European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I. V n.--,.�?~.w-. A of a a a a a it a i j fear of frying dims the Christmas spirit Erma Bombeck Universal press Syndicate Oday is the Day when my husband Smoky the Bear brings the Christmas tree into the House. It has been silting in a bucket of water in the garage for three weeks now propped up Between the Barbecue Grill and an ugly Green chair a Charity refused to pick up other people have had their Trees up for weeks and have basked in the glow of a million lights. Not us. We have been watching training films issued by the City fire department of a tree igniting and burning the House to the ground in seconds. A live Christmas tree in our House has the life Span of a Cricket in my momus living  blink your eyes and you miss the kill. A site will be prepared for the tree around 8 . An area used for launching a space shuttle comes to mind there will be a tub of water filled with a flame retardant formula to immerse the tree. Nearby Are watering cans of water and a fire extinguisher. If that does no to take the Joy out of a Joy to the world a there is a Large Telephone number of the fire department pasted to the phone around9 . Strands of lights Are Strung out on the floor and checked to make sure every one Burns and there Are no empty sockets. They Are then draped on the tree this is followed by general trimming. V. A Here a the Good part. For 10 or 15 minutes the family sits in a dark room illuminated Only by the Christmas tree lights. Then suddenly the House lights go up and the Christmas tree lights go off and a voice says a no sense heating them up a during the. Next three Days when the free is up a a Needle alerts and a flights Alert Quot Are in effect. A Needle a crts is the responsibility of every person in the House. Every time anyone goes by the tree he is bound to reach out grab a Branch. Between his fingers rub them together and see if Needles fall. Dribbling Needles must be reported immediately. Quot lights Alert Quot goes into effect when someone goes by the room where the Christmas tree is ,.lighted and there is no one in the room. This is a definite no no. Names Are taken. Every time my husband passes the tree he feels obliged to rearrange skirts on Angels that have a. Sagged toward the lights or feel the bulbs to see if they Are warm to the touch. Someone once asked him if he was so worried about a live tree All the time How come he did no to buy a Silver tree. He put Down his watering can full of water and his Plant mister and said a Are you crazy one electrical storm and it would be All Over. I done to want to spend the holidays  genealogy Myra vanderp00l Gormley Ost genealogists collect photographs of their ancestors but unless you Are fortunate enough to have the names and dates on your. Collection it is sometimes difficult to determine when they were taken. The Best clue is the picture itself according to Judith Allison Walters a genealogist who collects and copies old photographs. Here a what  for a the Daguerreotype 1839-1860 is the oldest of commercially made photographs. It has a shiny Mirror like appearance sometimes appears Posi a tic sometimes negative depending upon the Angle by which it is held and viewed. It has a fragile Silver surface on a Copper plate. Each Daguerreotype was originally enclosed in a Case and still requires that Protection. A the ambr Type 1854-1863 is a neat ivc image on Glass but appears positive because it will have a Coaling of red or Black lacquer applied to the Back or has been enclosed in a Case with Black paper or cloth behind it. You have to hold it up to the Light to be sure. Ambr Olyes were in closed in  usually cannot  distinguished from tintypes unless removed and closely examined. Quot. Tintypes or ferr types 1856-1915 come in Many sizes. They Are not shiny like do Guerreo types nor Oil Glass like the ambr Type but rather Horoscope. A a. For the week of dec,-23 a a a. _. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 Horne Sweet  is. Your Fri Polo  generous with hugs and kisses. Pay attention to elders children and pets. Make your Kitchen and bathroom Shine film classics Are in Vogue. A aquarius Jan 20-feb. 18 even enemies bring messages of Hope done to Overlook a thing with your inquisitive. Scientific mind. Radio or Tele vision illuminates mind. See world from a new Van Tage Point. Quot. Quo Pisces feb Tomarch 20. All the Kings horses and men have put humpty dumpty together again Bui you must consult intuition for the final mend.  to . Make key phone Caits. Wales pocketbook. A a a. Aries march"21.-april 19 slow and. Steady wins the race Why. Go overboard and risk losing your Security new ideas pack a Wallop think of ways to better serve your Community. Taurus april 20-May 20 be your own Public relations expert no one but you can speak for yourself. Put More zip into your sports schedule. Make Waves on the career front. A. Gemini May 21-june 20 hold your horses. Review recent changes in business conserve your strength. Take a break from the crowd. Why let others Zap your vital psychic Energy cancer june 21-july 22 take your Porta. Ble Microscope while  values. Read Fine print for even  contractual Obliga Are an image on thin Metal. They can be found in cases or in paper frames Wall frames albums or even Loose. If they arc in cases or pasted Iti paper frames they arc More Likely to be of an earlier Date. If the pose is formal they Are also Likely to be earlier. Tintypes were taken in great numbers at fairs and at amusement Parks. Look for signs on the Back of paste or paper and study the clothing fusions to help pinpoint the Date. A Cartes de visit 1860-1910 Are 2\�?~i-by-4u inches and w Ere the first of the paper photographs. Cartes de visible visiting cards can be found in albums w Ith or without tintypes and Cabinet photographs. In comparing Cartes de visit the thinnest Are the earliest. If they appear sonic what shiny they fall into the latter part of the period. This Type of photo wat discontinued in the United states about 1890, but was made in Britain and Scandinavia several years longer. 1 look for a a Revenue  if you find one on the Back of a tintype or carte do visit it Means the picture was taken at the time of the civil War. The photograph was taxed and the Revenue stamp indicates the tax was paid. Sometimes the stamp will have the Date and or the photographers name or initials on it a the Cabinet photograph 1875-1910 Moa sures 4 /4-by-6/2 inches an can be found in a i bums Wall or Cabinet frames and of course Loose. Study the fashions for a closer determination of the Date w within the period. One hint if the photograph Isan Oval pasted on the card or if the photo is surrounded by dark Gray or Black mount curd it probably dates after 1900. Myra Vari Doropol for Fey a former stars and so pos employee writes for the los Angelos times Syndicate. Tons. Give loved ones extra attention. Give old worries the Brushoff. A. A a a Leo july 23-aug. .22 murky moods will get you nowhere snap out of it and be a Good time cheerleader wine and. Dine friends inspirations Hood your mind a done to plug the Dike Virgo sept 23-oct. 22 Call childhood friends and plan a rendezvous. Turn your attention to the arts. Visit galleries museums. Learn irom the old. Masters initiate a new business plan. Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 turn away from selfish Aims. Oiler loved ones practical advice or financial. Expertise examine sexual needs and desires. Keep romantic notions to yourself for now. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 use your sixth sense to penetrate a psychic Cloud cover. Illusions Are pervasive physical and emotional pm Ergy. Are minimal a sense of Vurnor provides Sunshine again. A a a a. Sagittarius nov 22-dec. 20 cast off a obstinacy and mental inertia. Keep an open mind about current business prospects. Too much intensity grates on your nerves. Gather with friends to relieve stress a. Capley a tips service 0ecember 23,1990 sunday1 to plus / i Page 19