Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-24
Letter from Boston.


NNNAs h'AiN 10 btNNlilB utI uOuht Ill bENltI lOl
the winter and she discovers with sinking
heart the ravages which time and-in spite of
all her care-moths have wrought with her
furniture This is especially true of city
housekeepors. 1 don't think they of the
country are ever so bothered with these
troublesome little pests which burrow into all
things which we hold sacred, and which are
an expense, as we, their sisters of the town.
There's something in the atmosphere of the
city upon which all such things seem to
thrive. And it is a hand to hand fight with
them all the time and then they are only
held in check, not conquered. The best has
been done, but new carpets are a necessity,
and the old ones, together with the furniture,
are treated to a naptha bath to eradicate all
traces of them, only to commence all over
again. and live the experience through once
more.
But there's one consolation in having your
carpets wear out-you can supply their place
with new ones in better styles and colors
And the carpets that are made now are SO in
fnitely prettier and more tasteful than they
ever have been before. All the talk about
decorative art has not been without its use,
you may be sure, and you may easily trace its
influence in looking at the carpets and dra-
peries which are made, and which fill popu-
lar demand There is so much less of bright
color, or of "set" pattern, which always
grows wearisome to the eye after while. In
their place are low tones and small, irregular
figures suggesting Turkish rugs, from which,
indeed, very many are copied.
carpet is no longer considered as an in
dependent part of house furnishing it is to
be chosen with reference to the room in
which it is to be placed, and the furniture
which is to be put upon it. Strictly speak
ing, the carpet, like the walls of the room,
should be background against which the
furnishing should be placed. or course you
can't make every one understand that all at
once it will take long time to win the ma
jority of people from the idea that carpet,
to be everything which a carpet should be,
must be assertiye, or, as n lady friend Of
mine once said of carpet which was the
most noticeable thing in room, one that
would rise up and strike you in the face
every time you entered the room" I think
We can all of us call to mind such carpets as
that. I've seen plenty of them, and I've learn
ed to dread them. too. A carpet is to be
avoided which makes everyone e1caim on
seeiug it. The best style of carpet is one
which is so in keeping with the general har-
mony of the room that it seems n part of it,
and does not challenge separate mention.
know very well that there are many per-
sons who do not like the dull tints which pre-
vail III carpets made after Turkish models,
and for these persons there are other styles of
carpets made, introducing bright coors,
which are more cheerful, and will brighten a
room very much. None of these have dis
tinct figures, but the groundwork is perfectly
covered with the design, which it takes some
time to trace out, and which does not tire one
with monotony. l know nothing more try
ing to the eyes than a staring carpet with set
regular figures; it is to the full as exasperat-
ing as bad wall paper. I've no doubt in
sanity is often assisted by these extenals, on
ly people don't know it. Why don't special
lists take this matter up, among other things
which are attracting their distinguished at.
tention? 1 am sure they would arrive at
some important truths.
Another advance has been made in carpet
making. Often person likes the design of
a carpet, but objects TO the coloring. Form
erly that ended the matter; either she must
take the pattern and have color which she
dislikes, or she must give up the design for
one that pleases her less, in order to obtain
the colors she likes. Now the same pattern
is repeated in different colors, SO that all
tastes may be suited. | saw at John H. Pray,
Sons x Co. IS, one day last week, a very pret-
ty pattern in ingram, which had been repeat
ed in ten different colors, and one in Brussels
which was repeated four times, and what was
true of these carpets was true of many other
patterns.
The Japanese carpets have quite a sale this
autumn, but l don't think it wise TO buy
them That is, unless person has sufficient
means to enable her to lay them one side
| when she tires of them, whether they are
worn out or not. There are very few people
who can do this, and to the others l would
say, don't buy japanese carpet simply be
cause you fancy it. When it is once out ol
style it will be very old fashioned, and will be
q style of which one will grow very tired Sc
take my advice and don't buy one, even il
you think you like it, for assure you it is a
fashion which is not going to last. dare say
you all remember the pretty ohintz carpets
with white grounds which were so fashion
able few years ago well, these are coming
in again for chamber carpets, and they are
prettier than ever. Many of the prettiesi
patterns in Brussels are repeated in ingrains
| indeed, there are some very choice designs in
these carpets, which sell at 80 cts. the yard
for fine quality.
BY the way, carpets are going up in price,
and another season will see them from ten to
| fifteen cents yard more than they are now,
| The manufacturers have already advanced,
and so have the retail dealers, but not nearly
| in the same proportion. 1t is not likely they
will ever reach their old prices, but they GER
tainly will be higher than they have been fol
some time, for they have been for two years
down to the lowest possible figure. The
country dealers would do well TO heed this
for give it as a note of warning. Ihave my
information from the house of John II. Pray
Sons Il Co., which is a thoroughly reliable
house, whose word is never questioned. Sc
all of you who have carpets to buy, should
if you possibly can, buy them before the rise
in the spring. SALLH JOY WHITE
/
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