CHRISTMAS CARDS OF OLD

Evening Star, Issue 24082, 31 December 1941, Page 5

CHRISTMAS CARDS OF OLD

FIRST DESIGN IN 1543 Tn the good okl cln vs only the wealthy were able to .send Christinas cards. They were gorgeously designed in the shape of fans, with brilliant tassels. sometimes hand embroidered in silk. The cards have changed considerably during the past few years. Seldom does one see nowadays the old-lashioned holly, snow, and robin decorated card. Dogs, country scenes, and reproduction of famous pictures are now the most popular, while simplicity is a keynote of modern greetings. J. S, Horsley, a l!oyal Academician, designed the first Christmas card. 'That was in 18-13. If was drawn—just a simple design, without holly, robins, and snow—for >ir Henry Cole. In later years that original card was sold for CoO. The practice of sending greetings In friends in the shape of cards did not become really popular until about 2U years after Air Horsley’s effort. Producers of greeting cards are always on the look-out for new designs and for new poets. Tt is said that Tennyson, then Poet Laureate, was once offered a thousand guineas for 12 short verses. Hut the poet was unable to accept owing to illness. He expressed regret in these words; “T would have liked to carry out this commission, for my verses would have found their way into many In r poniprs oi’ tlio on ?*tli where I canmn flatter myself even my name is known.”-