The Washington times., 1904-12-10

NCN car Lay IOT 4 children s
luncheon, Aside from the fact that
the holiday season IS naturally large
ly devoted 10 the children, the house
IS gay with the Christmas decorations.
the tree Is standing with its prett,
decorations and the new Christina,
gifts are still novel enough to talk
about
If the house Is decorated for Christ
! mas, leave all the trimmings IN place
and put up a few more. Decorate the
dining-room especially with sprays Of
holly and evergreen branches. and fes
toon the mantels with garlands and
ropes of green Hang wreaths of mis-
tletOe in the windows, and fasten
sprigs of mistletoe in doorways and
on chandeliers With the general dec
oratiOns disposed of, plan a generous
but dainty repast, for the refresh
ments viii probably be the most ap-
preelated part of the entertainment.
As green and red are this seasons
coloTs use these IN the decorations for
the table. Ii you want 10 use flowers,
use red carnations; otherwise use
holly. Probably the sprays of bright,
red berries and shining green leaves
would look pTettier and more in keep
ing with the other decorations than
towers.
For the place cards buy a package
OF Christmas postal cards. These are
decorated with various pictures Of
Santa Claus and you can probably get
enough different designs TO go around.
Address one 10 each expected guest.
using your own street and number,
and about week before Christmas
send them through the mail Be sure
10 send them early enough, as the
post oihce IS crowded at this time OF
the year and mail IS sometimes delay
ed several days. If there is no inscrip-
ton on the cards write on them some
greeting such as, Happy New Year"
or The Seasons Best Wishes" and
sign Ehem with some of Santa's names
Santa Claus" Kris Kringle." or
st. Nicholas" Try 10 get them all
different, as a good deal of amuse-
ment can be gained BY passing them
around the table. They will not only /
make pretty place cards but they viii /
form interesting additions 10 every
postal card collection.
For the favors have al each place
box candies surmounted by a lit
tie Santa Claus With a little care
you can make these boxes yourself.
or rather you can cover them and
decorate them. Buy square candy
boXes-all the same size-and as many
small, Inexpensive dolls, with painted /
boots and stockings, as there will be
guests. A little red flannel, some
sheet wadding or cotton batting.
paste, red paper and ribbon are the
only other materials required.
Take of the dolls wigs and paste
on each doll fringe of rough. white
hair AID q long beard, also pointed |
mustaches made from the wadding.
From the red flannel make each doll |
pointed cap, a short Jacket and a pair
OF knee length trousers. Fasten on /
the clothes securely and belt the
jacket with a strip Of furry wadding.
Carefully cover each box with red
paper, and on each paste a little snow
bank OF the batting Glue the doll
Santa Claus firmly 10 this and Dur the
boxes away To dry The dav Of the
luncheon fll them with hard Christ
mas candies, tie them with ribbons
and they are ready 70 put at the
places.
A pretty center-piece is a great red
cornucopia hung by stout ribbons
from the chandelier over the middle
OF the table. Get a sheet OF thin bris-
tol board, about three feet by four
ieeL and roll II into a big horn, sew
lng or glulng the seam securely. Cover
the coTnucopia with red paper, tie
bands OF green ribbon about H. and
iasten huge green bow al the point
ed end Suspend il from the chaude-
Ler by ribbon loops. For each lttle
guest buy or make some pretty gift
and wrap II carefully in wadding and
tissue paper. Tie all the gifts with
ribbons and place them in the big s
horn OF plenty. The gifts should be s
small and aot easily broken; pretty {
a simple piece OF lew z
elry, a dainty little calendar; these S
are all pretty, although small and not Z
hkely 10 be harmed in their fall 10 the 5
table. From each package bring
long end OF ubbOn 20 It's owners place {
AZ table, and az the end Of the lunch c
con let each child pull her ribbon and ! p
Ind fastened at the end of il her pres h
snt a
A novel arrangement of greens for 4
he table IS the little circle of minia- a
-ure.. Christmas trees shown I'm The G
picture II you live out Of town. Won e
nay De able 10 cut these small trees
Either cut eighteen or twenty
rery small shoots or else cut from sew
.ral large trees sae fresh. green ends
II the branches. These look when SET G
ip, much like little trees. If YOU cam ?
iOt do this. You can perhaps purchase i
hem from a florist, or else cut uD q {
arge tree as well as possible. II Won 81
90 20 the woods for your tree be care a.
al not 20 take one that belongs 10 81
ONE one else Once a young man "
ud his wife. on the eve of their babv's p
Tst Christmas, started % the pine i
woods for tree. They took hatchet cI
With them, intending 20 be satisfied e.
With q very small tree indeed. But "
ast az The edge of the big. dark n
rood, and just al the side Of the road.
hey found lying a fine, large tree.
luch larger than they would have cur.
Imposing the tree had been cut be- <.
ause il grew our in the road they N
ook il home with them and set Il sc
p and trimmed il for their baby. But oi
le next day they heard that The di