New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-20
EVERGREENS AND HOLLY.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN TOWN AND
COUNTRY.
IN HONOR OF THE HOLIDAYS THE GREAT CITY
MARKETS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO
MoNnERErL FOREST PRIMEYAL.

MARKETS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO
WONDERFUL. FOREST PRlMEvAL.
IN these last few DAYS the great city markets
have taken on the aspect Of forest primeval."
able, a forest most strangely composite.
All the earth seems laid under tribute and from
North South East and West by each swift-elid-
Ing train or incoming steamer appear the verdurs
Of the tropics the wealth Of Canadian forests. the
Gark-green frs and trailing ground pines OF the
Maine woods. the svery mistetoe from the forests
Of Foniaineblcu. and its smaller American subst!-
tue from the Virginia attitudes or mesquite In
Texas the glossy laurel branches OF Pennsylvania
and Jersey. and the prckly glossy leaves and rich
res berries the cheerful holly from Merrie Eng
land" the long stretch Of Atlantic soaboard from
Maine TO Florida.
Veteran dealers who have handled Christmas
green's for years declare that interest in Christmas
is Increasing in any other holiday. Ii is
now the holiday Of the year. Not only do the
swell florists handle the various decorations that
come into the market. but every and market
man especially II he be OF English or German
extraction has his stock from which the
smallest customer IS apt 10 buy. The gamut In
decorations and the accompanying scale OF prices
IS wide one that from the millionaire in Fifth
ave 10 the poorest tailor the East Side there
NAV be this sign of Christmas cheer. Hardly any
one is so poor but that a spray Of holly may give
the festival effect TO his humble home.
nor are the quiet sleepers in Gods Acre forgot
ten A walk through any Of cemeteries near
Christmas time VIII show grave after grave with
IT'S wreath Of holly Or laurel. while an Infinite
rlety o. stars crosses. anchors and other set de-
sisns of inmortelles proves that
the love,iest and the best
Who drank the!r cups a round or two before.
And one by crept silently 10 rest.
are still remembered at the Christmastide
While the holly and the nistlotoe still by rea-
son q tradition the favorite Christmas greens,
there are novelties brought forward each year for
the lookou; FOR some new thing" Boxwood from
England Is one of the seasons debutantes and Will
he used by florists in conjunction with the holly and
rnisetoe in the making Of wreaths. SIN another
novelty Is the Florida needle pine. which Is IN
tended 20 be put in pots and set about the rooms.
The only flower that is permissible with the greens
IS the poinse;ta. or Mexican Christmas flower. and
the ribbons used in tying the greens is berry red"
which matches the holly berry.
Undoubtedly the unique Christmas decoration
Of the present year the festoons OF cab
paees which draped the Christmas ship from
stem 10 stern she started from San Francisco
laden with Christmas cheer for the soldier boys
In the Philippines. With the Cabbages. which al
q distance looked like eversreens, was huge paint
ing Of Santa Claus, which proclaimed the St Pauls
mission to al whom she might meet on the high
Holly. which Is loved by the young and the old"
IN market this year IN great plenitude II comes
by the yard for iestooning walls and chandelers
and also in stars, crosses and wreaths. Big
y
iul red berries. make the most effective garniture
tor me house ana MAJ be ss aT row mos S
use they are especially decorative used as a
When foris, decorates house. long branches
OF holly tied TO the ratings OF the stalrWays
and shapely little holly tree laden with berries is
Holly and pine are largely used for church deco
wear II will be among the Christmas Injuries 4
large and wells branch with prol1sion OF
the waxen berries. Will cost q or 49, even ~nen
bought from the sidewalk dealers. but tiny spray
tor Is cents vii answer the purpose as ~ Us ,n mo
rnder il that counts"
When and where the custom Of kissing under the
snistietoe originated is uncertain. but II stu holds
good In England indeed. the custom IS so nrinly
SSnyooet o. evergreens ornamented with oranges
snd ribbons IS suspended IN rs pafe church deco
,ations on account of its connection win me oI9
6rdce buy bro aDSSt nto NewYoTR
for Christmas. and it is always soid. Ihes on
Christmas Day.
The men laugh low, ,s.,a.oo
Ana hsSey up 9Ts9 oT S ssa
What is done under the mlstetoe'
Nearly all Of this Christmas green sold here her Is
labelled English miStletoe' sc E5rsnd nowadays
Ands II difficult supply her own ma M
ssnding 10 nsrasitic plant. and obtains its
lie from the trunk and branches 10 WHO" "
Vile the greater number Of Christmas trees
thought here are sold 10 Sunday-scho0iS ana pun s
INSTITUTIONS
lies vho cling 10 the old German custom OF the It
Wang with lights and .aden Win gl.ls NerE
modest arc some Of these trees hardy AK ,nl
orr-ant bushes and hard up indeed IS we poor
&c, ~ our German citizens when ne may hVt oe
seen the night before hristrnas u LII be tra
d.tiOns OF the Fatherland 49,, .Aa -, chr,e.roas
ri9e on any Of our elevated roaos on S,ilS ma
'-.-e S-',i,c mo week following. would LEAD one
70 believe gancing through miles 0 be fse a a.
1910, -, as n rule take our pleasures
sparingly this does not at least epp ~
a rafion Of workers-the hardest OF " oih,i - e.
.,,aF busv ueople though We OF the ra'ih anu 1e
be- when Christmas comes we
Make good cheer.
To- Cbr,s+mas comes but once year