If put on any dark 
letters are six inches high, then four inches would be the proper width for B, C, D, H, N, O, P, 
Q, R, S, U, Z; four and a half inches wide for A, G, Iv, T, V, X, Y, &; the letter M should be 
five inches; W, six inches; E, F, L, three and a half inches; J, three inches; and I, one inch 
wide. By this arrangement letters of any size can be made by simply dividing the height into six 
sections, and using four such sections for the ordinary width of the letters, varying the width to suit 
the other letters, as already shown, and always 
making the letters one section in thickness. (See 
engraving, No. 2.) Letters made by this rule 
look rather thin, but when covered with flowers or 
evergreens they are just what is wanted. The let¬ 
ters being cut from the straw-board with a sharp 
knife or strong shears, are ready to be covered. 
This can be done by tying, with dark thread, small 
branches of evergreens over the face of the board, 
with a few Everlasting Flowers or bright berries to relieve the sombre color. Better let¬ 
ters, however, can be made with dry moss and Everlasting Flowers, as shown in figure 3. Tie 
the moss over the face of the letter as evenly as possible, then cut the stems of the flowers short,, 
leaving only about half-an-inch. Dip the stem in a little paste, and insert it in the moss, and 
when dry it will remain secure. We have made very pretty letters by covering the board with 
Gomphrenas, secured by paste or warm glue. The little Immortelles are the best dry flowers in 
the world for making small letters. They are of all colors. Cut the stems off close, cover the 
the paste-board letter with paste and press the flower down upon the paste-board. These letters 
are kept for sale, at about 25 cents each. An excellent back-ground for letters is sheet wadding. 
In fact sheet wadding, which is cotton “batting” made into sheets with a little glazing on the 
outside, and to be found at the dry-goods stores, makes excellent letters, 
surface, like heavy curtains, 
they look like marble letters, 
and may be kept in place by 
a pin. Another pretty way 
for back-ground and letters 
also, is to cover the straw-board with white, pink or red paper, in fact any color, cover this with 
thin paste, and then throw on rice. Enough will adhere to the paste to make a very pretty sur¬ 
face. Clean, bright straw, pasted on straw-board, or any other stiff substance, even a board, makes 
an elegant back-ground for letters or any floral ornament. At a little distance it appears like 
gilding. 
For trimming green, of course hemlocks and cedars are the most available, but where Lyco¬ 
podium is to be obtained, it is much neater and cleaner. The two little plants ( Lycopodiums 
one known as the Ground Pine, and the other the Running Pine, are the prettiest things we know 
anything about for winter trimming, excepting, of course, the Smilax, which is not to be had in 
large quantities. These Lycopodiums grow in partially shaded woods, in hilly places, and 
on a poor, sandy soil. The Ground Pine is used in winter for bouquet 
making, and is called Bouquet Green. They are both kept by florists, 
and sold at about $5.00 a barrel. In smaller quantities the Ground Pine is sold 
at 25 cents a pound, and the Running Pine in packages of ten yards, for 50 
cents. We give engravings showing the appearance of each kind, the upper 
one being the Running Pine, and its adaptation to light festoon work will be 
readily understood. The Lycopodiums seem to delight in high hills and cold 
situations. The Mountain Laurel, wherever it can be obtained, has no superior 
for decorative purposes. The green French moss makes very pretty trimming, 
if worked carefully upon card-board or string, but is somewhat expensive for 
general purpose, costing $1.00 a pound, while made up, its price is about 40 
cents a yard. Half the fun is in the display of taste by members of the family, and the smaller 
the means in the hands of the decorators compared with the result, the greater the pleasure. 
Use bright berries freely whenever they can be obtained, and Everlastings are always appropri¬ 
ate for winter trimming. The Southern Swamp Moss works in elegantly, for drapery. 
44 
