Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-23

As the beauty Of a woman is not de-
pendent upon the dress she chances to
wear. the value of gift is not meas
ured by the particular manner in which
it is tied up. Nevertheless, we like to see
a woman daintily and tastefully clothed
and We like to see a Christmas present
express in its very wrappings something
of the gracious spirit that prompts its
giving.
When the making, the buying, the as
signing of gifts are finished something still
remains undOne. We cheat ourselves of
pleasure and disappoint our friends if we
do not make the manner of giving as
much part of the scheme as. the thought
and loving labor that have enabled us to
choose wisely and well, for each Of our
friends, the very best gift that gives the
keenesL delight.
There are ways of doing up presents SO
conventional that nobody needs more
| than a hint. White tissue paper red
ribbon, a sprig of holly slipped under the
1t lends itself to everything, from the
box Of hign-class homemade candies to
the necklace of exquisite design resting in
| Its own satin-lined box. 1t gives to the
simplest remembrance the Christmas
spirit, which is. after all. the only thing
that counts; it adds dignity to the use
full present which boasts no beauty of
it's own: 1t has even veen known to dis
guise the jolly little joke that lies in a
core of many WrappingS.
Datntier still are the packages of pure
white tied with satin ribbon, sprig of
holly relieving the simplicity, Christmas
Sreenery, even lovelier than holly, is
never lacking if one lives within reach of
New Englanu woods The very ground
Is carpeted with treasures that are ours
for the gathering.
If these are not available there are the
flowers. roses and pinks and what not.
One sweet blossom with a gift is precious
to the recipient. but blossoms cost at
Christmas time, and some will slip under
each bow OF ribbon that binds her offer
ing a red carnation of her own manu-
facture.
1t lacks all that flower should have
except its brightness. but it will last long
and Is really very pretty. giving a touch
OF riotous color to our table piled high
| with packages of every sort and size.
Baby ribbon comes reasonable bought
by the spool. Get many different col
ors as there are to be friends. who re-
ceive their presents together. Choose a
color for each. Red for the fair blonde
who long ago learned to flee from the
delicate blues and washed out tints that
every toW-head used to wear: nile green
| for the girl with the sun-tinted hair: deli
cate pink for the clear cOmpleXioned bru-
nette; brown, white gray, any left
shade for the poor. dear men-unless they
are young and addicted to bright neckties.
Christmas morning, or evening. OF. when
ever the presents are given. tiny bow
| Of his or her particular color will be pin
ned on by the hostess and she sticks
| in the pin with a mothery love she will
| say something like this:
Every package you find tied with this
color is yours: go forth to the quest with
my blessing
Whether the gifts are distributed in one
way or another. they make an attractive
table in their white dresses and gay rib
| bons. the everpresent holly berries gleam-
ing here and there from the Sprigs slip
ped under the ribbons
One more idea for the white tissue
covering is the of gummed strips.
such as small pictures are framed with.
in place of ribbons. There are most at
tractive in gold and can be adapted to
any sort of bundle. but especially to the
boX-shaped Suppose the gift to be is a
| one pound candy box. maybe an Offering
white tissue. pass a gilt around each end.
| two across the length of the box. At the
| intersections put on Santa Claus stickers.
One band each way is sufficient, but the
| four add to its gay appearance.
A pretty variation is to wrap every thing
| in green crepe paper and adapt all the
| ideas suggested for white. The packa ges
| are beautiful with red carnations and
| chrysanthemums, and If different colored
| cords or ribbons are used for the gifts OF
| each person, care only need be taken that
| no inha rmonious shades put on. The
| gold band with Christmas stickers are
| lovely on green. or one may buy gold cord
| by the quantity. Bits of holly seem to
| lose themselves in the green of the pa
per and the scarlet berries show to all the
| better advantage.
| Another plan is to use Japanese napkins
with appropriate designs. The gift in as
| many other wrappngs you like. is put
i'm the center Of the napkin. the four cor
ners drawn together tied with ribbon tc
match the design of the napkin. the cor
ners then pulled out in pretty flower
| shape and arranged either in one large
mass or placed so that each persons gifts
are to themselves. This article is dealing
| with the packages themselves rather thar
the manner of their distribution and Tho
hostess will arrange them according t.
her plan for giving.
| 4 novel idea is the use of nge-col