The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-04
RUGS and Mats.

y iauy wiring 10 an eAcndn1e says.
There is something very alluring in
the occupation of fancy work; and it is
frequently the case that, in the excess
5ire devotion to it shown by some
women. other AID more necessary work
* neglected The old adage of "a
stitch in time " is ignored or forgotten
In the deii rht OF fashioning shaving
eases. hair receivers, and the hundred
and one little kaick-n&cks which can
be nude OF worsted, perforated board,
beads and ribbon. And thus it happens
that the pile Of mending in the work
basket grows higher and higher every
weez, until it is almost q bugbear. and
Che family are grum5iing over button
less shirts and ragged stockings. 1t
takes an unusual power OF self-denial to
put away the pretty fancy things and
bend over the tedious work of repairing
frayed shirt bands and darning the in
eyitable holes, which seem to delight in
making their appearance IN the socks
and stockings week after week. Blessed
is the woman who has an old-maid SIS
ter, or aunt, or energetic grandmother,
who delights in - keeping the mending
under" In large family the weekly
mending is days hard, unremitting
work. and if put by week after week,
while the wife and mother is ensnared
b. the charms OF fancy work, will be-
come a formidable undertaking, OF
which she can never think without a
SIGH. Unwelcome memories of neglect
ed garments will haunt her otherwise
peaceful hours. For these reasons the
busy housekeeper should let fancy work
severely alone; but the woman on whose
hands time hangs heavily without en-
ployment can find in it recreation and
interest.
Bedrooms adorned with splint bas-
kets OF ferns, hair receivers, match
safes, hairpin holders, and other fancy
articles made of beads, wOrsted and
splints look pretty, and tasteful, and
evince the skill Of the housekeeper.
But there are other kinds of fancy work
which are, perhaps, more useful if not
so ornamental. [ refer to rugs and
mats, without which no house, in city
or country, can be complete.
| saw. while on n visit to friend a
short time since, mat which was both
useful and ornamental. 1t was made
on a foundation of white, a circular
piece about forty inches across; in the
center was a small, round piece of
black broadcloth, two inches across, on
this was another piece, smaller, of scar
let, and about that a still smaller one
of green. Surrounding this center
piece were six round pieces of the same
kind, black the foundation of all, but
the other pieces of various colors, all
touching the center-piece; round these
were more circles, until the whole rug
was covered, save these small triangular
openings between the circles.
Another rug, made in the same way,
had the smaller pieces of red in differ
ent shades. The foundation was of
Canton flannel, the border of black
cloth pinked on the edge, and the lin
ing was of coarse sacking.
My friend has made herself, also, a
cover for her piano stool, of black
broadcloth foundation, covered with
red circles of different shades and the
border of black ribbon plated on.
l once made a braided mat, after a
pattern given me by an old lady whose
slender fingers were never idle. 1t was
of black, gray, red and green cloth,
each color braided separately and then
joined by sewing with stout cotton. 1t
was rug which lasted a long time,
though not remarkable for beauty.
Very handsome rugs can be made of
burlap canvas at small cost. The
piece of canvas must be fastened to a
stout frame of the desired size for the
rug, and then narrow strips of red,
green and gray flannel can be drawn
in," in any pattern desired. The bor-
der should be of solid color--gray is the
prettiest, and is neat finish. Loops
must be left on the surface and the
whole carefully trimmed off when the
pattern is complete.
If one wishes to have a more expen-
sive rug and purchases the material,
Turkish toweling will be found capa-
BILE of great ornamentation. Pieces of
cloth or velvet can be cut into leaves
from cretonne and stitch them on. 1t
is.not best to cut each leaf separately,
for the effect is better if a large cluster
is laid on and veins made in the leaves
of bright, heavy silk.
Unbleached cotton makes an excellent
foundation for rugs, looking well when
combined with the scarlet and green of
the flowers and leaves cut from flannel.
Veins can be worked in the leaves with
black silk and the effect is very pretty.
OF course all these rugs require heavy
lining.
Coffee sack crash makes durable rugs
which, if worked in scarlet, will stand
many washings before looking sh abby.
1t should be raveled two or three
inches deep, if fringe is wanted and
worked with Berlin wool in any pattern
which the maker likes, the stitch being
the same as that useG on common can
vas.
| recently saw novel work-basket
crocheted of coarse knitting cotton. 1t
was shaped upon an earthen dish,
starched stiff, stretched over the dish
and put in the oven until baked hard.
1t will come out perfectly nodded,
and can then be vanished with shellac.
OF course the closer the crochet work
the better, and bows of bright ribbon
give pretty effect. This is a good
way to make covers which 90 upon
dishes that must be carried from the
oven to the table. They are frequently
burnt and unsightly, but a neat white
or varnish cover of this sorS will con-
ceal all defects made by the oven.
Table Manners.