The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-12-19

nN very word expresses the
w spirit of the day. Christmas
is the embodiment of JOY and
mirthfulness. a glorious day of gaiety
and merriment for old and young. Let
US all be children at Christmas time,
and enter into the preparations ana
plans for the day with youthful fervor.
Everyone is occupied with the pre-
parations for the gala occasion. The
custom of decorating the homes with
Christmas greens is increasing each
year Surely it is happy thought IN
the midst of winter at the 1ule uoe
season to bring the green's from the
woods. The many traditions connected
with holly and mistletoe make them
all the more appropriate for use as
decorations The brilliant glowing
scarlet of the holly berries and the
green of the evergreen have always
been associated with Christmas.
With a very small investment one
can easily arrange many unique ef-
fects in decorations for the home and
table that will accord with the spirit
of the season.
The holly mistletoe, laurel, ever
green and the poinsettia are so adapt
able for adornment that it really Is a
pleasant task to plan the decorations.
Any dinner is sure to be success, no
matter how simple the menu. where
there is an abundance of Christmas
greens, brilliant lights. joyous coun-
tenances and good cheer.
Commence your preparations in
ample time, and make memorandum
of all you wish to accomplish. Don't
scatter sprays of holly or other
foliage here, there and everywhere,
but have a unity of design. Place
wreaths of laurel in every available
space. Have great punches of holly
banked at the mantelpiece, over the
pictures and above the windows. and
don't forget bit mistletoe to hang
on the chandelier Make the rooms
as bright and as attractive as possible,
and when you view the results Of
your efforts you will be more than re-
! paid for your trouble
Unless the Christmas tree is going
to be a surprise. and you intend to
trim it behind closed doors in the
| greatest of secrecy, let the children
assist in fashioning many of the or.
naments and trinkets. and they will
have double the pleasure out of it. The
strnging the popcorn with which to
! festoon the tree. If the popcorn is
strung on wire it can be arranged
most effectively. If you wish, you
can dye some of the corn red and
. string it alternately, one red and one
white kernel. The nimble little
fingers can string chains of cranber,
ries or cut stars out of gilt paper.
Paper link chains can be made out of
any color to harmonic with the color
scheme of the tree. Paste narrow
strips of paper to form rings and slip
one link through another and paste
securely.
1t is very simple to gid nuts. and
they are quite an addition to a tree
when suspended with gilt cord. Snow
balls are made by packing white tbs.
sue paper tight in the shape of an or.
ange, then FASTING white cotton on
the ball The cotton is busted with
diamond dust and gives glittering
effect. Icicles are made of white
fringe tissue paper that has been dip
ped into a solution of alum The
green of the tree can also be given a
frosted effect if it is touched with q
solution of alum. The Christmas good
les can be put in bags Of tarletan
Don't forget that the large presents
and heavy decorations of the tree
should be at the bottom. Small arti
Giles can be attached to the tree with
invisible hairpins. or large presents
tied with red ribbon. The fir, hem
lock, spruce or pine are all popular
for Christmas trees.
A pretty tree for the table is the
pepper plant, which can be purchased
at any florists. The little plant cal
be trimmed as a Christmas tree fo
the central decoration of the table
Around the bottom of the tree is heap
ed mound of cotton busted with mica
At each place is little red flower DO
containing small souvenir which /,
hidden by spray of mistletoe. TIL,
souvenir can be something suggestive,
of the personality of tbs guest. Owe
the table is suspended by red ribbons
a bunch of snow balls Of white cottoI
sprinkled with mica. The candl,
shades are of ornamental sprays O
holly, and little piece of holly Ii
pasted on the place card.
The table illustrated has the sta
shaped poinsettia for its main feature
II Vt Ii not possible to procure the nat