Evening star., 1917-09-16
PACKET /.
SUGGESTIONS MADE
Red Cross States How Givers
Should Prepare Those to Be
Shipped to Fighters.
LISTS ARTICLES FAVORED

Timely suggestions regarding what
should and what should not go into the
Christmas packets for the more than
million men who Will be under arms
before December 26 are made by the
American Red Cross.
In order that all the men may be re-
merrbered, and that there may be q
pleasing variety Of articles useful In
camp life, the Red Cross has taken
charge of the work of organizing ana
make a great national holiday fete in
which all the people will have the JOY
of giving. and the soldiers the reaFza-
ton that the hearts OF the 1olks AT
home are with them.
The various Red Cross chapters will
receive directions from division mana
gers as to the dates when packages
should be shipped to France. and when
those intended for distribution In home
cantonments should be ready.
Money for these Christmas packets
should be specifically contributed for
this...purpose by the individuals.
Suggestions by Organization.
The Red Cross suggestions are:
Is Nothing should go IN them which Will
not keep fresh from the time OF pack
ing until Christmas.
Dried fruits and other food products
should be packed in small tin or wood
en- boxes. one-eparter to one-half
pound size.
Hard candy including chocolate,
would probably be safe in tin foil or
heavy cardboard, but no soft chocolates
or anything that could possibly be
crushed should be used. as the other
contents of the package might be spoil
cd thereby.
Several dainties packed in oblong tin
boxes each holding quarter of q
pound. will provide a better variety for
. packet than larger quantity OF a
single confection.
No liquids or articles packed in glass
should be- placed in the package.
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 a pad of writing paper
about seven by ten inches.
Select a variety of articles either from
the Suggested list Cor according to in
dividual wishes) to an amount not ex-
Ceeding $3.50. 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:
: Greetings of the Chapter.
Wrap and tie with one-inch red rib
bonsAnd place a Christmas card under
the bow Of ribbon. A card bearing the
greetings of the chapter would be de-
sirapie.
Wrap the parcel again in heavy. light
brown MANILA paper and tie securely
with red. green or gilt cord, and use
Christmas labels or American flags. as
desired.
Articles suggested for Christmas
PACKETS are: Khaki-colored handker-
chilly. twenty-seven inches square. for
ecnfainer: writing paper pad. about
By 10 inches; envelopes, pencil, postals.
book Gin paper covers). scrapbook,
homemade. containing a good short
story. some jokes, etc; knife, such as
Boy Scouts use: mirror. steel: handker-
chiefs. khaki colored; neckties. mouth
organ, Red Cross checkerboard (this is
eombination set of checkerboard,
checkers. chessmen and dominoes made
Of heavy cardboard especially for the
Bed-Cross and can be purchased after
October Is for cents apiece): electric
torch. compass, playing cards, other
gzrfes. tobacco, pipe and pipe cleaners,
cigarette papers. water-tight match
box<chewing gum. sweet chocolate bis
cuigS. fruited crackers, fruit cake, pre-
SERVED ginger, salted nuts, prunes, figs,
dates. raisins, hard candy. chocolate in
tin tofl. licorice. mechanical puzzles Can
assected lot of twelve small mechanical
puzzles can be bought at the rate of
tw61ye for so cents).