Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-06
ABour a FEW KH1cxKNAcxs.

The fortunate people who live in Lon
don, Paris, New York anG some other
great capitals, have collected together for
their benefit the best OF what the world
produces. Nevertheless, IA travelling we
occasionally, in unexpected places, come
upon novelties which no one has taken the
trouble to import and we benefit by fresh
ideas, which the marts of the world have
not as yet adopted
Ii was on the railway across the Isthmus
OF Panama. bearing me from Colon to ghe
new-old halt. destroyed city of Panama,
that [ saw the 60 umbrella nat, viz, hat
attached to fair;sized umbrella having no
handles and conseq uently not requiring to
be held up-a fatiguing process in hot
weather. The hat was OF the helmet
shape, and the wires of TIE umbrella had
been brought TO the sides, back and front,
SO that il presented an altogether curious
appearance. Its lightness and the saving
OF trouble it entails are its recommends
tons. People bound for tropical climates
would hail it as boon.
At Colon, the free port OF South Ameri-
ca, where those interested in the proposed
canal are rapidly disembarking-a dirty,
dusty, tropical town, half in ruins-the
shops veritable stores, viz, sheds with no
shop windows, opening directly into the
streets, possessing merely few shelves
and counter, the last place in the world
| should bave expected TO see such lux
uries-I came upon q new sort OF case Tor
jewels. Ii was III company with slop suits,
Florida water, cheese, hats of outrageous
forms, boots and shoes, all, and much be-
sides, beterogenousy mixed together, that
I found the glass case containing specimens
of gold and silver jewelry set with mediocre
gems, in leather cases, on which were gold
and silver lizards, butterflies, and some
other insects in relief, and punches of
flowers standing out boldly in their natural
coiors.
Every year in England we introduce
more flowers into our rooms. especially
growing plants. l have seen in dainty
drawing rooms and boudoirs all kinds of
flowers, but never one made merely of a
piece OF bamboo, the natural joint in the
wood forming the base, the mould being
held in the piece of hollow stem. Yet
these simple pots, when vanished, show
the flowers off TO perfection, and are uni
versally used throughout the botanic gar
dens in the West Indies. They would, /
consider, accord peculiarly well with the
present style of rooms.
In those hot countries where vegetation
is SO rich and abundant, and where even 10
towns bundle of choicest flowers can be
bought for a few pence, leaves and flowers
are turned to much account.
Two email pointed leaves placed Oh either
side of a candle make it keep tirmer in ths
socket than any paper, and moreover are
ornamental. Charming little bouquets to
float in finger glasses are made by passing
the stems of several small blossoms throsgh
a leaf in such way "a to completely hide
it, and serve only for firm foundation.
| have noticed from time to time con-
tinual inquiries in The Queen as to the best
way of utilizing scraps OF silk, etc., and 1t
was in well. ordered West Indian home,
where plethora of material certainly was
not to be mad, that saw the prettlest OF
chair backs, made of three-cornered pieces
of silk (drapers' patterns), about SIX inches
across. united in twos and twos III the
middle, and by straps of cheap lace lnser-
ton, and bordered with lace to match.
Here also were the ordinary deck chairs,
with wooden frames, which had served
their purpose for the voyage, and now
shone forth as elegant pieces OF drawing
room furniture. The frames were black
ened with Japan black, and on it were ir-
regular blotches of Bessemar gold, recalling
Japanese work the ceuters were covered
with crewel work, or with red grounded,
Oriental looking chintz.
The several small seeds, the same size as
apple pips, which in Jamaica are converted
into mats, bags, watch-cases, ETC., might
suggest a use for the apple pips themselves,
and vegetable marrow seeds, to those busy
preparing for bazaars, As a preliminary.
the seeds must first be washed over with
Japan black, and then strung on coarse
thread at the upper and lower end, In sets
of three together, making firm network.
The shape required should be first cut In
brown paper, and the work then done
to it
a new idea for tea tables is fringe