The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-13
BY LOUISE Il. DEW.

First the eye and then the palate"
says the wise housekeeper as she pro-
ceeds to decorate the Dining room
that trysting place during holiday
week. For this she draws upon her
attic and storeroom, where in the
autumn she laid in a supply of bitter
sweet and mountain ash berries, and
mayhap bright scarlet spikes of the
berries of the alder. all of which will
help to brighten the sombre effect of
the greenery.
If enough holly is not available to
carry out the desired effect, running
pine, with mountain ash berries, may
be substituted to good advantage. In
this case the holly can be saved for
the table itself.
running pine all around the dining
room, just below the plate rack,
fastening punches of holly or noun
tain ash berries where the pine is
caught up. When doorways and win
dOws are reached the festooning
should not be discontinued. but may
be made to give the effect to drapery,
according to the taste of the deco
rator.
For folding doors, arches and even
single doors. beautiful portieres may
be made out of the running pine, long
strands of which should be fastened
to run lengthwise. After as many
strands are secured as desired, an ex-
ira one may be "latticed" between
each one. using punches of holly ber-
ries to secure the knots and to finish
the evergreen tassels. In the middle
of the doorway bell of red immor-
telles with the word Greetings in
white immortelles may be suspended
with scarlet ribbons.
Such a bell can be easily made. and
thus considerable expense saved, by
securing the frame and materials of
florist. Another pretty idea for bell
is to first cover the frame with green
leaves, holly, ivy or laurel, using the
holly berries for lettering. A tooth
pick spear will secure the berries in
place.
Artificial holly. ivy, laurel and other
greenery may be purchased if desired,
and can be preserved for use another
year. 1t is difficult for even a con-
poisseur to tell the difference between
the imitation and the real.
A pretty Yuletide custom which is
observed in the South favors of The
hospitality for which that section is
noted.
All during Christmas week a small
artificial evergreen tree graces the ia
BILE of the family who wishes to share
it's good cheer with it's friends or those
less fortunate than itself. The tree
is artistically trimmed with tinsel and
ornaments, and the small gifts conceal
ed in the green branches are tied in
attractive tissue paper packages, or
imbedded in some floral tribute. The
friends who breakfast or dine or lunch
with the family enjoy the lighted tree,
and each one finds some small token
among the dainty boughs.
The same idea may be used in con-
nection with the table decorations on
Christmas Day, if desired. For in
stance, a yard or so of immaculate cot
ton batting may be stretched length
wise with holly about it on the middle
of the table to represent snow. At
one end place the tree. At the other
end set a wigwam made of heavy ma
Mia paper, covered with cotton, over
which sprinkle silver filters plentiful
ly. Even the flaps of the opening
should sparkle with the snow.
Beside the doorway Santa Claus may
stand ready to get in the sleigh "a
child's plaything) with the three rein
deers which await him. On his back
is a pack and the sleigh should be well
filled with sundry packages. Mrs
Santa Claus and two or three little
Santas may stand near the wigwam
ready to say goodbye to Jolly old
Saint Nicholas
To make Santa Claus and his family
is an easy matter, if the housewife has
a little patience and a small stock of
materials. An old doll ten or twelve
inches high will do for the Saint him
self. Use plenty of red paint to color
his cheeks and a bit Of white fur for
eyebrows, hair and whiskers. When
dressed in red fur trimmed coat and
cap, sprinkled with mica-using daubs
of glue first-he will make a first-rate
representative of the traditional Santa.
Mrs. Santa and the children may be
made of bisque girl dolls-the former
about eight inches tall, the little ones
six inches. All should be dressed in
red and white costumes, fur trimmed,
and besprinkled with mica.
Small Santas make appropriate and
unique bonbon boxes. Bisque girl
dolls about six inches high should be
used for these. Dress in red crepe
paper trousers, red blouses and red
caps, all faced with white crepe paper
Little knots of white paper glued on
make excellent buttons and bit of
white paper a pretty sash. Long red
toboggan caps should be initiated,
slashing the ends for fringe and knot
ting to look like a tassel Curly hair
will make good whiskers
Bonbon boxes. which may be made
of pasteboard or purchased for the
purpose should be covered with some
of the same red paper Lift uD the
skirt daintily in the back slip the bon
bon box under and attach to each
Santa with ribbon. When filed with
bonbons there receptacles are most
attractive.