TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1953
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
PAGE SEWN
PA4~E SEVE~i
Machine Age Changes,
Holiday Tree Tradition
By JANET SMITH
s In former days, when Christmas
came along, all our pioneer ances-.
tors had to do was go out in the
woods, ax in hand, and cut down
a tree.',
But the problem is not so sim-
ple in the machine age. Cutting
and selling the traditional trees
has become a big and often very
profitable industry, according ;o
Dr. K. P. Davis, chairman of the
Department of Forestry in the
School of Natural Resources.
ALTHOUGH a great many of
the trees used in this part of the
country are imported from Cana-'
da, more and more of them are be-
ing grown locally.
Michigan has almost unlimited
facilities for growing the trees.
With the practice of just going
out into the forest and cutting
down a tree dying out, the "plan-
tation" system of growing them
is becoming more and more im-
portant.
Under this system the seedlings
are planted over several acres of
cleared land. They are trimmed
and carefully cared for until
reaching the desired size. They are
then systematically cut and sent
to market.
Although pines formerly have
not been too numerous in Michi-
gan, they are becoming more pop-
ular with the public. Many of the
"plantations" now raise white
pines.
THE ACTUAL selling of the
trees to the public is a very risky
and competitive business. One of
the major reasons for this is the
lack of system.
Many of the trees are mar-
keted by large concerns, but
there are also a great many of
them sold by individuals, who
buy only one or two truckloads.
There is no way of predicting
just how many salesmen will con-
centrate in a given area. Conse-
quently, an area that suffers a
scarcity of trees one year may find
the market flooded the next sea-
son.
Also adding to the risk involved
is the seasonal aspect of the in-
dustry. There is nothing of less
value than an unsold Christmas
tree the day after Christmas.
IN SPITE OF the "shifty" na-
ture of the business, many planta-
tion owners are gaining large prof-
its per acre.
Shipping of the trees is also a
big business. Distances as great
as from New Brunswick to Mexi-
co are often covered. Most of the
transporting is by truck.
In spite of the wide-spread dis-
tribution of Christmas trees, some
localities in the southwest can not
secure enough trees. Many people
in these areas use cactus plants in-
stead.
Martin Luther is credited with
having brought the first Christmas
tree indoors more than 400 years
ago. Since that time fir and spruce
have become the traditional exam-
ple. Recently the pines have be-
come popular.
Onepof the most recent develop-
ments in the long history of the
Christmas tree is the colored tree,
seen sometimes in metropolitan
areas. These trees have been
sprayed to make them yellow, blue,
white or silver. .
-Daily-Dean Morton
FORMAL ATTIRE-Myrna Eisen, '56, poses with Dave Cobb,
'57E, in one of the many new holiday formals. Adorned with
narrow straps, the ankle-length gown has a ruffled panel running
dowi the side to the hem. Because of the unpredictable Ann
Arbor weather many coeds prefer the shorter length formal.
Formal Clothes To Highlight
Yuletide Season Festivities
Coeds Adorn
Doors, Walls
With Designs
Original Ideas Change
Many Dorm Rooms
To Match Gay Season
By SUE LEVINE
Christmas is just around the
corner, and already coeds have be-
gun to decorate their doors and
rooms with many bright colored
and cheerful ornaments.
Original ideas plus available ma-
terials give the dormitory corridors
a gay and festive appearance.
PAPER candy canes, evergreen
boughs and artificial candles are
but few of the many Christmas
displays than can be seen outside
the coeds' doors.
One woman has placed a large
sign outside her room saying,
"I am going home soon Santa,
so please come early."
Other coeds have strung red and
green crepe paper across their
"home away from home," while
still others have pasted small, del-
icate snowflakes along their walls
to demonstrate the spirit of the
coming holiday.
* * *
LARGE, gaily colored sleighs,
and Nativity scenes can be seen
along the corridors, in addition to
red and white fluffy Santa Clauses
made out of paper and cotton.
"Rudolph the Red -Nosed
Reindeer" is the theme used by
one coed who has placed on her
wall a large paper reindeer,
which has a tiny red bulb for a
nose that lights up when plugged
into a nearby socket.
Choral groups singing carols and
fuzzy snowmen are other"decora-
tions and designs created by stu-
dents and placed along the halls or
on doors.
ONE COED bought a small,
plug-in Christmas tree and has
adorned it with tinsel,tiny paper
chains, candy canes, gumdrops,
and at the top of the tree, has
placed a silver star.
Shining angels fashioned out
of paper, cone-shaped, and dec-
orated with artificial snow is
another of the many displays
that lends itself to the Christ-
mas spirit which prevails
throughout many of the dormi-
tories.
Large, brightly colored, but sim-
ple bows and pine cones adorn
many doors while other rooms are
decked out with holly wreaths.
One student has painted the
windows in her little "abode" with
water colors, the designs being of
various and familiar Christmas
scenes which can be easily washed
off with water and little "elbow
grease."
By SUE GARFIELD
It's all in the wrapping, say the
experts.
When Christmas rolls around
and presents are numerous, it's
the wrapping that gives a gift that
exciting, tantalizing quality, and
also reflects the giver's taste and
thoughtfulness, making the simp-
lest present something special.
The thought and sentiment that
go into giving some small item at
Christmas can be magnified by
putting care, time and effort into
the wrapping. All that's needed
is a little imagination plus a few
cents' worth of material.
Dip into a box of costume jewel-
ry forddecorations and utilize the
discards. Nearly everyone has odd
pearls, broken bits of jewelry with.
brightly colored stones or stray
earrings that can be effectively
used on little packages.
Sequins from the dime store,
mother's old cocktail dress or a
discarded evening bag go a long
way in glamorizing a gift.
The decorations are sprinkled;
on the sticky side of cellophane
tape for a bedazzling multicolored
effect and used just like ribbon
on the package.
The new look for Christmas
presents this season is one of al-
most unbelievable glitter, imag-
ination and variety. Traditional
colors have been augmented by
rich oriental hues worthy of the
Magi, and much emphasis is be-
ing placed on wrapping gifts to
complement the personality of the
recipient.
Glamorously feminine kittens
with glistening mother-of-pearl
collars attract little girls, and
young men will delight in sleighs,
snowmen and Santa himself. Rich
wood grains highlighted with gold
tnd bronze made handsome mas-
culine packages.
Look for miniature patterns like
tiny pine trees or balls for small
gifts, and choose bold stripes, large
Portraits
Photographs are perennial fa-
vorites on Christmas gift lists.
And rightly so, for they're espe-
cially welcomed by loved ones, and
enjoyed countless times for years
to come.
Seniors who have had their por-
traits taken for the. Ensian may
find it an advantage to have some
prints made for the family or
friends. This type of :present is
particularly appropriate for a coed
to give her "Michigan man," or
vice-versa. Group pictures are
treasured, too.
When presenting photographs
as a gift, it's always wise to give
a wallet-size print in addition to
a large framed print, for people
to show friends and acquaintan-
ces.
pine cones or scenes for larger
boxes.
Don't be afraid to experiment,
the experts advise. Among work-
ing materials, try to include tiny
Christmas tree balls, a length of
tinsel, glass beads, gold and silver
stars, cellophane tape--plain and
with holiday designs -- short
lengths of left-over ribbons in var-
ious colors and widths, gift paper
and whatever else pleases the
fancy.
Half the fun and sparkle of
Christmas morning lies in seeing
it through the eyes of children.
It's a day that belongs to them,
really, so why not let brothers,
sisters and cousins take part in
the holiday preparations as well as
the day itself?
One of the best ways to do this
without slowing down the neces-
sary preparations is to let the
"small fry" wrap the gifts that he
will hand or send to others.
Youngsters like to feel that
their parents or older brothers
and sisters are putting some
responsibilities on their small
shoulders.
If, for instance, the gift is light
in weight, it's a simple matter to
cut two socks from any gift paper
IT'S ALL IN WRAPPING:
Glitter Provides New Look in Gifts
and tape the edges together with
matching colored tape. This also
is a good solution for an odd-
shaped gift.
As decoration for any package,
suggest that the children try cut-
ting a Christmas tree from green
construction paper. This is done
by folding the paper in half and
cutting a simple tree pattern.,To'
trim the tree, make a chain of red
loops from paper.
A toy drum is created from any
round box or an oatmeal box. To
cover .the side of the box, cut a
strip the exact height of the box
and long enough to go around with
a bit for overlap. Then cut a
round piece of wrapping paper for
the top and bottom and fasten it
on with tape. As the bow trim, tie
red and green lollypops together
with red ribbon and tape them to
the top of the drum.
Snowmen, Santa's pack and
"book-wraps" can also be accom-
plished with the minimum amount
of talent and money.
When wrapping Christmas pack-
ages this year, remember that the
simplest gift should be done with
care, for the wrapping expresses
the thought that lies behind the
gift.
Ii
OUTSTANDING
[ CHRISTMAS GIFTS
BOOKS- For alages
. Stationery * GamesE
* Rempel Toys * Model Craft
E *Fuontain Pens e Paint Sets
Overbeck Bookstore
1216 South University
c ;
o weber 's
o0 1 Suopper
- club
Open daily 12 to 9:30 P.M.
r C0 3715 JACKSON ROAD
o ana: Uoal t>GOsb aos ) f <
)r7
By PRISCILLA McCLAY
Formal attire is in the limelight
this festive season, with pledge
formals, house formals and J-Hop
soon to take place.
Waltz-length dresses are still
the favorite as they have been in
the past few years and nylon net
is the dominant material. Self ma-
terial stoles are still very popular
while pale, filmy dresses will also
be seen on the dance floor this
winter.
Formals of several layers of net
over taffeta are spiced up with ir-
ridescent sequens and metallic
thread woven in the skirt and bo-
dice.
The preferred strapless formal
is adorned with net ruffles and ar-
tificial flowers. The bodice is tuck-
ed or pleated net, brocade or satin
above the flowing skirt held out
with several crinolines.
A few bare-shoulder gowns come
with net coverings, softly rolled
cord straps or narrow bands of
sequens.
The empire waistline appears in
a strapless taffeta creation which
has a many-gored skirt giving the
molded look. Outlining the bodice
are sequens used to decorate the
waltz-length dress.
A full-length dress having a low
cut bodice with ruffled panels ex-
tending down to the hem of the
skirt gently sweeps around the
floor to the tune of a waltz.
Shades of blue give one gown a
striking effect achieved by alter-
nating shades of net panels in the
skirt. Contrasting colors will make
almost any dress stand out on the
dance floor.
A delicate effect is given to the
wearer of a straight-cut pink sa-
tin bodice emphasized with seed
pearl forming a pattern. The bo-
dice fits smoothly over the hips,
the many-layered net skirt stand-
ing out giving a bell shape to the
picture.
Rhinestones scattered over skirt
and bodice twinkle in dim lights.
Velvet leaves sprinkled with
rhinestone dewdrops are remind-
ers that fall has past and the cold-
er days are here.
For the traveling coed with lim-
ited packing space a basic formal
is necessary. With the addition or
subtraction of one feature she
would have another gown. Over-
skirts, stoles and cummerbunds
are good for the fastest changes.
A white ballerina-length dress
can be accented with artificial
flowers that follow the contours of
the bodice or by a black satin cuff
and a wide sash tied into a loose
bow in th3 back.
Economist Says
Turkey
Prices
up
That holiday turkey is going to
cost more than it did last year.
Consumer prices are at an all-
time high, according to Henry
Larzelere, Michigan State College
agricultural economist. The rea-
sons for the higher turkey prices
are that turkeys are available in
more attractive form in more
stores for longer periods than they
used to be. Birds now are displayed
frozen and ready to cook.
And, 'adds Larzelere, since beef,
pork and lamb prices areiexpected
to be as high or slightly higher
than a year ago, the demand for
turkey will be boosted, especially
for the Christmas trade.
The differences between turkey
and red meat prices affects the de-
mand for turkey more at Christ-
mas time than Thanksgiving, ac-
cording to the economist.
National figures show that the
total turkey meat to be marketed
from Sept. 1 through the holiday
season will be 12 per cent less than
during the same period in 1952.
Larzelere figures that the decrease
in number of turkeys will mean
about 3 per cent increase in price
over last year.
11
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