Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-08
CHRISTMAS PACKETS "--''N
Circulars Tell How to Prepare
Them for Sending.
mach American Soldier and Sailor 70
Receive . Package According -
Red Cross Plans-What Arti.
Giles Should he Sent.

Circulars issued by the women's Blu.
reau Of the American Red Cross at WASH
ington. D. c.. relating to the Christmas
packets which the Red Cross branches are
preparing to send to the soldiers both at
home and abroad, are being distributed
from the headquarters Of the Vermont
chapter in this city These circulars give
valuable suggestions for making UP the
packets, which should be ready to ship by
November Is, week from to-day.
The circular says: by Christmas we
shall have a large number Of mon In
France, and 100000 In the cantonments at
home. besides the thousands In our regular
army posts and In our navy and every one
will be ready to help in giving them good
cheer.
mo matter how generous a supply Of
gifts some Of the men may receive from
families and friends. It Is believed that all
Red Cross members will want to unite in
sending to each man a Christmas packet
filled with good things and good will.'
And here is a list Of the things suggest
cd In the circular to be included In the
packet, although 1t Is not expected that
all Of them will be included In any one
packet: Khaki-colored handkerchiefs, a
inches square. for container; wrtting-pa.
per pad. about z by 10 inches; envelopes:
pencils; postals; book lin paper cover;
scrapbook homemade. containing good
short story. some Jokes. etc.; knife (such
as boy scouts use); morror (steei); hand
kerchiefs (khaki- colored); neckties; mouth
organ; electric torch; compass; playing
cards; mechanical puzzles Gan assorted lot
Of IL small mechanical puzzles can be
, bought at the rate Of IL for 30 cents); Red
Cross checkerboard (this is a combination
set of checkerboard, checkers, chessmen
and dominoes made Of heavy cardboard
especially for the Red Cross and can be
purchased at i've cents each); other
games; tobacco. pipe and pipe cleaners:
cigarette papers, water-tight match box
chewing gum; fruits, chocolate and other
sweetened crackers. in original packages;
fruit cake; preserves: ginger; sailed nuts;
prunes figs. dates. raisins. hard candy,
, chocolate In tin foil and licorice.
| In order that the men may be equally
remembered and yet that there may be
a pleasing variety In the packets, tho
| following suggestions are made for pre-
pairing and assembling the Christmas
parcels:
l. Nothing should 60 in them which
! will not keep fresh from the time OF
packing until Christmas.
g. Dried fruits and other food products
should be packed in small tin or wooden
boxes. one-quarter to one-half pound size.
| .. HARD candy, lncluulng cnocOl6ue'
would probably be safe in tin foil or
heavy cardboard, but no soft chocolates
nor anything that could possibly DO
crushed should be used. as the remaining
contents of the package might be spoiled
thereby.
I. Several dainties packed In oblonG
tin boxes holding each quarter OF q
pound. will provide better variety for
packet than a larger quantity OF q
single CONNECTION.
s. No liquids nor articles packed in
glass should be placed in the package.
6. For wrapping the gifts use Khaki
colored handkerchief. q inches square,
and form the base of the packet by plac-
ing on the center Of the handkerchief Z
pad Of writing. paper about seven BY ~
inches. g..
Z. Select q variety Of articles eithe
from the suggested list Tor according u
individual wishes) to an amount not OK
ceeding $780, and arrange them on tn
! pad Of paper 50 that the entire packag
shall be the width Of the pad and ap
proximately i've or six inches high.
, g. Wrap the tie with one-inch red RIB
bon and place a Christmas card unde
the bow Of ribbon. A card bearing tn
} greetings Of the chapter would be dc
sirable.
o. Wrap the parcel again in heavy
lght-brown manila paper. tie securely
with red. green or gilt cord. and us'
Christmas labels or American aags u
desired.