The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-20
HOW TO TRIM THE TREE.
1t Isn't Very Much Trouble and the
Little Folks VIII he Delighted.

1t Isn't Very Much Trouble and the
Little Folks VIII he Delighted.
If there is a child in the house
Christmas tree is a necessity. There
isn't youngster in the land who will
take as much pleasure in an overflow
ing stocking as he will in the discovery
of a real live tree with a gray-headed,
snow-specked Santa Claus peeping
from the branches, says the Chicago
Times Herald.
1t is not the size of the tree so much
as the decoration. But this is pleas
ure as much as a task, and many Of
the old folk have as great fun in trim
ming the tree and preparing to sur
prise the children as the young ones
! themselves do in the completed tree
| and the gifts they find thereon.
AS for the tree itself, there are five
different kinds, all beautiful in them
selves pine, hemlock, spruce, &C.
dar and balsam fir. The prettiest of
all and consequently the most expen-
siVe is the cedar, covered with small,
gray berries. The smallest of these
trees cost rs cents and the largest as
high as a. Ordinary trees of good
shape and bright green color range
according to size from 80 cents to 81.
1t is most convenient to have the
tree placed at once in a holder, but
the price of this may be saved by
mounting the tree in a deep box well
packed with earth. The tree must be
well braced, and the box must be as
nearly square as possible. The box
should be painted with green enam l..
The decoration of a tree, unlike the
building of a house, begins at the top.
Custom has made it almost imperative
that a figure of Santa Claus occupy
this, the most conspicuous position.
The figures sold in shops for this pur-
pose are made of either cardboard or
plaster, and cost from Is cents to as
cents. Except for very large trees the
35-cent size will answer admirably.
The figure may be held in place with
wire or strong black thread.
Stock should now be taken of all the
articles which are to be used for dec
orations. Tinsel plays an important
part in this, for 1t gives a brightness
and glitter obtainable from nothing
| else. Strings of popcorn are also use
full. Both white and red popcorn may
be procured already strung. or it may
be bought in bulk very cheaply. With
needle and strong thread it is easily
strung. Each string should be from
| three to four feet long. Cranberries
scattered at frequent intervals along
! the strings add color to them.
Strings of silver and gilt balls, and
]
effective decorations. Shreds of raw
cotton may also be sprinkled over the
| tree. This does very nicely to repre-
sent snow. English Walnuts. either
natural or gilded, may be tied with
ribbon and added to the other mate
rails. You cannot have too much.
Quantity rather than quality makes
tree beautiful A dozen or more dolls.
made of bright colored tissue paper,
ch ha n1 Cd
girls in the house. Candy canes and
sugar animals of every conceivable
kind are always appreciated by the
youngsters.
F.! Little pasteboard boxes may be had
at any drug store. and when touched
up with ribbon make very pretty orna-
ments. Last of all. the candles. if ii is
intended that the tree be lighted See
that these are very securely fixed in
their sockets, so that there can be no
possibility of their falling.
All these articles should be spread
out around the tree before the work
of decoration begins, so that a glance
will show just what material there is
to work with. Then commence at the
top and festoon the popcorn and
! strings of glass balls in graceful loops,
selecting the most prominent branches
/ for faStenings, and covering up as
/
cotton balls, walnuts. candy boxes and
! figures come next. Tie the lighter ar
| ticles at the tips of the branches and
the heavier farther in.
The tinsel may represent icicles. and
the more thic1ly it is hung on branches
and twigs the better. Last of all add
the candles Fasten the holders at the
forks Of branches. This prevents them
Slipping.
Small presents may be placed on the
tree and larger ones around its base.
The tree must of course be set. be-
fore decorating, in the room in which
it &c to remain rnless it is a wy
small tree, in which case it may be
decorated in a room to which the chill
| dren seldom go. On Christmas morn
ing it may be carried to the nursery
while the little ones are enjoying their
breakfast or exhibiting their toys in
some other part of the house In this
way the sudden appearance of the tree
VIII seem all the more wonderful
DON'T GO TO CHINA.