Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-31
CHRISTMAS PACKETS
FOR THE SOLDIERS
Suggestions How To Send Gifts To
Our Men.
AT HOME AND ABROAD
American Red Cross Woman's Bureau
Issues Bulletin On Tie
Subject.

BY Christmas we snail nave q large
number of men in France, and 100000
in the cantonments at home, beside
the thousands in our regular army
posts and in our navy, and everyone
will be eager TO help in giving them
Christmas cheer.
No matter how generous supply
of gifts some of the men may receive
from families and friends. it is be-
lieved that all Red Cross members
will want to unite in sending TO each
man a Christmas packet filled with
good things and good will.
In order that the men may be equal
ly remembered and yet that there
may be pleasing variety in the pack
cts, the following suggestions are
made for preparing and assembling
the Christmas parcels:
Nothing should go in them which
will not keep fresh from the time of
packing until Christmas.
Dried fruits and other food prod
ucts should be packed in small tin or
| wooden boxes. one-quarter to one
half pound size.
/
would probably be safe in tin foil or
heavy cardboard bat no soft choco-
lates nor anything that could possi-
bly, be crushed should be used, as the
remaining contents of the package
might be spoiled thereby.
Several dainties packed in oblong
tin boxes holding each a quarter of a
pound, will provide better variety
for a packet than larger quantity of
q single confection.
No liquids nor articles packed in
glass should be placed in the pack
age.
For wrapping the gifts use khaki
colored handkerchief. twenty-seven
inches square, and form the base of
the packet by placing on the center
of the handkerchief pad of writing
paper about seven by ten inches.
Select variety of articles either
from the suggested list Cor according
! to individual wishes) to an amount
: not exceeding $50, and arrange
them on the pad OF paper so that the
entire package shall be the width of
the pad and approximately five or six
inches high
Wrap and tie with one-inch red rib
bon and place a Christmas card under
the bow of ribbon A card bearing
the greetings would be desirable.
Wrap the parcel again in heavy,
light-brown Manila paper, tie secure
ly with red, green, or gilt cord, and
use Christmas labels or American
/ flags as desired.
Articles Suggested.
Khaki-colored handkerchief 27
inches square for container; writing
pad, about z by 10 inches; envelopes,
| pencil. postals, book Tin paper
| cover), scrapbook homemade, con
tanning a good short story, some
| jokes, etc). knife, such as Boy scouts
use), steel mirror. khaki-colored
handkerchiefs, neckties, mouth organ.
electric torch, compass, playing cards,
mechanical puzzles. Red Cross
checkerboard (this is a combination
set of checkerboard, checkers, chess
men. and dominoes made of heavy
/
Cross, and can be purchased for
cents apiece), tobacco. pipe and pipe
cleaners, cigarette papers, water
tight matchbox. chewing gum, fruit
cake, preserved ginger, salted nuts,
! prunes, figs, dates, raisins, hard
| candy, chocolate in tin foil, licorice.
This is published early that those
interested may be gathering funds
for the packets and assembling the
small articles to go in them.
The Annapolis and Anne Arundel
County Chapter of the Red Cross is
preparing to carry out the foregoing
plans and directions. just received
from the Manager Of the Potomac Di-
vision in regard to the Christmas
packets for the men at home and
abroad
Mrs. Frank A. Munroe. Director of
the Working Committee of the Red
Cross, has started the work. and Mrs
Cook will, after tomorrow, have
charge of minor details.
II is expected at Division Head
quarters that the Chapter will raise
the necessary funds through contri-
buttons by individuals.
The work must be accomplished in
the ten days allotted Mony for the
Christmas packets will be raised
through contributions by individuals
for this special purpose.
ADD PkGS.
The following telegram was sent
today " Mr.. Henry White, head of
the Potomac Division. American Ma
tional Red Cross. to the Secretary of
the Annapolis and Anne Arundel
County Chapter:
Washington, ID. c.
"Oct. 81. 1917
H = Washburn. Secretary.
annapolis, Maryland.
Referring to my circular let
ter OF October p. am now in
formed by Headquarters that
owing TO the much larger num-
Der Of soldiers and sailors to be