Evening star., 1894-12-15
FUN FOR THE CHILDREN.
Some Modern and Unique Ideas foI
Christmas Entertainment.

Christmas Entertainment.
From the New York Herald
Christmas is, of all holidays, the chill
drens, and under every roof where the
sound of childish prattling is heard there
is delightful hustle, gentle thrill Of
preparation for the festivities in honor of
the birth of the Holy Child. What to do
for the children Is the universal question.
What unique and interesting functions
can be designed for the little men and wo-
men who are trembling with joyous ex-
citement and anticipation over the deli
cious mysteries which are preparing be-
hind closed doors?
In one superb mansion on Murray Hill
charming surprise is in store for the for
tunate little sons and daughters of the
house. The resources of the conservatory
and those of fashionable florists will be
taxed to make the large music room
veritable summer land. The furniture will
all be removed and the room crowded with
palms, the windows draped with vines, the
window seats covered with moss. Flowers
will be maSsed everywhere to give the
semblance of beds Rustic seats are set
out under the palms and Chinese lanterns
dangle from every projecting point. In the
center of this fairyland stands the tree.
1t, too, is covered with lanterns, instead
of the orthodox tapers. The decidedly
unique idea is to have Christmas tree In
a summer garden. Lemonade, fruits ana
ices will be served to the children after the
presents are distributed and in every way
the pretty topsy-turvy fancy which is sure
to please the children will be carried out.
Stories for the Children.
What sort of story would the average
boy rather listen to than eat? Stories
about Indians. lady who has been
travelling through the west this summer,
and who has four lusty sons ranging from
two to ten has evolved this brilliant Christ
mas entertainments She has allowed her
boys to invite their boy friends, and upon
the Christmas tree she has hung present
for each some sort of souvenir Wnich
she purchased in the land of the setting
sun and each one of which is OF lndlan
manufacture. When each boy has received
his gift, the hostess will tell him all ABOUT
it, There is an Apache war clup ior one
vout,,: there is a Navajo silver ring Tor
another One of the older boys sets d
Navajo blanket, another a Puepio water
bottle. For the little girls, Whohn lne
hostess herself invites to TINS unique enleI
tainment there are the baskets, strings Oh
beads and wild eyed Indian doll babies.
still another ingerious fashion or stimu-
lating the jaded appetites OF our nn-Ie
steele babies has been evolved by clever
mother who proposes to paraphrase the
Easter egg hunt idea. On Christmas MORN
ing she will call her children, hve IN num-
ber, reinforced by the addition OF three OF
four cousins together, and tell them that
somewhere in the house are presents mo-
den for them, carefully wrapped ana prop
erly labeled, and that they are to hunt
for them. Then the fun will begin one
shudders to think what that house VIII
lock like when the search is over. But the
children will have a good time, and the
main object of this mothers life is TO give
it to them.
a Unique Plan.
Still another original idea will be carried
out in a well-known New Workers. family,
where the search for something novel Is
| constantly going On. The children are TO
be dressed in fancy costume to represent
the various dishes of a Christmas feast.
| One boy will be made to resemble tur-
key; another will be garnished with celery
| A little girl will have wreath OF ralslns
| on her curlS and apples sewn on her gown
| to indicate that she Is mince pie inc
| range here is very wide one. and VIII
| tax the ingenuity of the olcer members
of the family, while the children are tasctn-
ated with the scheme. I'm afraid I'll eat
| my wreath up" was the warning uttered
| by Miss Mince Pie when her character was
assigned her. Two little girls are to be
| dressed as holly and mistletoe, in dark
green with sprigs of these dear flowers
| trimming their frocks, and wreaths of the
same on their heads.
| Did you ever hear of Mrs. Santa Claus
| 1t appears that there is one, who has been
wofully neglected all these years, for she
| will visit house on 59th street this Christ
mas and assert her claim to some sort OF
recognition by the youngsters. She will be
| robed, / am told, In a wonderful white silk
| frock. covered with crystals. to represent
| ice She will wear long cloak of white
! fur. Her hair will be white as the SHOWS of
| winter, and spray of holly will serve for
| Mrs. Claus bonnet. No one will know how
| the lady looks, for she will wear a mask
| and for once her husband will be of sec
| ondary Importance. Across her breast will
| be a placard bearing this inscription: