The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-14
1deas for luo1nen

.ChriStMaS comes but once a year, Dut
when it comes it brings good cheer This
is a trite and true old saying. But this
year some of the girls have begun to re-
alize that perhaps they have been expend-
ing too much of their energy on making
Cllristmas-tide a happy season for children
and themselves only. OF course they have
thought of the poor and have given or
sent a certain amount to make the season
happier to some ofStheir less fortunate
brothers and sisters. But now some of
the girls have decided to give what they
call "an old peoples Christmas party
this winter. They have heard so many
remarks made for the last few years
about there being mo longer any place
for old people in this country" and "Oh
dear, I'm too old now; no one cares for
mer.' young people don't care for old
folks; they are too prosy and stupid and
behind the tirnes!'' The girls have suf-
fered from such remarks for a long time
past, and have never been able to decide
exactly what to do TO comfort the old
people. An 'sold peoples Christmas
party is what they say among them
selves they are going TO give. They have
not called ii that before them, though. If
they had, not one of them would have ae-
cepted, says .'Harper's Bazaar"
The scheme is this: A handful of girls
who have had the above experience in
their families with grdndmothers and
grandfathers, aunts and uncles, and
sometimes even mothers and fathers, have
sent out invitations to them all TO dine at
four p. NJ. at one of the girls houses.
They are going to give them all the nice
old fashioned dishes they can think OF; no
French entrees, which might give them
Indigestion, but the acknowledgements tur-
key. roast beef. saddle of mutton, game,
plum pudding and lnince pie. All the "old
people, who are asked know each other
well. of course, as they are the relatives
OF the six girls who will give the dinner.
so they are sure to have a jolly time. The
table is to be set and decorated in the
most approved Christmas style, with the
oldest couple at the head and foot, and
the others seated according to respect for
age. Holly and mistletoe will be used pro-
fusely in the floral decoration, and there
is to be & small tree in the centre of the
table, with a gift for each one on it.
The evening will be spent in playing
games. like dumb crambo. magical music,
etc. Then the girls have arranged some
awfulIy funny charades. some of them
IdklLS Inc part Oh men, anu lilty Will aNk
scenes of how they suppose the old peo-
pie behaved when they were young. They
will make some Of the scenes exceeding
" comic, and will try to represent some
counting between their respective grand
parents. which will be sure to make them
laugh. The costumes will also be very
funny ard exaggerated, and the girls will
even dare to bring out some of the little
peculiarities of the old people. For in
stance, one of the grandmothers has al
ways been known to be very simple in her
taste for dress, and of most retiring, mod
est disposition. They will represent her
as a very dashing young woman, showily
goyned and in the height of the fashion
OF fifty years ago. And so on with each
one of them. One of the girls-the one
at whose house the dinner is to be given
has prepared a pretty little speech, which
she viii get off beforehand, begging lem
iency for all personalities. and saying that
the charades were written in a spirit of
fun, which she hopes will not be misun-
derstood.
If a Christmas dinner party Is to be
given it is well to begin preparations in
time. so that everything may be in read
mess before the day comes around; for,
with all the excitement incidental to the
festival. there is apt to be great con-
fusion, and every one is SO tired with
the necessary preliminaries that the real
pleasure of meeting with welcome guests
is lost sight of.
All this can be avoided by making such
arrangements beforehand, so thai there
will be very little extra work TO do at
the last minute.
One is apt to be annoyed when setting
the table by finding here and there a
dusty plate or dish that has escaped the
eye of the maid and has gathered a thick
coating of dust which nothing less than
a thorough washing will remove. All
this may be obviated if you will make
cut at once a menu for Christmas Day, |
and then plan what dishes viii be need
ed. Wash every dish, including platters.
glasses, after-dinner coffee cups, and be
sure to make a liberal allowance for
extras. When this has been done, bring
out all the extra silverware, and knives
and forks that are. kept for extra oc-
casicns. and see that they are properly |
cleaned, and returned to the box with
a small piece of camphor to prevent them
furnishing.
Next look at the best tableeloth and
napkins that perhaps have not been used
since the last family gathering, and have
lost their pristine freshness. If they are
not immaculate. you still nave time to
have them Numbered, and thus save
yourself annoyance at the last minute.
In regard to the dinner much may be
done by way of preparation, one or even
two days beforehand. For instance, the
stock may be made and the soup need
only be. heated on Christmas Day, the
naince bes, plum buildings and fruit
cake made, and safely kept over, the
cranberry and apple sauce made. and
the urkey stuffed the day before, vege-
tables, such as spinach, celery and salad
carefully washed, and waiting only for a
final dip into cold water to freshen them,
the ham and tongue for the cold supper
boiled.
Thus by a little careful planning the
long-looked for day may be really en-
joyed, and the well loved guests may
have the pleasure of seeing their hos
tess bright and free from care, instead of
as is often the case, tired out and preoc-
cupled. wondering whether everything is
in good order and well prepared.
Let the cold supper be as informal as
possible and consist of a little cold meat,