Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-05-21

DECoRATIoN-ARTIsT1c POTTERY WHICH IS
NOT EXPENSIVE LATEST 'So NAME
BosroN, May 10, 1880.
Summer is upon us. If we did not know
il by the calendar we should by the flaming
posters put up in every available place in city
and suburbs announcing the presence of
Barnum. There are pictures of fiery steeds"
jumping through flaming hoops; men and
women performing wonderful acts of horse
manship and everywhere Zazel; Zazel jump
ing from the topmost point of the tent of
into space; Zazel shot from gun and grace
fully pointing towards the net in which she
is to alight All this is very pretty in pic
ture, but in reality Zazel lands in the net "all
in a heap" and does not sail into it so majes-
ticaly as she is represented. Nevertheless
she does all she is advertised to, and more
than the sensitive portion Of her audience
wish her to- That dive from the top of the
tent makes one hold his breath he can't
look away, for there is a horrible fascination
which chains his attention and rivets his
eyes to be sure, there is the net underneath,
supposedly safe, but if there should be a
flaw, If any portion should give away, if she
should not jump right-it gives one the hor-
mind it. she walks on almost invisible wire,
with as airy grace as though she was cross
ing drawing room she does the most start
ling trapeze acts with a nonchalence which
amaZes all who see her, and she makes the
dive of fifty feet with perfect unconcern.
Her handsome face, her grace and her cour-
age won her great deal of admiration, but.
for my part, l have no patience with her
foolbardinoss, aud wish the law would or
could interfere with such performances, if
public opinion will not.
The burning hoop act was the cause of
quite little excitement in New York Mr.
Bergh hearing of it sent letter to Mr.. Bar
mum asking him to omit it from the pro-
gramnle and suggesting the existence Of So
ciety with a long name, whose duty it is to
shield animals from cruel treatment Mr.
Barnum replied respectfully, saying that he
could not break his faith with the public, and
assuring Mr. Bergh that the act was perfect
ly harmless, not injuring the horse at all
The opening night came and some of Mr.
Bergh's officials came also, quite determined
that the act should not be given. When the
hoops were produced they entered the ring
and demanded that the act should not go on.
Mr.. Barnum told them again there was moth
ing about it that could in jure the animal, and
to prove it he jumped through two or three
times passed his hands through the flames
with entire impuuity Tho officers did the
same, and finding they could play with fire
and not be hurt, they let the horse Jump
through and retired. Mr.. Barnum quite eX-
pectod to be arrested, and some mischieyous
persons whispered that he was rather disap-
pointed because he was not, for he lost such
a wonderful opportunity for advertising his
show.
The warm weather Of the past ten days has
made people think seriously of getting out of
town, and many who are 80 fortunate as to
own a summer residence within convenient
distance of the city are already of, and many
houses are shut up for the summer. Others
are deciding where TO so, and still others are
waiting for May to be over before they take
a start.
| should ask you to pardon my taking you
again into the pottery shops were | not sure
that you enjoy it as much as do and since
pottery forms such an important feature in
house furnishing and interior decoration,
must talk about it occasionally. The really
decided novelty is the faience lamp, aud it is
so lovely in itself that it is pleasure Just to
talk about il. Kerosene oil, even the highly
refined isn't the most pleasing article in dai-
ly use yet, used in these artistic lamps it
ceases to be Objectionable. Nothing lately
has had SO pronounced success as they have
had. There is scarcely house in the city,
making any pretensions to elegance, but has
one of them. They are highly ornamental,
giving an air of coziness and ease to any
ROOM and the light from them IS soft and
brilliant, so that one may read or write by
them with ease. They are boon to people
living in the country who have been 30 cir
cumscribed in their choice of lamps, and
have had only the students, which is not suf-
fciently handsome for the parlor, and glass
lamps on bronze or gilt standards, usually
very ugly and inartstc and blemish on
what would otherwise be a pretty well ap-
pointed room. Expense need debar no one
from becoming the possessor of one of these
lamps, for they are sold as low rs six dollars,
and from that upward indefinitely. 1t is a
very absurd mistake that people are constant
ly falling into, in thinking that it costs a great
deal to be artistic If they would only trouble
themselves to look about a little, and find out
for themselves and not jump 80 hastily at
conclusions. | have seen as pretty lamps as
one would care to have, for ten aud twelve
dollars, and | would not quarrel with some
that have seen for eight or nine. Only the
best grade of oil can be used in them, and it
is IA well known fact that the heavier the oil
is, the less dangerous it is, and the more free
from noxious gases. The Cunard steamers
adopted this heavy or high test kerosene oil,
and such burners as are used on these lamps,
about three years ago, considering them the
safest for their use, IA fact which may prove
an assurance to the timid housekeeper who is
afraid of Kerosene. 1t is due to Messrs. Jones,
McDufee StTatton, TO say that they were
the first to introduce these lamps, and for a
time theirs was the only house that kept
them as soon as their success was assured
other people began to keep them.
Colored tableware has obtained a suprem-
acy over white ware, and has come very gem
orally into use. The field for choice is very
large and includes all grades, beginning with
English blue willow, and ending with mag
nifcont Canton china sets which represent
fortune. But even if one is so fortunate as
to possess one of these, or an artistic Havi-
land, common set is necessary for every
day use, since the expensive ware is no more
suitable for daily use than an elegant dinner
costume is for the family breakfast There
must always be something left in reserve.
saw, few days since, some very pretty din
ner sets, which may be possessed by persons
of moderate means, and which were yet pret-
ty enough for any one to use. 1t was a light
ware of fine texture which was not China,
and yet was as far from being the heavy
stone china which, must confess, always
spoils the flavor of any dish, however nice
The pieces were easy to handle, of good
shape, and were in an ivory tint with outline
figures in brown. have not seen anything
:. Il