The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-21

New York. Dee. 2O.-The New York
Herald has the following:
Old fashioned Christmas evergreens.
with their spicy odor and their festive
ar Will not be part of the holiday
attire this year. The conditions that have
taken centuries to make are being set
aside by the fancy of moment, and
the dear old holly and fir that have al
ways seemed as much a part of the
Christmas celebration as Santa Claus
himself are 70 find a substitute in costly
Nreaths and gariands of flowers.
The time has come when the ordinary
holiday decorations of simple wreaths and
bcughs no longer appeal to the man Of
wealth and these embIems of happiness
and good viii toward men are to pass in
to the realms of the forgotten unaccom-
panied by a regret for all that they have
reant to Us for generations
Though outside it may be a white
Christmas" instead of a green one. inside
il is to be whatever man dictates. and
this year no vestige of verdant trimmings
VIII appear in the house of The wealthy.
There are a few who viii find it in
their hearts 10 protest against this pass
ing of traditions dear TO them. They are
the grandmothers. TO whom it seems lit
tie short of sacrilege to celebrate the
birth Of Christ without the customary
display Of crisp green's.
In their day no house however great.
breathed real holiday air unless its
friendly windows framed fat wreaths of
holly and its windows We're hung with
fresh green earlands.
Christmastide meant to them a profu-
sion of everereens The very word holt
day brought it a fragrance OF pines and
q memory of snow covered ground. of
trees bending beneath the weight of nee.y
white snow OF great cracking logs. Of
busting of merry making. and Of guam
titles of symbolic greens st@ewn every
where.
In their Christmas days half the fun
of the festivities lay in the gathering of
the holly and mistletoe and its arrange
ment in the great hall and living rooms
was delightful and almost sacred rite.
Sometimes merry parties were formed to
drive to the nearby woods. where tail
trees We're cut and stripped of their
boughs and foliage
If the ground was covered with snow.
then merriment was At its height The
roads were alive with gay crowds, while
the air was 6lled with the crisp Jingle
of sleigh bells.
\ whole day was usually spent in gath
ering tn Christmas greens. and at dusk
the weary but happy party would return
TO the great house. and after supper there
would be merry dance.
Next day the decorating began. First
The drawing room WINDOWS were hung
with huge wreaths Of finest molly. tied
tn broad white or scarlet ribbons; man
els and doors were festooned with ropes
IF evergreen. old family portraits were
framed with green ard the carved ma
logany balusters were twined about with
green until they we're almost hidden be-
heath the mass of branches and garlands
Everywhere that green could be used
Effectively it was hung with prodigality.
or there was no extravaganza in this
style of decoration.
Loving hands wound the twigs and
ranches into slender ropes and shaped
he glossy holly into fat wreaths No
aid artist was needed to offer sugges-
ions on the newest decorative fancios
zen arranged, there came the hanging of
he misuetoe; for no Christmas party
ould be given without the customary
priss OF venerated leaves and berries
After the last bit was cleverIy con
ealed. the house was in fun gels attire
nd ready TO receive its Christmas guests.
his was ia our grandmothers time.
Ia recent years ii has been both I'M
racticalle and unnecessary To gather
mes own Christmas decorations. and all
ave been glad of the chance To secure
rreaths ana garlands at the florist shops
r on the street corner
The cheaFness of these greens made
hem within the reach of all and tene-
lent house as well as mansion boosted its
ircle OF Christmas green As quantity
nd ineXpensIveness increased the popu-
,rity If the ready made decorations.
aeir charms lessened in the eyes OF the
.sGdious wealthy. and now stage has
aeI reached where something more
ea-uful ana costly must Dc substituted
'r the ordinary Chris, mas greens
Even q tn. price OF tradition these ex-
atagant tss sizes must b. in5ulgeJ aud
stead 90 The good. old fashioned Christ
las tree of ar glittering with bright
.naments and ropes Of giided popcorn. 3
ie fancy of this season has set forth a c
eat tree made entirely Of exquisite roses. a
rare orchards.
Already this novelty has appeared as a Fl
acorative feature Of dinners and sup e
ITS. Il it beautiful e behold. is the EN-
'diment Of az that Is luxurious in forai Z
K and retains 3ust enough II a sug- r
.stion Of Christmas about il 70 make it G.
owe verl attractive. 2
The Christmas tree Of roses stands IN J.
e center of dinner table Beneath its r
west hough Is space which permits a
e guests II set view Of their vis-a-vis q
b. base Is prettsly banked with flowers 81
% foliage. and from here 70 the tip % "a
@ highest branch IL measures ST least al
g feet Thousands II buds are required =.
fashion such q ulagnsficenr foral piece. oil
"a each flower must De 50 cieverly plac- u
thar il seems 10 be growing there
IN shape the rose Christmas iree -e- %
.~b'es Is namesai7e- TIE branches "a
aa1 widely AZ the bsse growing short q
until 81 he SOP they a-s try close q
IS The longest branches stretch their
wer laden tips far cat oser the table , et
9 the pink Bridesmaid roses OF superb v
nerican Beauties waft their delicate g