The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
A Five-Cent Christmas.
Decorator and Furnisher.


A clever English family one wear when
times were hard, took a council together
and resolved when Christmas came that a.
fine evergreen should he well planted in
their comfortable drawing room, and that
of articles given for the dressing of it none
should exceed in price. 5 cents each-a regu-
lar ''Five-cent Christmas tree" The young
people Of the family, for there were a num-
Der of them, hailed with delight this novel
idea. So that an immense amount of vital
ity was spent in the hunting of triAes for
this pretty little scheme.
R AS the time drew near the gifts multi
piled, each one was daintily wrapped. many
tied up with ribbon and some we'll boxed
but all we'll equipped as presents. Among
them was q pretty Japanese teapot in white
and blue, and to match an excellent sugar
bowl and cream pitcher in the same good
tints. For one pretty girl there was a sam
pie bottle of cologne for another q stick
pin in leaf shape, and for some one else a
pin tray in lacquer work For the mother
of the home there were endless gifts, among
them a pretty sauce-ladle in cream and
gilt, china bowl in blue and white, a
decorative platter for the everyday cake.
Father, too, came in for a goOdly share,
the new paper novel, a whisp broom and
handmade wash cloth, knitted by the young
est little girl. For Jack there was comb
for his coming mustache, and a pocket
glass wrapped up at least in about twenty
pieces of bright colors in tissue paper.
Old Japanese fans can be made to do duty
as fire screens when covered over with a
pretty silk in delicate tones, and then by
the amateur artist decoration can be
given in some unpretentiouS flower which
forms for this device a tasteful ornamental
tion
In linens or duck why not buy yard or
two. then divide up into doyleys and laun-
dry bags, however small in size. Any article
of small dimensions can be as prettily deco
rated as those of larger make. Notices are
ont wi nv
adornment OF running vines and tiny bios
SONS. Buttonhole bags be so made that
they have three divisions in the form of
three separate receptacleS, one yard of rib
bon forming for all drawing string.
To the clever woman who knows full well
the art of taking stitches there are beauti-
ful devices everywhere which can be copied
as models. This season there are scent
bags in the form of various vegetables used
or the domestic table, such as radishes, tur-
nips, tomatoes and the like, besides the
every day fruits as bananas, peaches, APP
pies and pears. All these designs can be
easily accomplished provided the maker is
these trifies are finished they are colored
the same tints of the vegetables, and acts
as toilet accessories in the scenting of COL
lars, handkerchiefs and the like.
For the young man of the family, hand
some brother Tom. a pretty photograph
case on which was tied a card. From your
small pictures. books, transparent states.
toys in shapes of winding wells, little
china and Japanese dolls, pencil boxes, any
variety of articles at the low sum of cents
each. In china and glass there were salt
and tribes that would please the fancy, and
yet be within the limit of the sum named.
1t was a joyful holiday, set off by a good
supper in which a Jack Horner pie formed
for the middle the principal feature.
1t is amazing how far a small sum of
money can be made to go, by the buying of
small articles which make for any person,
either young or old, a useful convenience.