The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

labras. and to decorate the table. in
 stead of merely lighting 1t, as side lights upon the wall often do.
 Hothouse flowers are lovely and decorative at all times. but where 1t | Is possible to get home-like blossoms and foliage 1t Is better to do so. The l sentiment of Christmas Is away from the artificial of any slort and toward the sweet simplicity of Nature and l childhood.
 | It is always easy to select a pretty
 gift. but not every one thinks of an attractive and decorative manner in which to put 1t up. A bsoquet of rare
 flowers in a jeweled or golden holder | is a simple way out of the difficulty
 for the rich. but the great mass of people are not rich. and to these the question of how to put up a gift at- l tractively is an important one. A few bits of holly tied with a l scarlet ribbon are always pretty and ] cheap. and a small bunch of flowers with a holder of tea-matting, bound with a wide band of ribbon at the top and bottom. to resemble a golf case, holding also a diminutive golf stick or two, is dainty when fastened to a gift box with a ribbon band and bow.
 Red ribbon Is a most useful article at Chri$tmas time. It can supply the place of other colors on the dressing table, the library or den, and where ever a bit of red will give more of a holiday Appearance to the ordinary things oS life.
 It lends, cheerful look to even the plainest Christmas box. and makes a delightful glow amid evergreen
 A real holiday decoration for a doorway is made of any sort of ever green frameI procurable, tied to wires or string and tackled in place at the corners. If ! holly or mistletoe ber- ries are added. the effect Is all the prettier. Across the top of the door way a chime of bells. made of paper covered inside and out with green or flowers. and having a yellow flower or small orange for a clapper. forms a real ChFistmas welcome. while Stars of Bethlehem might form a pretty decoriation for q bank of ever green or grdwing plants before fire place.
 Ivey makeA a most attractive Christi mas decorati pn. and Is strong enough to a ct as yeky graceful festoons with out any aid )of wire or string. There is, too, a virhe whose leaves grow red and copper 1coliored and remain upon the stems 1 up till Christmas time, which Is mdst lovely as an adornment for the homie at Christmas tide.
 In the country, the woman who finds hersel1 without Christmas plants can seek in low places and wood lands and tditch- banks and will find under withdred grass or snow lovely punches of rock fern. apparently growing fresh and green under win ter coverinHs. These may be arranged to have ally the appearance of growing plants. wh! len, as a matter of fact. all the bottoubs of the stems have been killed by 1.-the frost, and only the little closed, fuzzy balls that contain next seasons crop of leaves are alive. These rock fenns--so called because they nearly always seek the shelter of a rock or Stone of some sort-keep the shape an d color of their leaves inde- initely ik set In very wet sand.
 A ChrRstmas tree is a decoration all ways enjoyed by young and old alike. and In ia city Is easy to adorn with the usuS,l bright tinsel flnery; bur in small towns and country places one has to manufacture decorations for the tree th3lt Is intended for the holidays and n1t for one night only. Bright coloredl fruit Is pretty hung amid the can be Arnade of any flowers that hap pen to Pe at hand. or of bright berries. sewed Upon little paper foundation. These. with bright little silk bags con- taining presents, give a touch of color. Oddly enough. one of the best plants for house decoration at christmas