Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-10
GREEN TRIMMINGS
FOR CHRISTMAS.
How to Decorate the House With
Holly and Berries and How
to Irvine the Evergreen.
By Avis Ellen Alden.

The pretty old custom of decorating
our homes with evergreens and berries
at this festive season should not be
allowed to die out. Even when the
greenry has to be bought the outlay
need not be great and the trouble be-
slowed on the decorations is certainly
well repaid. The mistletoe-bough is
the first thing to be considered. The
old name was kissing bush," and we
know that it retains it's property of
rendering anyone liable to be kissed
| who fingers beneath it's shadow, even
to this day.
Buy as big branch as you can af-
ford. Don't cut it up, but hang it
just as it is in the middle of the hall.
If there is central lamp and the cell
ing is sufficiently lofty the mistletoe
can depend from the lamp; if this is
impracticable, there will perhaps be a
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which nail may be knocked.
Wreathing next. In country places,
where the evergreens can be had for
nothing, we can be lavish with it, and
good thick garlands can be made and
festooned about the hall and landings,
smaller ones being used for the din
ing room.
A word as to the sort of green. Holly
is first favorite, and consequently more
expensive in the shops than other ever
greens, especially the berried holly.
Supplement it with yew and bay.
Laurel for big wreaths, not ivy, as the
smell is too strong to be pleasant in
warm rooms.
Artificial holly-berries can be OBJ
tanned for small sum per gross, ready
mounted on wire, so plenty of these
should be woven in with the leaves,
and look just as well as the real thing.
Paper roses, also, are not to be de-
spised; they look very nice in wreaths
which are to be hung high up, or which
decorate large rooms, such as school
room or kitchen. These flowers are very
easily made by cutting out four discs
of white or pale pink paper, and seal
Looping them to represent the rose
petals; then threading all four on a
wire, and pinching them up into the
shape of the flower; no centre need be
added, as these roses are only to be
seen from a distance.
Pretty devices and notices can be
made by covering cardboard or thin
wooden boards with red paper, and
sticking letters upon it cut out in white
wadding = Welcome" "a Merry
Christmas" etc.
A family / know produced a very
good effect in this way on their stairs,
which faced the hall door; the side of
each step being faced with red, and
the words "a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year to All Our Friends
in white letters, word or two on each
step all down the flight. The appear
ance of this welcome from the en-
trance was most CHEEKY.
If any difficulty is experienced in
cutting out the letters, sample al
| phabet ready for use, from which
tracings can be taken, may be pro-
cured from any good fancy store
Frosting is another thing much
liked by some people, and the effect
can be obtained in various ways; eth
er by sprinkling some of the packets
of ''frost-powder' over leaves pre-
viously painted with thin gum, or by
using pounded alum for the purpose.
Frayed-out wadding gives good idea
of snow. and looks pretty when gum
med here and there upon a wreath of
laurel.
The drawing room does not lend it.
self to decorations of very solid de-
scription, but, if liked, mirrors and
pictures can be surrounded, without
damage to their frames, by strips of
broad black braid or tape, upon which
single holly and other leaves with
small punches of berries are sewed.
| If you have been provident enough
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