The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
QUAINT CONCEPTS
FOB GIVING DAINTY GIFTS THE THE MANNER or GIVING
 IS EVERYTHING.
Trifles Given in Original Fashion are Better Than Fine Gifts Sent in Perfunctory Way-Santa
 Claus's Postofilce.

IS prompted by duty only or the thought that it is the usual, the expected thing, this motive leaves its impress on mere wrapping paper and insensate twine. On the other hand, a spray of holly atop the gift will carry more cheer and personal erecting than an expensive card with 'Merry Christmas" done in beautiful Vpe.
 The possibilities of tissue paper, gay ribbons and holly often have been dwelt on, but there are those who would color their gifts with a more striking indi- viduality.
 One woman with delft fingers lays in each year a stock of holly. and forms wreaths, in the center of which she ties her gifts with red ribbon. Still another, whose friends cannot fail to recognize certain delicate, exclusive perfume which she effects. waits a faint whif of the same odor with each Christmas pack age. And certain young man who was reaching the proposal stage rapidly, and yet did not feel free to send his lady love any other than the most conventional and impersonal gift. managed to show the real state of his felings by burying the present in mistletoe.
 A quaint way of prolonging Christmas pleasure for an invalid is to do up a number of small gifts in yarn, rolling 1t tight. The ''shut-in" Is then informed
  crocheting or knitting off the yarn, and thus fingers are kept busy and the heart made light as one trifie after another is disclosed.
 A more serious task confronts the heads of large families or the host and hostess of Christmas house party, and that is planning some novel method or distributing gifts. Even in very con" genial party, something of the sort is
 
 have been weighed and not foupd want ing.
 If the gifts are to be distributed at the dinner Christmas night, have all the small parcels heaped into large re- ceptacle like a huge roasting pan. Over this is laid a cover of thick pastry In which little shortening has been used, and which has been previously baked to golden brown. The dish, garnished with holly. is placed before the host. who serves the gifts. Or, if the hosts are presenting guests with Christmas favors. let the center piece be of holly in the form of a mound. Under this the favors are massed, each attached to green and red ribbons. running to the plates. With the last course, each guest Is permitted to pull the strings and learn what santa Claus has hidden for him.
 Another pretty idea is worked out in the reception hall or drawlng-room, where the guests are showered with snow- balls which prove to be balls of cotton hiding Christmas favors and small re- men.brances.
 If 1t is a gathering of young people, try the Christmas grab bag. made of Turkey red calico and holding pretty trifes like French paper notices Vege- table, fruit and animal forms of papier mache and filled with candies. and Ger man favors of various sorts. Each prize should be wrapped in tissue paper and tied with ribbons, as the unwrappins occasions n uch merriment and arouses curiosity.
 For family gatherings on Christmas eve there Is no merrier custom than that followed by the Pennsylvania Dutch that of receiving a visit from old Santa Claus. or, as he is called, "Belsnickel." " His approach is heralded by the sound of sleigh-bells. Nearer and nearer they come. until the old saint makes his en- trance through convenient window. TO come through the door would spoil the illusion. If he is the real Dutch saint. he will wear no furs. save his shaggy ran. and his outer garments will be fam ing red He carries pack filled with trifes for indiscriminate distribution and plenty of goodies.
 His most important function is to show his fOndneSS TOT the nltle AOlhS ny USthS lis switch on their elders and reserving all his favors for children. In families where this practice has prevailed for gen. erations the exchange of gifts is delayed until morning, but "BelsnickeP' distr1o- utes all the toothsome goodies.
 If something elaborate is desired. try santa Claus and His Postoffice."
 Taking for granted that 1t is large family gathering or & congenial house
 fha nf general. All are requested to deposit presents, plainly marked, in huge sack or hamper On Christmas eve. or directly after breakfast Christmas morning ac- cording to the family custom, Postmas- ter Santa Claus is established behind a representation of a village postoh1ce He opens the mail sack and calls off the names on the packages. The success of this arrangement will depend upon the quick wit of him who impersonates the children's favorite saint, for in handing out the,glfts he can hurl shafts of humor at the recipient and the probable sender that will keep the gathering in roar of laughter.
 "take-off'' on the distribution of mail fin a small town and the familiar relations between postmaster and callers will also create amusement.
 And in planning the pleasant home gathering do not forget the absent friend. who doubtless is thinking of the jolly good time he is missing.
 Last year a popular bachelor, whose hair is whitening, was whisked away from the usual gathering of kindred spirits just before the festive day. Instead of formulating empty phrases expressing their regret, the women of the party seurried around and when the traveller awoke Christmas morning in a distant city it was to receive at the hands of a bell boy an oblong package containing a stocking rudely fashioned of flaming red cloth and bulging with small par cels. Each of these was wrapped in tis- sue paper and tied with the most tanta- lizing knots of crimson ribbon, and from the top of the stocking protruded a wee bundle of twigs entwined with comic verses anent the fate of naughty boys. Not an article in the stocking cost more than 25 cents for there were such things as a diminutive pewter stein, Liliputian pipe tied with gay ribbons, a peanut owl, some wee Japanese fans, and the tiniest little iron bank. CThe bachelor was a mo- torious spendthrift)
 He spent the biggest part of the morn ing figuring which of the girls had sent thIs trifle or that how he should dispose Inf them in his handsome bachelor quar- ters. and finally in indiing a heartfelt note of thanks to the friends who had broken in thus merrily on his cheerless Christmas morn in a faraway hotel.