Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-14
House.
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With the closing of shops and factories.
the shutting down of the great mines. the
stone and cement works and the general
lay-off in industries. caused by financial
disturbances. many mother finds her
usual Christmas allowance not only fore
shortened. but in many cases shut OF
altogether. Yet even so. as long as the
Christmas spirit remains. the Christmas
bells still peal. the woods and fields yield
up their fra grant Christmas green's. the
great corn fields of the west the rice
fields of the south and the orchards and
groves OF north. south. east and west lend
their sweet bounty and the Christmas
star still shines out. there is no reason
why Christmas, even with depleted
pockethook. should be anything but
Merry"
Even If the children og Greater New
York may no longer sing their Christi
mas hymns and carols in the PUBIC
schools. thanks to the dominance OF some
of our newly arrived citizens ana INC
mandates issued by a subsidized board OK
education. there is a : yet no ban on our
free American homes, and there we can
keep our Christmas. If not in the SCHOOLS.
The Christmas Tree.
Fortunate is the family that can have
its own big Christmas tree, bringing with
1t all the sweet balsamic odors of ths
woods. If We can not, a single branch
or even one of the little artificial Ncrera-
berg trees that can be kept year after
year are not to be despised. Children are.
fortunately, possessed of much magma
ton. and If the older folk make the best
of these temporary deprivations the chill
dren will follow suit. To frost the Christ
mas tree ineXpensively an excellent SUBJ
sttute will be found In coarse common
salt or a solution of strong alum water.
sprinkled over -it. using a hand spray or
whitewash brush. For houses that have
electric lighting. electric Christmas lights
in all sorts of beautiful and fanciful
shapes may be found reasonable In price
and supplanting the old-time Christmas
candles. Yet there is a sentiment about.
the latter that the more modern lighting
lacks With candles, however, every pre-
caution should be taken against fire. Not
a Christmas passes without it's record
burned to death" as the result OF an
overturned tree or of the sleeves or gauzy
draperies of the children or those dis
tributing the gifts catching in the fiames.
If real candles are to be used on a tree.
a wet sponge attached to a long stick.
should be in readiness against possible
accident. A rug or some sort OF heavy
wooden drapery should also be at hand
tOr use In an emergency.
A Christmas Log.
In one home last year, where Christ
mas tree was not feasible, a Christmas
log took its place and seemed almost as
"Christmassy" A split log OF wood,
about the length of the ordinary modern
fireplace, was laid upon a bed made OF
MOSES and evergreens. With the aid OF
long bradS, red candles were fastened
irregularly to the log, with pieces OF
ground pine running in and out and be-
tween the candles and over the log. Gifts
for distribution were laid on small tables
near it and the candles were lighted tust
before the family were admitted to the
room.
Christmas Tree and Dinner for Birds
There is charming custom in Sweden
of providing a Christmas dinner for the
birds. Before sitting down to the table
indoors there is raised aloft in the door,
yard a pole, to the top of which Is at
tached a large full sheaf or basket OF
grain-a Merry Christmas to the birds.
A writer in one of the out-of-door maya
zines last year told of how the same
pretty idea was put into effect here. A.
broad Shelf was placed outside of the
window and small pine tree fastened
firmly upon 1t. In the earlier winter bits
of suet were fastened to trees about the
house and chaff and hayseed were scat
tered in the yard to encourage the birds
to gather. Then when It was almost
Christmas the birds tree was put up on
the sill, which was first covered with burr
laps to hold the chaf that was scattered.
The birds, having been encouraged TO
make this their rendezvous and base OF
supplies, were all ready to gather the
moment the Christmas tree. with its UNI
usually abundant fruitage, was placed at
their disposal.
Popcorn for Christmas.
While popcorn is always a delightful
adjunct to Christmas feasting and deco
rations it is particularly we.come this
year, when little money must be made
to go a long way. 1t is wholesome. 1t 10
appetizing it is decorative. Before pop
ping the corn hold the pepper containing
the kernels under the cold water faucet,
allowing the water to wet Ii thoroughly.
Shake we'll and set on the back of the
stove or in the oven few moments 10
steam, then pop, and you will he amazed
to see what a difference this preliminary
wetting has made. The kernels Will al
most double in size, be snowy white and
have no hard centers. After the popping
the corn may be strung in snowy festoons
for garlanding the tree; may be salted
and used In place of salted nuts as an
appetizer on the dinner table, be used In
the cream soup: be frosted and colored
lions or made into balls or cakes. To
frost the corn make crystallizng syrup
as follows: Put two. cups graduated
sugar in an agate saucepan with half
cup water and a saltspoonful cream Of
tartar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
then withdraw the spoon. Boil without
stirring until the syrup will spin .
thread when a little is dropped from the
tip of the spoon and is brittle when
dropped into cold water. Take from the
fire and add very carefully a teaspoonful
vanilla or lemon. If the syrup Is agi-
tated too much it will grain. Have the
corn in a pan in the oven where 1t will
have been kept hot and pour the syrup
over It, stirring as lightly and rapidly as
possible, SO as to distribute the syrup
evenly without breaking the kernels.
When all the hot syrup has been poured
over the corn sprinkle thickly with gran
ulated sugar. which will cling to the
sticky surface of the hot corn. Now set
in the cold to set and string in a cool
place This crystallzed corn may be
tinted pink yellow or green by adding
little coloring matter to the syrup.