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PAGE FOURTEEN Weise ent Se le » THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 1930 'Getting Ready For Chelsbans By Ruth Holway The sudden shrieks of spon- taneous glee from young Jack, and small sister Betty, accomplished what parental pleading could not. It brought Mary and Billy, the two older and more deliberate child- roe, pell-mell down the stairs, on time to breakfast for once in their lives. "Well!" growled Billy, with as- sumed indifference, what's the ghastly row?" "They're coming!" cried Jack. "For Christmas!" chimed in Betty, jumping up and down in her chair. Mary turned to me with a ges- ture toward the letter in my band. "I suppose," she said, with big- . sister calmness, "They mean Aunt Helen and Lenore and Dick." | nodded, and Mary and Billy took their placse at the table. "That's great!" they cried in chorus. "The head of the House was half way through his break- fast, and no one else had even be- gun. "Well, of course," announced Mary. "We'll have to make a new centerpiece this year." "Of course!" agreed Billy. Mary and Billy usually thought the same way about things. "But," I protested, feebly, while I filled four porridge plates, "Last year's centerpiece is as good as new. That English Inn was such a lot of work. I packed it away, the little street-lamp, dolls and all." The chorus of scorn that rang out from the other five, left me hopelessly in the minority. Aunt Helen and Dick and Lenore had seen the English Inn last year! They would think we weren't bright enough to think up some- thing new! Whereas they all were bursting with ideas. And couldn't Daddy make anything? With their competent assistance? By the time breakfast was over, and they were all away--Mary and Billy to University, Jack to high school; Betty grade echool: the Head of the House, down-town-- they had resolved, unanimously. to make an old English Coach and Four. At first I did think it would be a lot of unnecessary work, then 1 remembered what fun they all had over the Inn, and I wisely decided to co-operate. The Inn was made of cardboard tacked on to a ' light wooden frame about two feet square. The three older childrne all helped with the painting, taking great pride in making the doors, case- ment windows, the strapping and $2.00 $1.00 Robertshaw's ALL THE NEW ALL THE NEW Reprints 50c and 85c FICTION FICTION Miniature from $1.75 to $8.75 Games of All Descriptions Golf Sets WE HAVE THE BEST IN CHRISTMAS CARDS 37 Simcoe N. ROBERTSHAW'S the sign, as correct in detail possible. Cotton batting was used to imitate snow, and there was real smoke coming out of the chimneys (incense cones set in tin contalpers that fitted the chimneys). There were Christmas seals and holly wreaths in all the windows. The Inn was wired, and it and the street lamp were lighted from a trans- former. The street-lamp was perfect-- made by the Head of the House of cardboard painted black, and looking as though it had stood out in all kinds of weather for fifty years or more. Thy Yule log was real, and Jack produced a chain from his mécanno set to help out the husky lads who were to do the dragging. Finding suitable dolls has been our biggest problem. Having fin- ally collected a few with real pos- sibilities, we use them year after year, redressed to conform with the current center-piece. In this case, the Madonna of a previous scene was despoiled of her white head-dress,, and her robe of mid- night blue chiffon, and dressed in a green taffeta gown and hat, and a scarlet flannel coat, trimmed with white swansdown. We called her the "lovely lady," arel she did look lovely, and Christmassy too, her arms filled with miniature parcels tied in red ribbon, She came originally from a great big city store, and was a doll-house mother doll. The innkeeper was a ten-cent celluloid doll made fatter with padding and dressed in a red vest and big white apron. He had been a Wise Man in the Manger scene, but his cheerful dignity seemed quite unchanged by his new posi tion in life. The carollers were dressed in old clothes and '"'tip- pets." The smallest one is a rub- ber doll with {ts face re-paintea. We call Mm 'Squirt', and feel he should have a mother to care for him, buy we don't know what to do about it, We hunted up a little gold fiddle which made a splendid base viol, The sheet of music was real too, and we don't think our guests noticed that it was the chorus of "Three O'Clock in the Morning'! Sometimes before lun- cheon, that day, I telephoned my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, to tell her for Christmas. In the course of the conversation, Elizabeth said, *1 thought your Inn last year was a ifttle large for the width of your table." "Maybe it was," I conceded, "But I thought it was lovely, How- ever, Harold and the children al- ready have decided to make a new centerpiece." "Well, she sald. I don't see why you don't use that desert scene you had the year you had twenty-five for Christmas dinner The manger and the wise men and the shepherds with that sky above it and all was quite the nicest thing you ever did." "But," 1 explained, patiently "There's nothing left of {t now We've re-dressed all the dolls and the sky and the manger have gone to glory." At the end of our conversation she finished with---"'If I were you I'd get out that desert centerpieca and use it again." Well of course J] knew the fam- fly wouldn't make that centerpiece all over again, Previously we had made a desert scene with the wise- men meeting at an oasis, and we simply elaborated on that one when we added the manger. The Head of the House made the frame for the sky out of wire, then covered it with midnight blue paper and silver stars, The sand was a mixture of cornmeal apd cream of wheat. The palm trees were very realistic the trunks were plone twigs, and the leaves werc cut out of green crepe paper, then wired. The stable and mang- er were made of twigs too, and we Phone 1472 "We take Lleasure-- in presenting gifts that will give pleasure fcr many years to come that wii give real --fine Diamond Jewellery, beautiful watches service--fine silverware to modernize the tablz, Come in and sce the many gift. so carefully sclected for every occasion. Special Showin DIAMON A marvelous array Diamond Rings at the modest price of $73 up "Community Plate vie ol tam is plo- tar Sndel" Chest. Service fol 8 if with modeled Stalnlca Deluxe Knives Many Others Be sure Sad see our ing af Higher pric '23 Finest Watches For Women Beautiful nationally ad- vertised Wrist Watches BASSETT'S On Oshawa"s Main Corner went to the drug store for our hav packing which had been used around bottles, Suitable toy camels of S of that Helen was to be with us again | Waiting for Santa could not be bought. We had one which had hung on the Christmas tree in former years, so we had to imagine that the other twp were resting, just outside the scene, However, we found a delightful donkey for the stable, and some sheep for the shepherds. The shep- herds werd dressed in brown and carried crooks made of heavy wire The Baby in the manger was sweet enough for any Madoona picture. We wrapped him in white chiffon swaddlinig clothes, add the Head of the House put a tiny elec- tric light bulb over the Mother and Baby. This wee light and the candles were all that were when the 'family gathering" into the dining-room on Christma Day, so that the whole scene 100k- came | lightens | | restoration ed very real and lovely. There were only three weeks leit before Christmas, when the decision was made to create a new counter piece for Be, so there was no tim to be lost. The Head of the Hous drove me downtown that first after. noon, and | wasn't surprised to fir myself busy shopping. We chose spirited dapple-grey horses about sev en inches high, then my husband § ed around until he found on wheels, of two sizes the coach! Mary drew a plan of a c a Christmas card, then the the House proceeded to n frame to scale in comparison with thi size of the horses. The frame w soldered together and c overed cardboard, br wheels ! yal h from Head of ike a wire then painted br with black and gold trimuni windows and the coach lamps filled with in cel Jacl the fourteer made the luggage hats. The old 1 positvely battered, and the gladsto bags and hat boxes were in keep ing with the picture. Across the tro: of our house on the ses | floor, we have three large windows with desk in front of each. When I whole family working away together | there one afternoon, I knew I had | another picture that 1 never woul forget I was going sh pping, so the Head of the House told me to bring | home some red oil-¢loth for the har- | ness. Well, there just wasn't any red oil-cloth in the whole town, so, rather | nervously, I brought back some red | woolly Christmassy rope that 1| thought might do. The Head of the | House tossed it mm utter scorn, and told me pity not to bother, | that he would look after it himself He painted white oil-cloth red Anyway I did make the liveries-- out of green felt with gold paper but- tons--and was very proud of my work. Billy made the sign-post, and regretted that the coach took away something from the artistry of h's masterpiece. Small Betty took the china lady out of her pincushion and dressed her in red silk and "ermine" as a surprise, for her bit, Just before dinner on Christmas day, 1 discovered the Head of the House, rigging up a bulb with a bat- tery inside the coach, to light up its four passengers--a last-minute in: spiration. 'The whole effect was charming, and everyone was delight ed--cven "Aunt" Ehzabeth was pleased with our efforts, After years of "old-fashioned" Christmasses, the outstanding convie- tion in my mind is this: Children oi all ages agree that the greatest fun of all is getting ready for Christ- sas, FAMOUS HOSPIGE OF ST. JOSEPH T0 BE DEMOLISHED Historic Montreal Institution Possesses Remarkable Wooden Statue Montreal, Que.--Religlous cere- monies lately forecast the demoll- tion of the well-known Hospice St. Joseph and Eglise St. Joseph on Cathedral street between St. An- toine and St. James streets and bring to mind interesting facts about an old wooden statue of the church's patron, reported to have been miraculously recovered from a sunken ship and to have accom- plished numerous miracles. In 1857, a wooden gfatue of St. Joseph was ordered from a famous French sculptor for the mother house of the Grey Nuns. The ship which brought the statue was re- ported sunk and the statue wae thought to have been lost. Pere Faillon ordered a second statue for the mother house, which was dedicated November 11, 1857. About one year later, several men walking at the foot of Me- Gill Pier saw.a box [loating in the water, They hauled it ashore and found the words "Soeurs Grises"-- Grey Nuns--printed on the box. The box was brought to .the Hose pice St. Joseph where it was found that it contained the first statue ordered by Pere Faillon, The statue was blessed in 1863 and was placed In the church where it has remained since that date. This statue has accomplished a old boy, and the stove-pipe | wn trunk 1 all saw great number of miracles, Rev. Sister Ste. Sabine, superior of the liospice, announced. Several crip pled persons have left the church completely cured after a visit. One case is related by the superior where a local religious congrega- tion needed a special sum of money to pay debts, Several means were employed to raise the sum but all failed. A pilgrimage was made to the church and on the day when the sum was due, an unknown per- on brought the exact amount to the institution for the benefit of the congregation, The gtatue, the altars and the windows will soon removed from the church for after which they will the new $400,000 order at Cote St. stained glass be in gtructure of the | Michel installed be Christmas cakes and breads are largely hte outgrowth of super- stitlous custom or of religious wor- ship. Although most of these ola customs have been forgotten or are followed mow only because they carry with them a certain senti ment, the breads and cakes them- selves have come down to our day. Each country has its own char- ncteristic feast cake or bread. The term cake is applied to all of them, although some of them are in real- ity rich, sweet breads in general, they require a greater variety of spices; including even pepper, than do our recipes. In early days it was believed that the aroma of the spices ascended to the heavens and pleased the senses of the zods, The liquid ingredients vary from country to country. The German housewife uses such things as rose water and honey, while her Italian sister uses orange-flower water. and the English cook, lavender water, Rose water added to some American cake recipes gives re- sclts that are delightful. In ancient Scandinavia, the Christmas Eve celebration was as elaborate as it could be made and was characterized by prolonged feasting. Peace offerings in the form of cakes of fine flour. sweetened with honey, were offer- ed to the gods. This cake, called yulg cake, was sliced, toasted and soaked in spicy ale, Sweets From All Lands Since the Scandinavian festival was held in honor of the gode, many of the cakes and cookies Christmas Breads and Cakes Outcome of Old Customs were made in the shapes of ani- mals that were sacrificed to them. Among these the wild boar was probably. most common, but we find also chickens, geese, birds, sheep and others. In England, each county boasts certain immemorial dishes which cannot possible be quite so good it eaten elsewhere. 'Tis sald the Englishman likes to taste each in- dividual ingredient in his cake. For this reason many of the Eng- lish pastries are rather heavy and rich. England still has her fragrant little saffron-colored shells filled with rich plum pudding. They are caled simnel cakse, They look for all the world like little golden chests stuffed with rich fruit mix- tures, Rus 'a sends us a lovely pastry, Russian cake, that has no leaven- ing at all.' In some sections many kinds of cakes are spread on the table and left overnight so that the Christ- mag angels which fly over the earth announcing Christ's birth may pause for a moment and taste of them. No modern German Christmas would be complete without Pfef- fernuss--pepper-nuts-- and Leb- kuchen. Peppernuts are tiny spicy cakes that are actually as hard as nuts when first made, but they be- come mellow with storage. Leb- kuchen is the most famous honey cake of Germany, and it deserves all its fame. Christstollen are still made in parts of Germany. They are small sweet rolls made in the form of a child to represent the Christ Child. Cookies in the shapes of animals and angels are also popular, The Holiday Spirit In Bavaria girls present their sweethearts on Christmas Eve with a sweet roll in whose fruity insides a joke is hidden. Nor dare the young man be offended. Theee cakes are called Klosenscherz, which translated, is "dumpliag joke." Austrian cakes include Alpen- butterbrodchen, the name meaning "little Alpine bread and butter." There are tiny, candy-like cookles called Zimmisterne, or cinnamon stars and Spanische Windbackerei, Interestingly enough, with all her fame as a cook, the French housewife depends largely upon the baker for her holiday breads and cakes. She does, however, make the dainty French cream cakes. As rhe measures the ingredi- ents and stirs them together, she seasons them with her chanting of "Noel! Noel!" From Holland we get the cakes of St. Nicholas, which are hard lt- tle cookies when first made, but improve with age. Last of all we have the Bohem- fan Christmas twist, which looks as Interesting as it tastes, It is a sweet yeast bread consisting of three braids, one piled on top of another. Throughout Europe it is a come mon custom to express the Christ- mas spirit by giving to friends and neighbors gifts of fine eakes and breads. The erucial period in the Brazil re volution has been reach fd=wh en the revolutionicts find that the ex- pected to live in peace with one ane are At A vatand 8 "HE Book Department Is packed with an immense array of and a nice new fiction, reprints range of Gift Books. Boys' and Girls' Books. All the new annuals Children's books, suitable for all ages Rag Books Baby Books Snapshot Albums Postage Stamp Albums or airplane. Is open with everything to delight the kiddies from a horn to an auto Electric Trains, Moving Picture Ma- chines, Steam Shovels and Rollers, FOLKS HOPES NDERSON TOYLAND Gifts. Chi Pianos, , Gramoph » Ranges, Ikes, Merry Go 18 King St. East ED ETH HCD HO IESE Kalk Mechano and Erector Sets, and Carriages, Beds, Rockers, Sewing Machines, Electric Tinker Toys, Andys, Trumpets, Tricycles, Kid- die Can, Sleighs and Scooters. Dolls Cradles and Crazy Rounds, Sandy Main Store Presents a big display of Christmas Boxed Stationery Framed Pictures and Mottos Toilet and Manicure Sets Book Ends and Covers Candle Sticks Cigarette Boxes Christmas Cards and Booklets. Christmas Calendars and Crackers Scheaffer, Waterman and Parker Desk Sets Christmas Decorations and Gift Wrappings ar SHEERS SEES EERE HES SNES NENT HEE KS MUN OMNIS tai 4 TTR TT TAT LRNRNCH = a 5. Sd g & ¢ & & & & be § THE FAIR Hundreds of Dresses Balance of Coats Kimonas Sweaters Suitable For Christmas Gifts At Wondertully Reduced Prices 7 Simcoe St. South } Cris ES YS ES WDA SMES CES EIS BIE NO SHS ---- bh A Eee |