Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
CHRIS MAS G|vING
Quaint Conceits to Accom-
pany Dainty Gifts.
IT'S ALL IN THEMANN
TRIPLES WITH SENTIMENT BET
TER vALUABLES WITHOUT IT.
A Dozen Devices to Make the Holiday
Happier and Especially at
Parties.
IT'S ALL IN THEM
Written for The Evening Star.

written Tor The Evening Star.
1t Is really wonderful how the true
Christmas spirit-or the absence thereof
| Is denoted in the doing up of gift. When
the sending Of a remembrance 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 Irvine. On the other hand, a
spray Of holly atop the gift will carry
| more cheer and personal greeting than an
| expensive card with Merry Christmas
| done in beautiful type
The possibilities of tissue paper, gay rib
bons and holly often have been dwelt on,
but there are those who would color their
| gifts with a more striking individuality.
One woman with deft fingers lays in each
| year 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 a certain
| delicate, elusive perfume which she affects,
watts faint Whit of the same odor with
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 feelings by
burying the present in mistletoe
A quaint way of prolonging Christmas
pleasure for invalid is to do I'D a num-
Der Of small gifts in yarn, rolling it tight.
The 'shut-in' is then informed that she
can secure her presents only by crocheting
or knitting Off the yarn, and thus fingers
are kept busy and the heart made light as
one trffie after another is disclosed
more serious task confronts the heads
OF large families or the host and hostess Of
Christmas house party, and that is plan
| ming some novel method OF distributing
gifts. Even in a very congenial party
something Of the sort Is essential. Here
are few plans that have been weighed and
| not found wanting:
If the gifts are to be distributed at the
dinner Christmas night have all the small
parcels heaped into large receptacle like
| huge roasting pan Over this is laid
cover of thick pastry in which little short
previously baked to golden brown The
dish, garnished with holly is placed before
the host, who serves the gifts. Or, II the
hosts are presenting guests with Christmas
the form Of 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 drawing room, where the
guests are showered with snowbalIs which
prove to be balls Of cotton hiding Christmas
favors and small remembrances.
II It is gathering OF young people, try
the Christmas grab bag, made of turkey
red calico and holding pretty trifies, like
French paper notices, vegetable, fruit and
animal forms of papier mache and filled
with candies and German favors of various
sorts. Each prize should be wrapped in It's
sue paper and tied with ribbons, as the un-
wrapping occasions much merriment and
arouses curiosity.
For family gatherings on Christmas eve
there is no merrier custom than that fol-
lowed by the Pennsylvania Dutch-that Of
receiving visit from old Santa Claus or,
as he Is called, "Belsnickel." His approach
is hpra1Gpd nv the sound of sleigh bells
Nearer and nearer they come, until the old
saint makes his entrance through con-
venient 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 cap, and his outer garments will be
flaming red. He carries a pack filled with
triheS for indiScriminate distribution and
plenty of goodies.
His most important function is to show
his fondness for the little folks by using
his switch on their elders and reserving all
his favors for children In families where
this practice has prevailed for generations,
the exchange of gifts is delayed until
morning, but "Belsnicker' distributes all
the toothsome goodies.
If something elaborate is desired, try
Santa Claus and his post Office
Taking for granted that 1t is large fam
lily gathering or a congenial house party,
the exchange of gifts will be general. All
are requested to deposit presents. plainly
marked, in a huge sack or hamper. On
Christmas eve or directly after breakfast
Christmas morning, according to the fam
lily custom, Postmaster Santa Claus is es-
established behind a representation of a
village post Office. He opens the mail sack
and calls off the names on the packages.
The success OF this arrangement will de-
pend upon the quick wit of him who imper-
sonates the children's favorite saint, for In
handling out the gifts he can hurl shafts
of humor at the recipient and the probable
sender that will keep the gathering in
roar of laughter
A "take-off on the distribution of mail
in small town and the familiar relations
between postmaster and callers will also
create amusement.
And in planning the pleasant home gath
ering 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 be-
fore the festive day. Instead of formu1at-
Ing empty phrases expressing their regret, |
the women of the party scurried around, |
and when the traveller awoke Christmas
morning in a distant city it was to receive |
at the hands of a bellboy an oblong pack |
age containing stocking rudely fashioned |
of flaming red cloth and bullying with small |
parcels. Each Of these was wrapped in It's |
tue paper and tied with the most tantaliz- |
ing knots of crimson ribbon, and from the |
top Of the stocking protruded wee bundle |
of twigs entwined with comic verses anent |
the fate Of naughty boys. Not an article in |
the stocking cost more than twenty-five |
cents, for there were such things as q d. |
minutive pewter stein, Lilliputian pipe tied |
with gay ribbons, a peanut owl, some wee |
Japanese fans. and the tiniest little iron |
bank. (The bachelor was notorious
spendthrift)
He spent the biggest part of the morning |
figuring which one of the girls had sent |
this trfle or that, how he should dispose OF |
them In his handsome bachelor quarters |
and finally In inditing a heartfelt note of |
thanks to the friends who had broken in |
thus rnerrily on his cherries Christmas
morn In a faraway hotel.
Use Of Candles in New Orleans.