The Washington times., 1905-12-16
By EDITH A. BROWN.

Christmas means so much that is elab-
Orate bv way OF entertainment that the
idea for a simple entertainment is wei
coined. Two young women, who were
| unable financially and physically to do
much. but who were anxious to enter
tain a small party OF friends one Christ
mas. put their heads together and pro-
duced a merry little party which was a
great success
| II was the original intention to have
an old-fashioned MONDAY dinner, but
! this broke into the plans for family
dinners, and the hour was changed to
an early evening repast, served about
| o'clock. The invitations were sent in
| dolls stockings and as everyone hidden
was an intimate friend of everyone else
| in the circle, each guest was requested
to bring gift for every member of the
party, the gift to cost not more than
cents, and to be so securely wrapped
that its outline was disguised These
gifts might be sent to the home OF the
hostess or brought on the arrival of the
guest, as each one chose.
| Little attempt was made toward the
| decoration of the parlors. A few
l Christmas bells and wreaIhs were hung
| about. the greens of the season were
used. and in unusual places We're hung
sprigs of mistietoe. All attention in
decoration was placed upon the dining
room. The sideboard was draped in
green with the red berries used in pro-
fusion, the walls were festooned in
smilax and the same vine was caught
TO the ceiling, radiating from the lights
and forming a canopy above the guests.
In the center OF the table stood a
Christmas tree-not a real tree-be-
cause of the dirt which IT would scatter
over the cloth, but one which was
purchased and which was an excel
lent imitation. It's branches were hung
with tinsel balls, and the usual Christ
mas fnery. and lighted with small red
candles The place cards were plain
white cards of invitation size, on each
Of which was written a verse appropri-
ate for the guest intended. In the up-
per left-hand corner small red silk
stockings were tied with red ribbon
caught with bit of holly. Inside were
slipped the fortunes of the guest, each
| written IN verse or clever paragraph.
ana these were used for the fun later
IN the evening. Broad satin ribbons
aided In the table decoration. but IL
was In the tree that the interest CEN
tered Every gift sent had been tied on
| the branches with cord or narrow rib
| bon They were unaddressed, and start
ing With the guest seated at the right
or the older hostess each one chose q
] slft In turn, one of the young men
I of the party clipping the cord which
heid IL fast and placing in front of the
| guest This was done at the close of
| the dinner, and no present was supnosed
| 10 be unwrapped until the tree had hAep
! shorn- 1t was then that the fun began
Inc open packages revealed every
| thlng under the sun-toys. Ridiculous ard
pretty, animals and fish and Jokes In
! Aaet unless hostess is sure Of her
company. and knows that everyone will
enter INTO the fun OF The evening. TAX
ing the bad with as much grace as ths
sood, this entertainment Is yalueless
Inc evening was given over to the
| piahs The hostesses had made. which
| may be music, games, or conversation
according 20 the company.
| Inc idea Of giving the gifts at the
| table may be carried out in many wavs
| NOT only Is II good for the bestowing OF
gifts upon guests. but where there are
small children IN the family the mother
! often finds herself at her wits end in
| seeking for some attractive and novel
form for bringing in the gifts and add
! ing to the pleasure Of the little folks
/ A great turkey may form the center
J piece, with ribbons attached TO the
gifts hidden In it's body and drawn out
| in turns, or small turkeys may form
/ the plaee-cards, the gifts for each-only
/ the small gifts, II Is necessary to add
| being placed therein and served in in
dividuaI fashion. This would make