Evening star., 1896-12-15
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
J Timely Hints for Thoss Who Have Many to
d. Make
Inexpensive Articles Easily Made by
Young 2a dd-collese Color.
in Presents for Men.

'f' ~ Z
The cutest little article that has appeared
among the Cheap novelties for Christmas
presents is a real English walnut shell with
a fly sitting on the end of 1t. When one
picks up the fly, out comes a tape measure,
which snaps back into place as nicely as
any silver one with a spring button. The
kernel has been removed by carefully cut
ting the shell in halves down the center
seam, the tape inserted. and the shell glued
together again, after which the nut is var
nished.
This would be rather neat way of in
closing small present-say, for instance
ring or a thimble-instead Of putting 1t in
box. 1t is very easy to open the walnut
with a knife. and a little glue will fasten it
up again, all snug in a nut shell. The re-
cipient should be instructed to crack care
1uiiy, and great deal Of fun could be had
In this magical discovery Of precious metal
inside perfect nutshell that has no ap-
pearance of ever having been opened.
Thls idea has been carried out in other
25-cent articles A crab apple in natural
coiofs, with Il twig and leaves, has a fly
sitting innocently on its side, which pulls
out measuring tape the same as in the
other case.
A frog and beetle also contain these
tapes. and all sell for a quarter Such a
cunning device is both interesting and use
fui. and is good enough for a small child to
lady TO give to an acquaintance whom she
wlshes merely to remember, and not to be-
STOW anything Of value upon.
"A set Of envelopes for interesting clip
pings can be made as elaborate as one
wishes The essentials are to take long en-
velopes and label them for the various pur-
poses Tor which they are intended. For in
stance, one set contains one envelope each
for clippings relating to politics, medicine
society, stocks, religion, poetry, celebrities
ana college news Such set would be
very nice present for sister to give
brother who was prominent In college
journalism. Just the bare envelopes tied
together with the college colors would suf-
nee, but to make the set more fancfful
taKe some chamois skin and cut 1t large
enough TO form a sort of book cover for
the envelopes: decorate 1t, IL possible but
II not, simply print the word clippings in
glit letters on the back. Then lay the en-
veiopes together and punch two holes about
Two and half inches apart; make holes in
the chamois cover to correspond and run
ribbons through envelopes and cover to tie
them together.
For the Baby.
Another fancy made after the same fash
ion is a number of decorated cards tied to-
gether in book. The cards are long, and
tied at the ends. The outside card is dec
Grated with clover blossoms and labeled in
gilt letters, "Baby's Progress" The next
leaf has "Baby's Birthday" next, Baby 5
Name next, "Baby's Weight, with
spaces for weight at birth, at one month,
at two months, at six months, ETC.; next,
What Baby First Said" and last When
Baby First Walked, with tiny shoes and
Slippers ST for M decoration at the foot of the
page. This, OF course. would be dainty
slft for the fond young mother from her
sister or dear friend. These, however, IN
volve some skill in painting, and are of no
use to the ordinary mortal, whose birth
was not recognized nv the cOor
The difficulty of making suitable gifts for
a brother or cousin, who is away at college
has been greatly lessened by bringing the
college colors into requistion. This is espe-
cially pretty where there are two colors
combined. or rethreet
A pretty present made on this plan is a
brush broom case made in the shape of a
shield. Those have seen were at Yale and
Princeton. White was combined with the
Yale blue to relieve it, The upper part of
the shield, which was made of pasteboard d,
was covered with plain blue satin, and the
body of the shield was striped up and
down with blue and white. On the plain
blue white flags are painted, with the
sticks crossing in the middle and having a
blue ON the flag sheet. The black is of
course, PLAIN piece covered with white
satin, and the shield hangs up by rib
bon. Put brush broom in it.. and write
Brush Up or something, on the card,
and send 1t to the best college friend you
have. whose colors you have used.
Another present which can be made in
college colors is doll pin-cushion. A
jointed doll about ten inches long is dressed
in the cOlors desired--say yellow with
black trimmings for Princeton. 1t is then
set on circular piece of cardboard seven
or eight inches in diameter, and the silk
skirt. which has been made large enough
10 admit of ii, is gathered together in the
middle of the underside of the cardboard
1t has also been stuffed with lambs wool
or cotton batting, and when finished 1t
makes very good pin-cushion. These doll
iIlfr
the time of the Princeton foot ball
game, but they are just as acceptable at
Christmas time.
Some Ingenious Ideas.
Crimson for Harvard, blue for Yale yell
low and black for Princeton brown and
white for Brown, blue and white for Co.
lumbia, scarlet and brown for St. Law
renee, cornelian and white for Cornell-any
of these colors combined to make the
simplest kind of an article, will please a
young man who takes pride in his college
and the appearance of his room.
Enameled articles are made in college
colors, and, indeed the craze is becoming
so general that there is danger that it will
become too common.
One of the cutest things of a homely
kind the Christmas market is device
thread together. clay pipe is the founda-
| ton, and 1t is dressed up as an old lady in
| a calico dress. The back of the pipe forms
the face, with that sharp point for the
| nose. and eyes and mouth are put on with
| pencil. just as pipe nuns are made. The
stem is then stuck into the spool of linen
thread. which answers two purposes-that
| of holding the pipe up and of being handy
when the thread is wanted. The old lady
has sunbonnet on her head, a fichu pinned
around her neck with the shoe needle, and
| a wide skirt. The buttons are in a bag
| that hangs on her sleeve. She also wears
| white apron, upon which are written
these words:
My name is Miss Piper.
I'm not a pen-wiper;
But If from your shoes
Your buttons you lose,
| Just bring them to me.
And you'll readily see
With what great delight
III sew them on tight"
This article sells for twenty-five cents,
but the smallest child could make 1t for
her mother or groTn-up sister.
varietS of Novelties.
A handkerEhiefi pocket for grandmother