is very young for its
age. and Ike the children, we like to
make believe things.
The table should be lighted with
candles only, without shades, and
wreatbed about with gTeenery, as in
ancient times. These, with the wood
fire. will give Just the soft radiance
that pleases both eye and the i'm
agination. In tlre center of the table.
NitE a generous mass OF holly forming,
ri mound at its base, a tiny Christmas
( Tree may stand, all alight with many
small tapers Of various colors and
hung with little gifts TO be distributed
as souvenirs at the close of the feast.
Various small articles in silver may
be had at triaing cost and being
1nsrl1ed with the initials of the guests,
will show a. personal thought for each
that never fails to give pleasure.
The effect of the little tree is really
pretty, but if preferred, a large round
basket 1leaped with holly and tied
about with a wide scarlet satin rib
bon matching the bright berries, may
be substituted. The dishes OF bon
hons. cakes. fruit and salted almonds
should also be surrounded with
wrea+hs Of holly and the decanters
Etsnd on mats of green leaves.
III the stcolor scheme" scarlet should
be introduced as Tsuch as possible, as
the gayest contrast with the foliage.
Sugar almonds are made with bright
red covering, and may, for the sake of
their COLOR form the top layer on
dish of more toothsome corrections.
Scarlet icing on cake, is apt to be re-
garded with suspicion, but candied
cherries on the white sugar will give
q bright touch Of color.
Nothing more choice than highly
polished red apple may be accepted if
we would be tue to the ancient pat
tern, and their vivid skins add much
to the decorative effect of the table
A branch of mistletoe with many
pearly white berries tied with a scarlet
ribbon to the evergreen wreathed
chandelier, should have its place at
Christmas feast, though the tradition
al privileges it confers are not easily
attainable, placed in such position
The menu, written on a square Of
parchment. upon which a. sprig of holly
or mistIetoe, a boar's head on q, salver,
or something suggestive of Christmas