The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-11-18
HOME LAMENTATIONS.

It is possible writes one of our cor
respondents) to secure with but little
money q window that will be very beau
| tiful in color and artistic in character,
which will give an opportunity for the
exercise of home talent and industry,
and yet be inexpensive in cost. The
window inself ought to be in an effective
| position, say on staircase, i'll hall, at
one end of the library or sitting room,
behind a staLd of flowers, and certainly
| where the sunlight will stream through
it as many hours as possible.
Having secured the window, it viii be
necessary to duplicate its panes, choos
ing glass that is as clear as possible.
This is the only expensive item on the
list of materials, and probably will not
| be very formidable. The other mater
ials are autumn leaves, Hartford fern,
some gumarabic and lump of putty
The glass is carefully cleaned and laid
upon table, following the shape of the
window in placing the panes. The leaves
are then grouped ON the panes in what
ever designs you please. It will not be
easy to prevent them from being stiff,as
the figures upon each pane are necessari
~ separate but it is safe to follow the
natural growth upon the twig, taking
pains TO have the stems as closely joined
as possible. If the window contains
more than two or four panes, a cross, or
half wreath or graceful boquet of
pressed flowers could be used for the
center panes, and sprays of maple, oak,
poplar and other forest leaves placed in
the others. 1t would be equally effect
i've to follow one design through the
whole window, but then care would have
to be taken to keep it definite. Space
may be left to trail the Hartford fern
around the outside panes of the window,
| 50 as to make continuous wreath, and
in working this up much care must be
given to the points where sash will break
the pattern. IF the edges here are rag
ged, or if they do not meet in q natural,
continuous and graceful manner, the
/
window will be ''spotty," and all unity
of effect VIII be lost The leaves can all
be secured in position by having a little
of the gumarabic lightly brushed over
the stems and midriffs. When they are
dry, and the design is entirely finished,
the glasses are placed in position-the
| leaves, of course, being between the
| panes-and your extra panes must be
neatly and safely puttied in. The effect
of such a window, it is hardly necessary
| to say, will be most brilliant and beau
tiful. We all know how exquisite
single transparency, made of autumn
leaves, can be in a sunny window, but
| when the whole window is wreathed in
green, and ablaze in autumnal colors,
the effect is very brilliant indeed.
Among the flowers, the scarlet geran-
ium or the sage, violets, pansies, butter
| cups, 1arkspur, tulips and many others
as bright will be found to keep their
color for a long time, while ordinary
ferns, strawberry, rose and some other
green leaves soon become white and in
effective. The forest leaves, if properly
prepared, will last for several seasons !:
but one of the advantages, it seems to
us, in such window is the possibility
of making changes, and each year pro-
ducing new combinations. -,Sc7ab7eer's
Monthly.