Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-11-17

just ABOUT now: lDlB is t06 time 10
solve it. A firm grip on the forelook of
time will carry you through the holt
days with fewer aches of head and heart
than the season usually brings to those
who put off the work of giftmaking
until the last possible moment
One thing the wide awake American
women have already recognized is that
in this jubilee year the most appropriate
Christmas gifts will be those which
smack of the patriotic spirit. Santa
Claus will astonish us with the preva-
lence of red, white and blue things with
which his sack is to be filled. 1t is not
altogether improbable that the little old
gentleman may not catch something OF
the martial spirit as we'll and appear
dressed in blue army overcoat instead
of his conventional fur trimmed robe.
The ingenuity with which the stars
and stripes can be worked into unex-
pected little household knicknacks is
surprising. I noted bright young
woman friend of mine the other day
who was at work on a patriotic sofa
pillow. Somewhere she had bought
piece of silkoline on which was stamped
in oolors a picture representing Colum
bia bidding Cuba, impersonated by
plump brunette, arise from bondage.
Cutting off a triangular section from
either corner, she had fitted as substi-
tutes similar sized pieces of small silk
American and Cuban flags. Around the
edge she had bound heavy silk cord of
red, white and blue, and she was just
adding founoe cut from the stripes of
silk American flags.
Another young woman is at work on
a patriotic calendar The cover she has
made by stretching neatly small silk
flag over cardboard. On this appears in
embossed gilt letters the figures 1899.
By the aid of half tone pictures out
from the weekly papers she has illus
with something relative TO the impor-
tant events which occurred during "the
war year. 2 February, for instance, has
a picture of the battleship Maine, and
the square inelosing the number 10 is
filled i'll with black. the figures stand
ing out in white. A photograph of Ad
miral Dewey embellishes the May page
while Hobsen's s face marks the month
of June. The scheme is being carried
out with much enthusiasm, and when
last saw the calendar the October page
was being illustrated with picture of
the peace commission in session. Other
Christmas gifts in course of prepara
To l1ioi1 ft,o III
miniatures of the national flag may be
put One was shaving case with
flag cover. Under the cover was the
shaving paper Another was brown
linen needle book, with tiny flags work
ed into one corner. An American shield
formed the front of a whisk broom hold
er. A pincushion was in the shape Of q
knapsack, and another was made to rep
resent a canteen,
But of course it would not to do to
have everything covered with flags. A
discreet use of the national colors will,
however, give variety to the store of
Christmas gifts which you are prepar-
ing. And how much nicer it is to make
with your own hands the little remem-
brances which yon send to friends and
relatives
The pleasure of Christmas present
does not always depend upon its COM
mercial value. Few persons, old or
young, man or woman, like to let this
precious festival pass without having
bestowed some gift, however small it is,
upon the loved ones. Happily the sentl
,,,n,,t i. 90 tplidnr and