The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-21
WOMAN'S WORLD.
&M 81 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. :
HNMa

the old oo,,utrv was ssmerrie'' indeed, and
nothing else. from one end to the other, at
Christmas tide-including the whole
twelve days and often taking in some
1 succeeding and preceding days. Carols
we're trolled in every STREET masqueraaes
and plays abou,fded in all directions,
houses were dressed with holly, ivy ana
! mistletoe; the churches resembled sylvan
bowers: poles decked with evergreens
were carried about the streets with every
demonstration of hilarity. On every
, hearth the yule log was laid, as the foun-
dation in the household fireplace WITH
great and made to blaze mer-
/ rily with heaps Of wood and brush piled
upon it to give light and cheer TO the
whole house. AT the great table, where
plenty ~aboundedt the boars head was
ushered into the banquet upon a huge sli-
yer platter with a flourish of music. This
was ollowed by the wassail bowl filled
with spiced and sweetened wine or ale,
and Missing with roasted apples and
toast. and to which crabs were often ADD
ed. When the cloth was removed and TINS
dish was borne in by the butler aeciama-
lions and other demonstrations OF Joy
arose. and coed cheer a~bounded.
The period covered by Christmas taoe
was sometimes called December Lsoer-
ties" as denoting a season Of ~unbourded
license and jollity. Among the numerous
p-ersonages who presided over the carnl-
walls of the time were Old Father Christ
mas. the Abbot of Unreason, the Prince OF
Christmas. the Lord Of Misrule and the
Master of Revels. 1t was the duty of these
persons to take the lead in all the sports,
professions and masquerades, and occupy
the chief seats at the feasts. In a house
hold book of an English family is found
this direction: my lords useth and aceus-
to,neth verify to gyf him which is ordered
TO be Master of Revels. yerly in my lords
house in Cristmas for the overseylngs ana
ordering of his lordships Playes, Inter
ludes and Dressings that is plaid before ms
lordships in his house on the sixth dayes
Of christen1nass and they have mo reward
for that cause yerly. ks"
There is a veritable passion for pewter
in Paris just now; pewter made into an
the -knick-knackery that we have for the
past few years been seeing in silver. Ii
is even beginning to be much in evidence
in this country, and triies made OF II
will undoubtedly be among the novel ana
acceptable gifts at Christmas. There IS
about pewter a softness and pllabllty
which makes it a fascinating material
with which 70 model, and therefore, be-
side its use FOR small pieces, artists IN
paris are working out some of their best
designs in it. In fact reduced figures
from life and after the antique are BENG
exhibited along with these of bronze
and plaster. The one in pewter that
received honorable mention at the last
salon was called THE Creole a charm
ingly sympathetic bit and one that would
grace any drawing room.
Smaller pieces, happily within reach OF
many are bonbonieres, trays, and ash re-
ceivers. mugs, plates and SINAI fgures.
All of these are presented in innumerable
shapes and designs. The greater number
of them are modelled after antique de-
signs-the heur-de-lis Of the Bourbon
house being one of the most popular. The
dainty wreathes and hanging baskets OF
flowers and the double LIS of Louis Ky,
are also much seen.
Collectors of mugs are being made
happy by this revival of the use Of pew
fer. ana little short of a madness is
about regarding the number and rarity
of those seen at informal evening parties
or at other times decorating the side walls
of dining rooms. The plates also are
mostly seen as wall decorations and pro-
duee a stunning effect when well hung
against a brilliant background.
1t is not difficult to keep these pewter
clean. A good rubbing with
chamois every fortnight is all that Is
necessary. It is. not desirable for them
to have the shining luster of silver; the
tones Of pewter should be soft and gray.
For a novel holiday gift hardly any
thing newer or of more interest can be
recommended than a pewter bonboniere.
As is true of all small boxes, their use
fitness is very great. There is always
room for one more. On the writing desk
or bureau they hold innumerable varie-
ties of trihes, and where it is now Gus
tomary 10 place them instead of as for
merly in the pocket filled with sweets.
The absence of the hat in the theatre
is very refreshing. Every woman, how
ever, wears something on her head now,
Of course. a bow, an aigrette or a span
gled butterfly, and she stops in the lobby
at a mirror to arrange this and her
couture. so tina the lords of creation
are not troubled with such queries as
How does my hair look?' rs my pom
paduur as fat as a FOUNDER which once
infinitely distressed those gentlemen
whose ideas as to the proper altitude for
a puff of hair were most hazy. Would
you believe it, however, some disseminated
one are already entering protests against
the couture ornaments? One remarked
only the other night that he had a strained
view of a certain performance. taking 1t
through ~spangled net. But he and his
fellows would find something to displease
them in Utopia. and no attention whatever
should be paid to their plant.
It's a festive-looking house that greets
the eye just now, for extremely light
shades are worn this winter, and the
prettily tinted frocks. together with the
tastefuIly-arranged and decorated Golf
fures Of the women. make a gay scene.
Even the occupants in the Boxes re-
move their chapeaux, though heir head
wear could not interfere with anyone,
just to be in the prevailing style. And
so the serenity of the playhouse will re-
main undisturbed this winter dnless some
unusually brave man should ask his neigh
Dor in front to lower her colors-that is.
her cherished butterhy-when war. a just
war, will indubitably supervene.
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touch Of ermine is cunningly COM