The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-25

ing subjects, the latter always treatsS ss X Z.
were story OF chivalry, aud David and Iona
whose story was thus wrought were nortraSed
in gigantic stature, the necessity of size and
space being caused by the peculiaritv Of the
tapestry-work, which absorbs light in the
interval between the stitches, and does not rep
resent slant by direct line, but by success
sion of minute angles formed by the stitches.
When such sums were paid as eight hundred
francs dor pour I'M tapis Sarrazinois." two
thousand for chamber of three pieces of tapes
try, and about twelve thousand pounds, ,modsru
money for set of arras, cloth of gold, and
baudequin, it may be understood that they
they were held as great treasures; and we are
not surprised that mobiles moving from one
place to another took their hangngs a. we'll as
theIr glass windows with them.-Hdrriet Pres
colt Spo6ord.
[St Nicholas.l
RULES FOR MAKING BOUQUETS.
lst' The color of the vase to be used is of
Importance. Gaudy reds and blues should
never be chosen, for they conflict with the
delicate hues of the flowers. Bronze or black
vases, dark green, pure white, or silver always
produce good effect, and SO does straw
basket, while clear glass, which shows the
graceful slaspiDg Of the stems, lis perhaps pret.
test of all.
I'd. The shape of the vase is also to be
thought of. For the middle of dinner table,
round bowl is always appropriate, or q tall
vase with saucer-shaped base Or, if the
center of the table is otherwise occupied, a
large conch shell, or shell shaped dish may be
swung from the chandelier above, and with
plenty OF vines and feathering green made to
look very pretty. Delicate flowers, such as
lilies OF the valley and sweet peas should be
Dlaced thlm9AVpa far vi
glasses; violets should nestle their fragrant
purple 10 some tiny cup, and pausies be set in
groups, with no gsyer flowers to contradict
their soft velvet hues; and-this is Q hint for
summer-few things are prettier than basam-
blossoms, or double vsriegated hollyhocks,
massed on fiat plate, with fringe of green
to hide the edge No leaves should be inter-
spersed with these; the plate will look like
solid mosaic of splendid color
3D. Stiffness and crowding are the two
things to be specially avoided in arranging
flowers. What can be uglier than the great
tastees5 punches into which the ordinary
florist ties his wares, or what more extrava-
giant? skillful person will unite one Of
tnese and, adding green leaves, make the
same flowers into half dozen bouquets, each
more effective than the original. Flowers
should be grouped as they grow, with cloud
OF light foliage in and about them to set off
their forms and colors.
4th. 1t is better, as general rule, not to
put more than one or two sorts OF flowers into
the same vase. A great bush with roses, and
camellias, and Carnations, and feverfew, and
geraniums growing on it all at once would be q
frghtful thing to behold; just so a monstrous
bouquet made up of all these flowers is mean
lngless and ugly. Certain flowers, such as
helotrope, mlgDonette, and myrtle, mix we'll
with everything; but usually it is better to
group flowers with their kind, d,-roses in one
glass, geraniums in another, and not try to
make them agree in companies.
9th. When you do mix flowers be careful
not to put colors which clash side by side.
Scarlets and pinks spoil each other; SO do
Diues and purples, and yellows aud mauves.
If your vase or dish is a very large one, to
hold great number of flowers it is a good
plan to divide it into thirds or quarters making
each division perfectly harmonious within
itself, and then blend the whole with lines Of
green and white, and soft neutral TINT Every
group of mixed flowers requires one little touch
of yellow to make it vivid; but this must be
skillfully applied. 1t is good practice to ex-
pertinent with this effect. For instance, ar
range group of maroon, scarlet, and white
geranums withgreen leaves, and add single
blossom of gold .colored cslceoaria, you will
see at once that the whole bouquet seems to
Hash out and become moie brilliant.-FloUers
IN Winter.
IScribner's.l
A PROTEST AGAINST MODERN IMPROVE
MENTs."
L have such dislike to almost tho whole of
what are called in housekeeping '.modern I'M
(being a disbeliever in the benefits
of gas plumbing and heating apparatus. ex-
cept where, as in hotels and factories, they are
necessary on q grand scale), that / naturally
prefer a constrivance like this "cistern"-con-
venient, pretty to look at, and in no danger of
becoming a diphthera-trap-to one of our
fixed basins. However, am well aware that
10 n cnf41o for
wholesale adoption of mechanical contrivances
in the miserably inefficient character of our
servants. In nine cases out of ten we use gas,
furnaces and plumbing, instead of lamps or
candles open fires and movable washing appa-
ratus, because it saves immensely in the labor
and expense necessary to carry on a household.
But nowadays, when better servants are to be
had, and ''seryice" is getting to De more and
more profession, we may reasonably plead for
a more domestic, and less hotel and steam
boaty way of living knowing that in doing So
we are pleading also for bselefIier ways OF
living and not merely for picturesqueness.
Besides, it may cheer up the weaker brethren
who are made uncomfortable by doing differ
emily from their neighbors, to know that q
great many people are on the side Of reform in
this matter, and that it may almost be said to
be "the fashion" (magical word dl nowadays to
work by ''student lamp" or moderator"
the perfection of light-givers-with an open
life-destroying furnace within the four walls;
while upstairs the plumbing is confined to the
bathroom, the movable wash stand with its
china and glass and comforts generally be-
ing restored to its old supremacy-taken out of
its closet prison and set in light and air.
Clarence Cook.
[Atanticl
TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
The beautiful sisters, Anna and Isabella For
ester, with their brother Cecil were at Heaton
at this time. They were celebrated beauties;
the elder, afterwards Countess of Chesterfield,
was brunette; the younger, who married Col
onel Anson, the most renowned lady y-killer of
his day, was blonde; and they were 10th of
them exquisitely pretty, and used to remind
me of the French quatrain,-
"Vous etes belle, ct votre s9ur est belle;
Entire vous deux, tout choix serait bien doux.
LAmour etait blond, CONNIE vous,
Mais il aimait une bruno, CONNIE eLe."
They had beautiful figures as well as faces,
and dressed peculiarly and so as to display them
to the greatest advantage. Long and very full
skirts gathered or plated all round pointed
with righteous scorn of all Disagreement Of
their beauty, wore extremely short skirts, which
showed their thoroughbred feet and ankles, and
were perfectly PLAIN round their waists and
over their hips; with bodies so low on the
shoulders and bosom that there was certainly
as little as possible of the projections OF their
beautiful persons concealed. remember wish
ing it were consistent with her comfort and the
general decorum of modern manners that Isa-
bella Forester's gown could only slip entirely
off her exquisite bust. L suppose fell as poor
Gibson, the sculptor, who. looking at his friend
and pupils Miss Hosmer's statue of Beatrice
Cenci, the back of which was copied from that