Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1908-12-19
REMEMBER
That Christmas Is the Time oil
Supreme Pleasure for
Children.
Grown People Must Not Find
the Day One of Lone
someness.
The Ceremony of Hanging Up
Stockings Must be
Continued.
PATTIES FOR The LITTLE Ones

There seems to be a growing in
clination among many of us to look
upon Christmas as a distinctly tire
some and almost obsolete institution,
to be over with as little fuss as pos
sible, and to be quietly but surely
relegated to things forgotten. This
attitude toward the beautiful festival
is all right for the grownups, but
what about the children? Are they
to be deprived of the great red letter
day of childhood, of the infinite Joy
and delight which Christmas brings
to them? Think of the long, de-
licious anticipation, the many charm
ing secret preparations, and the Won
derful fairylike realization, when the
great day at length arrived, of ones
own childhood What a blank would
have been left in the child's year
If Christmas had been cut out of it,
and what a host of beautiful mem
cries we should all have missedi ]
think the majority of my readers
will agree with me that the time and
trouble expended upon festive
preparations richly will be rewarded
Il
Christmas something like the de-
lightful times of which we all have
such vivid recollections. Now as re-
CARDS these preparations. First and
foremost, Of course, comes the all
important task of decorating the
house.
Many women who would otherwise
be only too delighted to see their
homes acquire a proper Christmas
aspect are deferred from any ex-
tensive scheme of decoration by fear
of the cost it would entail. Now this
is a mistake. A really charming and
most effective decoration can be con-
trived for the minimum of outlay If
only a little forethought and in
genuity is exercised. Scraps of holly,
with or without berries, ivy, fir,
spruce, pine, cedar or even the
humble ferns may all be advan-
tageously pressed into service for the
making of the ropes, festoons, etc,
which are the most effective features
of home decorations.
The decoration of the house imme-
|diately suggests to ones mind the
decoration of the Christmas dinner
table, which should, in my opinion,
when children are in question be
strongly suggestive of the special
day for which it is prepared. A tiny
Christmas tree decorated with sill
vered or gilt walnuts, small colored
candles, little bright balls, crystal
lized fruit and crackers, always
makes a most effective centerpriece
and one which is highly appreciated
by the small spectators. 1t may be
supplemented by a pretty bright col
ored table center, edged with a bor-
der of holly and mistletoe sprigs and
a few crimson and white flowers If
liked. A further supply of bright
crackers scattered about the table,
cloth adds to the general brightness
of effect. and incidentally to the joy
of the children, who dearly love the
fun of pulling them when dessert
arrives.
The important ceremony of hang
ing up the stocking on Christmas eve
is charming, fanciful old custom
which never should be allowed to fall
into neglect. 1t need not be at all a
costly affair. The stocking may be
packed with all sorts of inexpensive
trifles, such as packets of simple
home made sweets, little cheap toys
costing a penny or two, oranges, APP
pies, nuts. any little odds and ends,
in fact. Such things will give quite
as much real pleasure to the re-
cipient as far more expensive
articles. The real joy lies in the
early finding of the packed stocking,
so limp and empty the night before,
the wonder of what lies hidden in IL,
and the delightful turning out of one
thing after another.
Next there is the question of chill
dren's parties, which demands seri-
Gus attention. 1t is difficult to say
anything definite about such affairs,
as the circumstances and means of
the giver and the age of the children
invited differ so much. One thing,
however, is certain. whether the
party be elaborate or simple, costly
or not, a definite programme should
be arranged beforehand and strictly
to II the party is to be a
success. Otherwise the children
never will agree as to what Is to be
done. One child will want to dance
when another wants to play games,
or the game which appeals to one
small baby will not please another.
But If a definite programme it writ
ten out and the children are told
what comes next they will acquiesce
happily and thoroughly enjoy them
selves. A mixed programme of
dances and games gives most gem
eral satisfaction. 1t insures suffi-
cient variety to prevent the children
growing tired. and it considers all
sorts of tastes. Such an arrangement
may be varied by dis
tribntion of small presents some time
during the evening. These little
are highly appreciated by
the small guests and as they can be
made for q trifling sum, by the ex-
penditure of little time and trouble,
they are worthy of consideration, as
they greatly add to the success of the
party. They may be distributed in
various charming ways. A Santa
Claus dressed in scarlet tunic, long
white beard, holly wreathed hood,
ETC., and laden with the numerous
small parcels. always gives pleasure.
Then there is the time honored |
~ 4 xrt. fnt oIx to