The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-08-19
CURTAINS.


much to the furnishing Of room ascur-
tains. With good carpet, nice walls,
and tasty curtains, though you may
have little furniture in your room, it
will look quite elegant. There is no
greater mistake made by people furnish
ing than putting all their money into
parlor set, and leaving only enough to
buy dark shades for their windows
Where house is without shutters, dark
shades seem a necessity; but uglier
things could not have been thought Of
than the present fashionable shades
dark gray and brown. They make the
house gloomy within, and look, outside,
as il no one lived in the house.
For shades, there is nothing prettier
than white, and nothing wears much
better. have some that have been in
Use five years, and do not look so very
bad yet. The dust slips Off Of Holland
very easily, and il the large, brass rings
are attached to pull them down with,
they can be kept free from finger marks.
But inside the shades some drapery is
necessary TO give graceful appearance
to the windows. These can be OF Swiss,
scrim, or canton flannel as one fancies.
II the windows are north lookout,
Swiss could be used very well these
are pretty made to part in the center
and edged with antique or coarse
torchon lace, and at the top set in large
box-plaits and fastened TO rings slipped
on pole. II is not necessary to pur-
chase the heavy, expensive poles and
rings at the stores, il you choose to
manufacture your own. Have a pole
turned at the carpenters little longer
than the width of the window into the
end fasten a knob, which can be bought
at hardware store, together with mar
tingale rings Of iron, which can be COW
cred with crochetting in brown zephyr.
Sew these at equal distances along your
curtains, and hang them on two large
hooks which can be purchased at the
hardware store. The curtains should
only reach the floor; loop them back
little below the middle OF the window
with ribbon, and no, at the window-sill,
as formerly.
For n door, pretty curtain is made
OF tarlaian, very full, gathered on
string at the top and bottom apart it
in the middle, and tie back to each side
with ribbon, so that the opening forms
4 diamond. Inside of this have a red
orwhite shade to draw down for privacy.
A very pretty way TO fix window
looking out upon an unpleasant scene,
is TO dissolve EPSON salts in beer until
il is the consistency OF cream, and put
il upon the glass with sponge. II will
form the most beautiful shapes-equai
TO Jack Frost's paintings. This arrange
ment keeps out ugly sights, but does not
keep out the light.
II the curtains are made OF Canton
flannel, the trimming should be broad
bands OF another contrasting color, put
foot from the top, directly across the
curtain, and on line with the window
sill place another band. Nine inches,
at least, in width should the bands be
line the curtains with thin cambria, and
trim on the edges with worSted fringe,
which comes in beautiful shades from
twenty to fifty cents yard. II you
would like them more elaborate, there
are beautiful strips of wool canvas, about
six inches wide, to be had in all colors,
which can be embroidered in any OF the
pretty stitches now used, and used as
bands, instead of another shade of Can.
ton flannel. These strips come for at
ghans, but can be used for a number of
articles where stripes are employed
They are in nearly all colors, and are
fifty cents yard.
Very heavy grey linen is also used for
curtains along the edge the pattern OF
the linen is outlined in worsted or crewel.
With the great abundance OF material
it is very easy in these days to make
home beautiful, il one has taste and one
cannot do that with plenty Of money
unless they have taste. The great trouble
with many homes, there is too much
mixture in them. To have everything,
one must have large house ; and when
peopel learn 10 furnish houses according
to the house, we shall see more pretty
homes. Furnish cottages in cottage
furniture, and leave the massive style
for larger houses.