Evening journal., 1898-01-01
WAYFARER' S NOTE BOOK
Things, Pleasant and Unpleas-
ant, Caught on the Way.
sK1Ts ON PERSONS AND THINGS


CESTION, BUT THERE is MOTH
ING PUT IN THEM TO LULL YOU
TO SLEEP.
CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS |
TREES.
Year by year the Christmas trees in
private homes have been growing more
beautiful as the articles for their deco
rations have become cheaper and
cheaper. What is now regarded as a
reasonably pretty Christmas tree would
be looked upon by old people who lived
fifty OF sixty years ago as gross ex-
fravagance on the part OF the younger
generation, but the balls and fairies
and tinsel have become so cheap in the
stores that a few dollars will go a long
way in the matter OF purchasing deco
ratlons which are both SNOWY and ef-
fective, particularly under the gaslight.
In the homes OF the wealthy the chil-
dren are treated to something out OF
the ordinary in this respect at Christ
mas time, for what Is the use Of being
wealthy If ii does not afford better
things than the poorer people enjOy2
There was time, and not long ago,
when the TOYS and ornaments now af-
fected by people in moderate, and even
poor circumstances, were used almost
exclusively by the well-tO-dO because
they sold at higher figures. Now that
they are down in price something bet
ter and handsOmer has TO be made TO
meet the requirements of the fat purse,
and the itching hands of the artisans
know Just how to do It. One evening
recently the Wayfarer called on a
friend who had two trees, side by side,
ait one end of the parlor and in front
OF and under them the lawn and house
so customary nowadays. There were
but few small ornaments on the trees.
The pieces used varied in price from 75
cents to $4.25. hut they were wonderful
ly fetching. These. with a prOfusion Of
vari-colored balls made up the sum to-
tai of what was on the trees but the
effect was charming. No doubt In time
these handsome decorations Will fall
in price to a point within the reach of
the man with moderate purse, and then
something much more elaborate will be
on the market to draw the shekels from
the rich people.
But the magnihcence OF Christmas
display is not by amy means restricted
to the homes of the rich The Way
farer knows men who make up in me-
NndNItdi nhiiA anu iAktuuiA1 Miul NuAl
lack in ready cash, and their brains
and parental love coin much prettieI
articles and effects than the gold of the
rich can buy. They spend many hours
of their spare time in fashioning things
which will please their children and
astonish their neighbors The moIV
they can make, and the fewer they buy
renders them all the happier. The city
Is so full of men who devote much tim,
and ingenuity 10 making their childrer
happy at Yule-tide, that it would be al
most impossible to refer to all of them
but there are two or three deserving o
particular attention. Probably TIN
most elaborate display Is made by VIII
Ham Jack, at his home. No. oil Kirk
wood street. The entire parlor, and 4
is fair-sized one. is devoted to 1t. !
remarkable feature Is that there Is M
large tree, the work being that OF land
scape gardening with various mechan
ical effects such as the toboggan slide
the elevator and the bicycle track
with machines and small human fig
ures performing their. various func
tions thereon. Four white men are de
picted in the act OF whipping a colore
man, and on another part of tn
grounds Bob Fitzsimmons is pOundin
the life out OF Jim Corbett in honor c
the occasion. "A small railroad is 4
perfect operation, and over the track
a small locomotive draws diminutiv
cars loaded with still more diminutiv
persons. In the pastures horses and cat
tie Craze and there are many other fea
lures worthy of notice
At the Semerteen home. ON Spqlo
street near Eleventh, there is anOthe
beautiful mechanical display, and COZ
pied with it is large tree magnificent
" trimmed. Among the mechanics
features are the Ferris wheel variou
wind-mills in motion and ponds wit
live FISH disporting themselves thereil
William II. Burton Of No. 720 Benne
street, is also being congratulated upo
the ingenuity he has manifested in a,
ranging his Christmas display which
almost as brilliant as that of the tw
other persons referred to.
Another thing the Wayfarer has n,
ticed this year is the large number ,
childless young couples who hal
Christmas trees. Some of them ha'
young nephews and neices, while othe
put up the trees for luck, or in an ei
- deavor to bluff the public into belle
ing that they have a baby in the hous
IN NEED OF ATTENTION.
Il wish you would call the atenti,
OF the trustees Of the old Catholic Gem
terry, at Twelfth and Jefferson sire
10 the condition of the fence surroun
ing it," said resident of the city
the Wayfarer this morning. 1t is IA
ing down and makes both the sire
and the cemetery unsightly. l no
that the time is not far distant when
win be fixed. The trustees are 20
business men. and I believe that,
they but knew OF the condition of t
fence. they would send men up the
and have IL repaired at once, before
gets any worse"
WHAT MADE HER DO IT?
In presenting books due regard shou
be paid to the age and tastes of the I
cipient The Wayfarer hears OF
teacher in West Presbyterian Chur
Sabbath school who presented to ca
of her scholars a book They are DO