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The Clinton News Record, 1941-12-25, Page 8'HURS.,I C.• 25, 1941 THE CLINTON NEWS-RECORI) PAGE 7 HOUSEHOLD ECONOMICS aseemaaeaireee CARE .OF CHILDREN COOKING HEALTH. SAFETY FIRST Merry Christmas Also Famous As Year's No. 1 Danger Season If youyunnt a truly merry Christmas be sure that the frivolity of the season doesn't turn it into tragedy. Tha National Safety Council points out that the holidays are he nsostdangerous part of the year, re• plete with auto casualties, home accidents, burns and falls. Keep these "don'ts" in mind and you'll live to see the new year: DON'T give •children dangerous toys, or toys with sharp points. If they operate with electricity, be sure you supervise their use. DON'T decorate the tree with lighted candles unless it's absolutely unavoidable. Carefully wired elec- tric bulbs are much safer. DON'T place the tree near a stove or (fireplace. DON'T leave a Lighted tree un- guarded nguarded at any time; you must be on the lookout for fires. DON'T use a rickety, unsafe lad- der in decorating the tree. DON'T place Christmas candles near the tree, curtains, paper wreaths or other decorations. DON'T overlook the opportunity to make your tree fire-resistant. Ac- SORRYOLP MAN,/ �7✓'��� YoulL' IAVETO i� ✓ WAtr n11 VIE CHANGE THE 6UARP cording to the United States forestry service, you can do it this way: Divide the weight of your tree by four and buy that many pounds of ammonium sulphate. Dissolve it in water, one and a half pints to each pound of ammonium sulphate. Cut the end of your tree trunk on a diagonal, put some solution in a jai and stick the diagonal butt into the solution. Add solution as the tree drinks it up. DON'T he excessive about Christ- mas "spirits." ' DON'T leave toys exposed where people can trip on them. DON'T leave your tree in the house after it becomes dried out. DON'T allow steps and sidewalk* to become icy in cold weather. During Christmas you'll probably have many guests; sprinkle salt or sand in dangerous spots. DON'T drive carefully — unless you want to live and enjoy 1941. City of New Orleans Likes Its Fireworks Ili Christmas Season. Christmas without firecrackers just isn't Christmas down in New Orleans, "If anybody not got no firewo'k he mighty po'," say the Creoles gay- ly. The more the fireworks, the better the Christmas ori the lower side of Canal street. While other people are shooting off fireworks on July 4, New Or- leans is swelter- ing under intense heat. Outside ac- tivities are out of the question. With noisy July 4 festivities out of the question, it was easy to be- gin celebrating Christmas, instead, with the firing of skyrockets, Roman candles and firecrackers. Once start- ed, there was no stopping it. Shooting starts several weeks be- fore Christmas, and every night the tumult increases. Parents consist- ently caution their children to save the firecrackers until the twenty- fifth, because they won't get any more. The boys and girls refuse to believe this prophecy, but feel that Providence will not allow them to go crackerless. Even the almost penniless have firecrackers, but the more wealthy win the envy of others with their rockets. Enthusiasm is not limited to the young boys, but it is shared by the entire family, Boys and girls parade up and down the streets at night, making a racket with tin trumpets and "instruments" they picked up on the way. They ring doorbells, then run away with joyful laughter. The sky is lighted up with rockets and firecrackers beat a constant staccato. The fun begins again the next morning, with greater enthusiasm than ever. Although a boy may have bankrupted himself the day before, firecrackers have taken a great drop in price. He must have a new supply because they are cheap, Now the juveniles grow reckless. Whole packages of firecrackers go off at one full blow; those who were firecracker bays yesterday are skyrocket boys today. As night comes on, the streets seem ablaze with ex- plosives and colored rockets. The second morning after Christ- mas the streets are strewn thick with burned pieces of fireworks; but the air is clear. The acrid odor of fireworks is again replaced by the perfume of Christmas roses. Sugar and Water Stops Pall Of Christmas Tree Needles it's easy to stop the fall of Christ- mas tree needles. Saw off a portion of the tree's base—enough -so the fresh wood will be exposed. Set a shallow pan of water beneath the base of the tree, in which the base should be immersed. A teaspoonful of sugar should be added to the wa- ter. The water provides needed ' moisture and the sugar nourishes the needles, -. giving them strength to hold on longer. lid Christmas. Week Offers Chance to Predict Weather Weather prognosticators have found means 01 forecasting most of the coating year's weather by cocking an eye at the sky during Christmas week. You may not believe them, but here are a few of the varied—and conilicting— beliefs about Christmas weather: If the sun shines through. the apple time on Christmas day, there will be a good crop the following year. If ice will bear a man before Christmas, it will not bear a mouse afterward. Thunder anal lightning. Christ- mas week means ranch snow in the winter. Wet causes more damage than frost before than after Christmas. If it snows Christmas night, the hop crop will be. good next year. At Christmas =views g.cen, at Basle:.ctn"mwith ed frost. If winder Christmas day, trees will bring much fruit. Christmas wat gives empiy granary and barrel. A green Christmas makes a tat graveyard. A warm Christmas, a co'cl was• ter. A green Christmas, a wbite Easter. Tropical Christmas on • the Islands in Haw'ii d T'S asking a lot to expect ;incite born In temperate latitudes to get steamed up about Christmas in the tropics. But to children born on islands in the middle of the Pacific, Christmas is still—Christmas, writes Armine von Tempski in Cosriopoli• tan. On the outlying islands in Ha wail, Christmas is carried in on horse. back, and the jingle of paniolos' spurs replaces the imagined tinkle of Santa's merry sleigh bells. On Christmas eve some inner part of me waits and listens all night fot the tramp of horses' hoofs, the ring. ing of spurs, rich Hawaiian voices singing above resonant guitars and gay ukuleies; for cowboy serenad• err, riding from ranch to ranch. Like cadenced moles, which put an everlasting spell upon you, memo- ries of Christmases spent on the sixty -thousand -acre cattle ranch my father managed on the slopes of Haleakala, the extinct volcano on the island of Maui, persist with un- dying vividness. A fair number o1 persons, representing different races making up the sum total of humanity, participated in them. Americans, Hawaiians, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and their cross- ings assembled under our roof Christmas eve. Each group brought a flavor peculiarly its own to add to the Birthday of all birthdays. Use Flashlight to Test Christmas Tree Bullis If you are doubtful about certain lamps in your Christmas tree string, here's an easy way to check for those that are burned out. Remove the regular lamp from a five -cell flashlight. Then screw in the lights one at a time. While they will not burn brightly with such low current, they will glow if still good, Burned -out lamps will not glow at all. etieleerivIrtalealeeaelealeIeseeteeeeeeertee 1 ed Recipes CEREAL SWEETS ARE FINE • PENNYSAVERS Orchids on a budget are a 'cinch compared to the task of satisfying the, sweet tooth, of a horde .of hungry youngsters when the weekly food pen- nies have to be watched. Here's where the morning cereal box 'comes in handy .These crisp, prepared cereals can pinch-hit for more expensive ingredients in the making of cookies and candy. They do a neat job of recipe stretch- ing. Besides, they make sweets that are actually good for the child- ren—and not too rich. Three to be remembered are: Pep Rocks,. All - Bran Chocolate Chip Cookies and Bran Brittle. Pep Rocks Ye 'cup shortening % cup brown swgar 1% cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 eggs 'F• teaspoon salt i/ teaspoon almond flavoring a4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup finely 'chopped dates 1 cup chopped nut meats 3 cups vitamin enriched wheat flakes. Blend shortening and sugar thor- oughly; add eggs and beat well. Sift flour with baking powder and salt and adci to first mixture with remain- ing ingredients. Drop by tablespoons on greased baiting sheet and bake in moderate oven (375 D. F.) about 10 minutes, Yield: 2% dozen eookies (216 in- ches in diameter. A11 -Bran. Chocolate Chill Cookies lift pounce semi -sheet chocolate cup shortening 3 cup brown sugar Y. cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon soda 2 tablespoons hot water 2% cepa flour 14 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract la cup cheeped nut meats % cup All -Bran Chop chocolate coarsely. Blend shortening and sugar well; add eggs, one at a time; beat thoroughly. Dis- solve soda in hot water and add to mixture. Sift flour with salt; add to mixture—with flavoring, chocolate, nut meats and All -Bran. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet and bake in moderate oven (37a D. F.) 15 to 20 minutes. Yield: 6 dozen cookies (2% inches in diameter.) Bran Brittle 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 94 cap light corn syrup 1 cup water 34 cup butter - 9s teaspoon salt 1% eupsAlly$ran Cook .sugars, corn syrup and water slowly; stirring until sugar is dis- solved. Continue cooking without st ,ring until 300 D. F. is reached, (cold water test, very brittle.) Re- move from heat, add butter and salt; stiff only enough to mix well. Add All -Bran and turn at once onto greas- ed slab or greased inverted pans, or baking sheets. Smooth out with spatula. After about 80 seconds take hold of edges of candy and, lifting it slightly from slab, pull it as thin as possible. Break into regular pieces. Yield: 194 pounds, v THE FIRST CHRISTMAS The shepherds heard a song And saw a light from above. I'm free to say these lowly men That blazed the trail,- to love. And men of lore Pound everything that night Worth striving for. Pie wise glen saw a star —Myra Brooks Welch TOWN IN WINTER Now through barren branches• chim- neys show and roofs of houses summer hid from .sight, North from Main Street one can mark the row of distant hills, smoothed over now with snow, where stands of pine show black against the white. The shaded streets where summer - green swept low now trace a frieze .of twigs against the light, and boughs that rattle when, the white winds blow are decked with stars upon a frost - clear night. - -Aileen L, Fishes These Rules When Addressing Christmas Curds IN ADDRESSING: Christmas, cards, many questions are bound to arise with regard to. correct forme The following tips on addressing Christmas Carr's will,. therefore,. be welcomed iby vel who have cards to, send. Christmas greeting cards fail into two general classes, formal and in- formal. If you use printed or en- graved card's for formal use, the title Miss, Mr., or itIr. and Mrs. should preferably appear above the greeting. For instance: "Mr. and Mrs. Frank Russell wish you a Mer- ry Christmas," rather than "A Mer- ry Christmas from Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Russell." - Whose name should come first„ the husband's or the wife's? Gen- erally, the husband's name comes first. On informal cards, signed in ink, it is quite prosier to sign, "Bill and Shirley,," or Bill and Shirley Adams, depending.. of course, upon how well you know the acquaintance. A married woman, whether her husband is alive or not, should be addressed with "leers." prefixed to her husband's full name, Every card sent out should bear a Mr., Mrs., or Miss prefix. Failure to use tbis prefix is are umpandonabie breath of courtesy. Do not address a divorcee by her maiden name,. unless settle name has, been established by legal procedure. John Robertson may be a. busi- ness associate of yours,. to, whom you want to send a Christmas card,. but youclonet know his wife. What shall you do hr a case of this kind?' It is quite proper to send your card to, Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson,. al- though, on the other hand, it is equally proper to send the carr] in his name only. it acids a• little of the personal touch to learn the home address and send the card there,, although directing the card to a business address is quite proper: Some question as to the proprie- ty of sending out Christmas curds, may enter the mind's of t6s family in mourning. By the same toeen, some question may arise as to the - sending of Christmas cards to thein. If the bereavement is very recent— within a month—it may be better for the family to omit Christmas calci;. And cards to be sent to the fancily. should he selected with considera- ble care. Superstitions About Christmas i QIGNIFICANT meanings surround Christmas', according to, t� superstitions believed in various parts of the world. ![ In Holstein MIistietoe le not only supposed to be a cure for all green wounds, but will insure success in the chase and give strength to the wrestler, 4I Early Norsemen believed for cen- turies that the Mistletne would give protection against both bodily ail- ments ilments and evil spirits. 4C A person who is born on Clrint- mas will have power to nee and com- mand spirits, according to. a Scottish belief. 41, French peasants believe tbat babies born on Christmas have the gift of prophecy. q If a baby is born at sermon tune on Christmas Eve in Middle Europe, it portends that someone in the house will die within the .year. 4f. Daughters born in the Vosges, France, on December 23 will be wise, witty and virtuous. q A baby born on Christmas in Silesia will become either u lawyer or a thief. 41" Girls in the ancient Duchy of Swavia seldom missed the oppor- tunity offered by Christmas to look into the future at their future hus- bands, On Christmas Eve they would go to the woodpile to draw sticks, If a girl pulled a thick stick, her hus- band would be stout; if a long stick, lie would be tali; if a crooked stick, he would be deformed. They would determine the business of their fu- ture husbands by dropping melted' lead into a pan of cold water: The molten metal would form veri.ees shapes is coaling, and tints resemble the insignia of bis occupation: mer shape, a carpenter; shoe shape, a cobbler, Every piece of lend re- sembled sonic occupation to the old wives. 41, A maiden in Switzerland who ee- cepts a bunch of Edelweiss at Car?st- mas also accepts the gran who proi- fore it. QI All ain male to the German Alps can speak on C'hnistrnas Eve. 41. It is helieve-! _e the Netherlarirls, that nothing sown on Christmas Eve will perish, Even seed' sewn in the snow will Iive. 41, A Bohemian wife wilt die within a. year if she burns a Christmas cake. 4, To insure an abundant harvest i^ Denmark, seine of the bread on Christmas is kept until sown -r time, when it is mixed with the rest 1.. 41, It is said that bread baked on .Christmas fn England nitre, hi- comes rcomes moldy. Ql Ashes must •not tea thrown oet On' Christmas day in sortie sontur e n•' Europe., for fear they inlaid he thrown into the Savior's face. AI Some families in Scandeenv: place ani their shoes together :u. Christmas, This will cause them to live in harmony throughout the vim. lChristrnas Tree Industry `Aims to Please' A highly developed ind•tctr'', Christmas tree production aims to satisfy all types, of customers. Here a workman after bundling his trees according to sizes and grade is sinn- ing the butts to even lengths. In cities where ceilings are. high. as in old communities, taller trees are, desired. For modern low-ceilinged living rooms, only medium and shorter sizes find ready market. The most popular hind of Christ- mas tree is the fir. It is generally preferred because it tends to hold Lis needles longer than any other evergreen tree. Spruces, pines, hemlocks and red -cedars are also used as Christmas trees. CHARM OF CHRISTMAS HE chief charm of Christmas is its simplicity. It is a festi- val estival that appeals to everyone be- cause everyone can understand it. A genuine fellowship per- vades our common life—a fellow- ship whose source is our common share in the world's greatest Life which was given to the whole world.—Kimball. - French Village Portrays Story of Christ's Birth Les Baux in France, a village of shepherds, puts on one of the most dramatic Christmas celebrations in the world, and has done it yearly for over a thousand years. The peasants act out the whole Bethle- hem story. Joseph and Mary drive into the "City of David" with real oxen. '•Thousands of visitors come every Christmas eve to see the event.