Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1915 — Page 2

CHRISTMAS AT BRACEBRIDGE HALL

feHERE IS A DELIGHTFUL DE-6 Ascription of an old ~ ENGLISH CHRISTMAS CELE-(*-i> BRATION, TAKEN FROM THE “SKETCH BOOK,” WRITTEN NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS AGO BY WASHINGTON JKVING. ....

T was a brilliant moonlight night, but estremely cold; our chaise whirled rapidly over the frozen ground; the postboy smacked bis whip ; - v ■ incessantly and a part of the time his horses were on a gallop. “He knows where he is going," said Js£4_ my companion, laughing, "and is eager to arrive in time for some of the merriment and good cheer of the servants' hall. My father, you must know, is a bigoted devotee of the old school, and prides himself upon keeping up something of old English hospitality. He is a tolerable specimen of what you will rarely meet with nowadays in its purity, the old English country gentleman; for our men of fortune Bpend so much of their time in town, and fashion is carried so much into the country, that the strong rich peculiarities of ancient rural life are almost polished away. “My tether was always scrupulous in exacting our holidays, and having us around him on family festivals. He used to direct and superintend our games with the strictness that some parents do the studies of their children. He was very particular that we should play the old English games according to their original form; and consulted old books for precedent and authority for every 'merrie sport,’ yet I assure you there never was pedantry so delightful. It was the policy of the good old gentleman to make his children feel that home was the happiest place in the world, and 1 value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent could bestow.” Queer Dinner Bell. I had finished my toilet and was loitering with Frank Bracebridge in the library, when we heard a distinct thwacking sound, which he informed me was a signal for the serving up of the dinner. The squire kept up old customs in kitchen as well as hall; and the rolling-pin, struck upon the dresser by the cook, summoned the servants to carry in the meats and fixings. The dinner was served up in the great hall, where the squire always held this Christmas banquet. A blazing, crackling fire of logs had been heaped on. to warm the spacious apartment, and the flame w r ent sparkling and wreathing up the widemouthed chimney. On the sideboard was a display of plate that might have vied (at least in variety) with Belshazzar’s parade of the vessels of the temple: “Flagons, cans, cups, beakers, goblets, basins, and ewers;” the gorgeous utensils of good companionship that had gradually accumulated through many generations of jovial housekeepers. Before these stood the two Yule candles, beaming like two stars of the first magnitude; other lights were distributed in branches, and the whole array glistened like a firmament of silver. We were ushered into this banqueting scene with the sound of minstrelsy, the old harper being seated on a stool beside the fireplace, and twanging his instrument with a vast deal more power than melody. Never did Christmas board display a more goodly and gracious assemblage of countenances; those who were not handsome were, at least, happy; and happiness is a rare improver of your hard-favored visage. Enormous Pig’s Hea'd. The parson said grace, which was not a short, familiar one. such as is commonly addressed to the Deity in these unceremonious days; but a long, courtly, well-worded one of the ancient school. There was now a pause, as if something was expected; when

CONDENSATIONS

Osmium is one of the most valuable metals. It is worth SSO a pound. A human bdlng cannot breathe at a height of seven miles from the earth. Fountain pens are most popular in Bohemia and are carried by practically all business men, students and clerka The use of sine plates in a boiler is said to prevent the formation of the la which interferes with the boilefficiency.

suddenly the butler entered the hall with some degree of bustle; he was attended by a servant on each side with a large wax-light, and oore a silver dish, on which was an enormous pig’s head, decorated with rosemary, with a lemon in its mouth, which was placed with great formality at the head of the table. The moment this pageant made its appearance the

harper struck up a flourish; at the conclusion of which the young Oxonian, on receiving a hint from the squire, gave, with an air of the most comic gravity, an old carol. Though prepared to witness many of these little eccentricities, from being appraised of the peculiar hobby of mine host, yet, 1 confess, the parade with which so odd a dish was introduced somewhat perplexed me, until I gathered from the conversation of the Bquire and the parson that it was meant to represent the bearing in of the boar’s head; a dish formerly served up with much ceremony and the sound of minstrelsy and song, at great tables, on Christmas day. "1 like the old custom." said the squire, “not merely because it is stately and pleasing in itself, but because it was observed at the college at Oxford at which I was educated. When I hear the old song chanted, it brings to mind the time when 1 was young and gamesome—and the noble old coliege hall —and my fellow-students loitering about in their black gowns; many of them, poor lads, are now in their graves!” That Tiresome Parson. The parson, however, whose mind was not haunted by such associations, and who was always more taken up with the text than the sentiment, objected to tho Oxonian’s version of the carol, which he affirmed, was different from that sung at college. He went on, with the dry perseverance of a commentator, to give the college reading, accompanied by sundry annotations; addressing himself at first to the company at large; but finally their attention gradually diverted to other talk and other objects, he lowered his tone as his number of auditors diminished, until he concluded his remarks in an undertone to a fat-headed old gentleman next him, who was silently engaged in the discussion of a huge plateful of turkey.

The table was literally loaded with good cheer, and presented an epitome of country abundance, in this season of overflowing larders. A distinguished post was allotted to "ancient sirloin,” as mine host termed it; being, as he added, “the standard of old English hospitality, and a joint of goodly presence, and full of expectation.” There were several dishes quaintly decorated and which had evidently something traditional in their embellishments; but about which as I did not like to appear overcurious, 1 asxed no questions. Follows Old Customs. It would be tedious, perhaps, to my foolish fondness for odd and obsciete things, to which 1 am a little given, were I to mention the other makeshifts of this worthy old humorist, by which he was endeavoring to follow up. though at humble distance, the quaint customs of antiqu'ty. I was pleased, however, to see the respect sjowo to his whims by his children and relatives; who. indeed, entered readily into the full spirit of them, and seemed all well versed in their parts; having doubtless been present

Italy is now a good market for fire extinguishers, a consular report says. The number of sheep estimated to have been shorn last season in Australia and New Zealand was 109,692,264. which produced seven pounds and twelve ounces each head, including lambs, as against seven pounds for the previous season. Official figures fix the number of cows in Hungary at 2,620.000. of which more than 2,000,000 are pure blooded animals of the best milk producing breeds.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP.

at many a rehearsal. 1 was amused, too, at the air of profound gravity with which the butler and other servants executed the duties assigned them, however eccentric. The dinnertime passed away in this flow of innocent hilarity; and, though the old hall may have resounded in its time with many a scene of broader rout and revel, yet I doubt whether it ever witnessed more honest and genuine enjoyment. How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in to freshen into smiles; the joyous disposition of the worthy squire was perfectly contagious; he was happy himself, and disposed to make all the world happy; and the little eccentricities of his humor did but season, in a manner, the sweetness and philanthropy. The Children’s Games. After the dinner table was removed, the hall was given up to the younger members of the family, who, prompted to all kinds of noisy mirth by the Oxonian and Master Simon, made its old walls ring with their merriment, as they played at romping games. I delight in witnessing the gambols of children, and particularly at this happy holiday season, and could not help stealing out cf the drawing room. I found them at the game of blindman’s buff. Master Simon, who was the leader of their, revels, and seemed on all occasions "to fulfill the office of that ancient potentate, the L6rd of Misrule, was blinded in the midst of the hall. The little beings were as busy about him as the mock fairies about Falstaff; pinching him, plucking at the skirts of his coat, and tickling him with straws. One fine blue-eyed girl of about thirteen, with her flaxen hair all in beautiful confusion, her frolic face in a glow, her frock half torn off her shoulders, a complete picture of a romp, was the chief tormentor; and, from the slyness with which Master Simon avoided the smaller game, and hemmed this wilcF little nymph in corners, and obliged ner to jump shrieking over chairs, I suspected the rogue of being not a whit more blinded than convenient. For my part I was in a continual excitement, from the varied scenes of whims and innocent gayety passing before me. It was inspiring to me to see 'wild-eyed frolic and warm-heart-ed nospitality breaking out from among‘the chilis and gloom of winter, old age throwing off his apathyT and catching once more the freshness of youthful enjoyment. I felt also an interest in the scene, from th 6 consideration that these fleeting customs were posting fast into oblivion, and that this was, perhaps, the only family in England in which the whole of them were still punctiliously observed. There was a quaintness, too, mingled with all this revelry,, that, gave it a peculiar, rest; it was suited to the time and iplace; and as the old manor house 'almost reeled with mirth and wassa.il, it .seemed echoing back the joviality of long-departed years. s>A

Profitable Business.

Young Lady (in drug store) —Five twos, please. (Clerk hands them out.) Young Lady—Have them delivered, please. They’re for mother and I’m going downtown for the day.

Good Literature.

“It must be glorious to be put into a novel. like that?” “Yes; I guess It would be pretty nice. But I'm satisfied. I’m mentioned in Bradstreet”—Louisville Courier-Journal.

IN GRAY AND YELLOW

INDIRECT LIGHTING GIVEB PRETTY EFFECT IN ROOM. •Ilk and Lace Bags Inclose Lights Giving Mellow Glow That Brings Out the Color Bcheme of Apartment. If you walked Into a certain room I know, you would think It belonged to the lady Alice Meynell must have meant in her shepherdess poem, she with the flock of white thoughts. This room has a pale silvery gray wall. But it doesn't shine. The woodwork is gray. too. And so ie the furniture. But the furniture has delicate yellow cane insets. And they give the keynote for the color in the room. The rug is Chinese. Do you know the lovely coior of these rugs? They always seem to me quite old —and precious. This rug is gray and gold and blue. The windows have curtains of the finest white silk crepe. These are hung to the sills. The window draperies are of the Chinese cretonne, in yellow and ivory, lined with gray silk. The draw curtains, which hide behind these, and which take the place of the ordinary window shades, are of corded blue silk, matching the blue in the rug. Two of the chairs have upholstered seats, which are covered in the cretonne, the backs (by which is meant* the rear upholstery), are covered with a light old-blue velour. But Just wait until I come to the lights! On either side of her dressing table this lady has two bags. In these bags the lady keeps her .lights—or, at least, two of them. Someone made these bags for her, without so very much trouble, too. First of all, the wire frame must be made to order. It will cost fifty cents or seventy-five cents, according to the size. In this particular case the wire was covered with yellow silk. Then yellow silk was used for the bag’s out-

For a Boudoir Light.

side. One strip was fulled on the top rim of wire, thsn pulled down straight and fulled on the middle horizontal wire. Another piece of yellow silk was fulled on to the middle wire and then pulled back to the bottom on a line with where the wall would be, when it is bunched quite a small space. All the yellow silk is covered with white lace. The top part is of lace edging. The lower part may be tacked on separately or fulled in with the silk itself. The upper part of the bag is garnished with small silk roses in various shades of blue and yellow. The lowest point is supplied with a heavy tarnished gold tassel ornament. The bag, which, while rounded out semicircularly in the front, is parallel

CHARM OF FLOUNCED SKIRTS

Fluffy Appearance Is Very Becoming to Some of the Females of the Species. The flounced skirts are charming in thin black, whether two, three or five tiered or composed of many rows of little ruffles. A rival of these models is the petal pointed skirt which, at first plain edged, now often has its points outlined with a narrow frill, sometimes plaited, sometimes gathered. A charming version of this idea was seen a few days since. At first sight it seemed to be composed of haphazard points and frills, but there was really a definite plan in the arrangement. There were three tulle skirts, one over the other, cut into different shapes, the two top ones edged with ruffles. Their placing is very clever, and the dainty widening at the hips was insured by a bit of haircloth —orin braid it is now called -—which was placed under the tulle.

Chantilly Veils Worn.

Veils this year have come into their own. They not only drop from the top of the high-crowned hats and fall to the shoulders, but on the widebrimmed hats, in a number of instances, the Tell is finished with a broad band of black velvet, which may either be drawn in around the throat or allowed to hang, as is found becoming. Meshes, as a rule, are very light over the face with a delicate dotted design or a border. This is true even of the Chantilly veils, which will he worn extensively, as well as the simpler net meshes.

SKATING COSTUME

The coat is an angora texture with splashes of white resembling snowflakes. The sleeves are long and roomy, fitting snugly at the wrists, An angora throw-over scarf is effectively used to keep the cold away from the throat. A jaunty cap of the same material as that of the coat has a single black feather as its trimming. Gauntlet gloves of angora with the white splashes. The skirt is of a heavy woolen texture and reaches below the shoe-tops.

with the wall in the back, suspends on three wires from a brass hook in the wall. These wires may be, all three, electric wires, in which case three bulk lights may be within the bag, or just one of the wires need be electric, resulting in the use of one light. All wires are covered with tarnished gold bullion braid. The braid is twisted into a decorative bow or rosette as a top finish. Now, can’t you imagine how beautiful these bag lights are when all aglow? Some are made more plainly, without the lace. And of all the colors, I think deep rose is the very prettiest.

Taffeta Trimming.

White taffeta trims some of the most successful sheer white frocks, and this silk is often used very liberally in such combinations, without detracting from the simplicity of the frock. Little pinked frills of white taffeta are used in profusion on one model of finest white voile. Another sheer frock of net is trimmed in graduated bands of taffeta from hem to hip and has an odd sleeveless little overbasque of taffeta with a full narrow peplum below the cord that marks the waist line.

Flowers of Velvet.

Velvet flowers introduced in front of the dark dresses and coats are to redeem them from dullness. We are to place these at the throats of the high collars of our coats, or just in front of the bust. They make a wonderful difference in the somberness of the aspect.

Flannels for Wool.

Outing and canton flannels are taking the place of woolens to quite an extent, for it is not the fact of its being wool that gives warmth, but that the fuzziness of the wool holds the air, that great non-conductor of heat and cold. One must not think that because a material is a mixture of cotton and something else it is necessarily a poor investment. A suiting made of cotton and a good quality of wool would look and wear better than a suiting sold for the same price made entirely of wool, for the latter would necessarily be made of such an inferior grade of wool that it would soon become shapeless.

Scallops.

Scallops are more and more used on blouses, skirts, sleeves and every other part of the new frock. Deep, square, round or pointed scallops are much used on taffeta skirts, sometimes falling over a ruffle of lace, gathered or accordion plaited. A new idea is to use three or four not very full ruffles pointed in six or eight/ points each. The points are very deep and overlap each other in most effective manner.

Sleeveless Gowns Passe.

Evening dresses are sleeved! Sometimes the sleeves are mere wisps, 'tis true, but yet they cover to an extent milady’s pretty shoulders and makes them even prettier for the veiling. A few evening dresses will be sleeveless, but they will be the exception. The 1860 drop shoulder is also forcing itself upon fashionable notice, and a few extreme evening gowns show :t* charming lines.

However, the man at the bottom ai the ladder hasn't far to fall.

Dr. Pierce** Pellet* are beet for liver, bowela end stomach. One little Pellet for a laxative—three for a cathartic.—Adv.

Prepared.

Maddern —I understand ink la going up. Blixon —I don’t care. 1 Just filled my fountain pen.

Net Gray Hairs bat Tired Eyes

make us look older than we are. Keep your Eyes young and yon will look young. After the Movies always Murine Your Eyee— Don’t tell your age.

Try, Try Again.

Blondine —1 understand Mrs. Glddlgad has been married five times. Brunetta—Yes, poor dear! She never seems to have any luck with her huebands.

His Plea.

Skimpy little Mr. Meek’s stalwart helpmeet grabbed him with both hands by the hair of the head to illustrate some point which she wished to impress upon him. “My dear, my dear,” he chided. ,C I am afraid you have forgotten that I am attached to the other ends of those hairs.”

HANDS LIKE VELVET

Kept So by Daily Use of Cutlcura Soap and Ointment. Trial Free. On retiring soak hands in hot Cutlcura soapsuds, dry and rub the Ointment into the hands some minutes. Wear bandage or old gloves during night. This is a “one night treatment for red, rough, chapped and sore hands." It works wonders. Sample each free by mail with 32-p. Skin Book. Address Cutlcura, Dept. XY, Boston. Sold everywhere.—Adv.

Philanthropical.

“Don’t you come across a good many things in the Bible that you don’t understand, like the problem of Cain’s wife, for Instrnce?” queried the layman, as he sat at a city restaurant table. “Oh, yes, of course,” acknowledged the clergyman. “Well, what do you do about it?” “My dear friend," replied the minister, laying down his fork, “I simply do Just as I would while eating a nice fresh herring. When I come to the bone I quietly lay it on one side, and go on enjoying the meal, letting any idiot that insists on choking himself with the bone do so.” —London TitBits.

Large Club for Boys.

The boy in the city must avoid many side tracks if he desires to lead an upright and useful life, says the Bostop Globe. Constantly he is beset with distractions which may lead him astray into the rangs of the incompetent, idle or even vicious. He is an inquisitive, knowledge-thirsting creature, full of the great possibilities of youth. His latent powers are precious; yet they are wasted with a prodigality akin almost to that of nature. Hence the establishment of the large boys’ club in Roxbury, handsomely housed and well equipped, means that many boys will be given the opportunity to keep on the main line leading to a useful life. A boy’s enthusiasm is more often aroused when he thinks he is playing than when he is working at school. The boys’ club can catch him when he is enthusiastic and start that enthusiasm toward manly accomplishment. We wish the club every success.

HARD TO DROP But Many Drop It.

A young Calif, wife talks about coffee: “It was hard to drop Mocha and Java and give Postum a trial, but my nerves were so shattered that I was a nervous wreck and of course that means all kinds of ails. “I did not want to acknowledge coffee caused the trouble for I was very fond of it. At that time a friend came to live with us, and I noticed that after he had been with us a week he would not drink his coffee any more. I asked him the reason. He replied: ‘I have not had a headache since I left off drinking coffee, some months ago, till last week, when I began again here at your table. I don’t see how anyone can like coffee, anyway, after drinking Postum!’ “I said nothing, but at once ordered a package of Postum. That was five months ago, and we have drank no coffee since, except on two occasions when we had company, and the result each time was that my husband could not sleep, but lay awake and tossed and talked half the night. were convinced that coffee ca*f£ed his suffering, so he returned te Postum, convinced that coffee was an enemy, instead of a friend, and he is troubled no more by insomnia. “I have gained 8 pounds in weight, and my nerves have ceased to quiver. It seems so easy now to quit coffee that caused our aches and ails and take up Postum.” Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Postum comes in two forms: Postum Cereal—the original form — must be well boiled. 15c and 25c packages. Instant Postum —a soluble powder — dissolves quickly in a cup of hot water, and, with cream and sugar, makes a delicious beverage instantly, SOc and 50c tins. Both kinds are equally delicious and cost about the same per cup. "There’s a Besson" for Postum. ' c-sold by Grocers,