872 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
previous issues of the Young Scientist, 
paay be placed in the hands of young 
people with safety, for we shall not no- 
tice any book in our columns of which we 
may have doubts as to its fitness to be 
read by our younger patrons. Any of the 
books we have named in the foregoing, 
when read by an intelligent boy, will 
prove just as interesting as any of 
the "Horrible-Eyed Bill, of Murky 
Gulch," kind of stones, and much more 
elevating and instructive. 
Seldon informs us that the Christian 
Church, desirous of abolishing the Satur- 
nalia of the Romans, a festival instituted 
In honor of Saturn, appointed a festival 
in honor of Christ, to supersede it. But 
the observance of the day did not become 
general until about the year 500. Many 
curious myths are told concerning Christ- 
mas eve, such as that if we go into a cow 
stable at 12 o'clock at night, we shall 
And the cattle kneeling ; and if we visit 
bee hives at that time, we may hear the 
bees singing Christmas Carols to welcome 
tjie approaching day. 
We deck our houses, schools, and 
churches with evergreens to remind us 
of the birth of the great Founder of our 
Church. 
The laurel is used with other evergreens 
^t Christmas, because of its use among 
the ancient Romans as the emblem of 
p^ace, joy, and victory. 
The mistletoe is used in all, Christmas 
decorations by the English. Its berries 
^nd its green are very beautiful. A full 
description of it is given in another col- 
umn of the present number. A branch 
of the mistletoe is often hung over the 
doorway on Christmas eve, and if a 
gentleman can kiss a lady as she passes 
under the mistletoe, he has on that even- 
ing a right to the privilege. 
The evergreens mostly used in this 
country are hemlock, spruce, laurel, 
Canada balsam, and tlie varieties of 
ground-pine. The bright red bitter-sweet 
berries gathered in the fall, add to the 
beauty of the wreaths. 
We have frequently been asked the 
meaning of the initials affixed to crosses 
used on that day, such as I. H. C, and 
I. H. S. The former stands for these Latin 
words : " Jesiis Humanitatis' Consolator "— 
Jesus the Consoler of mankind; the 
latter, ''Jesus Hominum Salvator''— Jesus 
the Saviour of men. On some very an- 
cient crosses are found I. N. R. I., " Jesu& 
Nazareniis Bex Jiideaorum"— Jesus of 
Nazareth, King of the Jews. 
The custom of giving loresents at Christ- 
mas originated in Germany. It was de- 
rived from the ancient feast of Sol. The 
Christmas tree is of German origin also, 
and is, perhaps, the most pleasing way of 
giving presents to those we love. 
Perhaps many of our readers will de- 
sire to make Christmas trees for their 
own homes, or for the schools or churches 
of which they are members ; and it may 
not be amiss to offer a few suggestions re- 
garding them : If the woods are not con- 
venient where a suitable tree might have 
been found, and when it is necessary to 
purchase an evergreen from a nursery, a 
" silver flr " should be obtained if possi- 
ble, as it is best adapted for the purpose. 
In large cities suitable trees are easily 
obtainable, as thousands of them are 
shipped there for sale. If woods are near 
and free access may be had to them, and 
"silver fir " or '* spruce " are not to be 
found, hemlock may be used ; it is the 
prettiest green, but its branches are not 
sufficiently firm to bear any considerable 
weight. Branches may be nailed on here 
and there to make the tree symmetrical, 
and it may be trimmed if required. Slats 
may be used to strengthen the branches 
if necessary ; but when this is done, they 
should be painted green with some non- 
poisonous paint mixed in rice water, or a 
weak solution of glue. 
For the base of the tree, a half of a 
cask or barrel may be used, placing the 
greatest diameter on the bottom. A hole 
made through the end of the cask or bar- 
rel to admit the woody portion of the 
tree to i^ass through, and a brace nailed 
across the lower portion of the barrel 
with a hole in it for the foot of the tree to 
rest in, will make a solid base for the 
tree. A square box may be made to an- 
swer the purpose very well. If necessary, 
the cask, barrel or box may be screwed 
