The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-24
Curtains.

CQft21nSs
As the shortening days warn us that
summer is over and delightful winter is
at hand, those prosperous, fortunate
ones among us who have pleasant homes
begin to think of putting our cosy rooms
into trim to meet the cold weather.
Awnings are taken down and mattings
are taken up; the Japanese fans that
are fast replacing our old friend the
palm-leaf are carefully laid away. With
them go all the airy devices that helped
to make the heat tolerable, and soften
the glare of the July sun, and are sue
ceeded by clever contrivances for keep
ing out searching winds and drifting
snow. Instead Of cool, pale, green's.
faint blues, and delicate grays, ard
scarlet, and clear yellow, brilliant bits
of color to catch, and make the most of.
every ray of wintry sunshine.
As every one knows who has had the
smallest experience in that charming
yet perplexing business OF furnishing n
house. one OF the most important points
IN the adOrnment OF q room is the cur
tains. The carpet requires deep con-
sideration, and an ugly one is trying to
the soul of any woman gifted with sense
OF the fitness of things, but it can be
partially concealed by large rug, or its
most Objectionable features modified by
the judicious use of small ones. The
curtains. on the contrary, stand out in
bold relief. There is no concealing or
modifying or toning them down; mis-
take there is irrevocable; and so the
prudent woman thinks not once nor
twice, but many times, before she pro-
ceeds to purchase them, and studies
well their future surroundings before
she takes the final step.
1t is at this moment, while she is
still bordering, and before she has quite
committed herself to damask. or rep. or
whatever thick and heavy material most
charms her fancy, that l want to appeal
to her. Windows are made primarily
to let in light. Air can gain admittance
in other ways. but light that is prevent
ed from entering by the windows is
practically totally excluded from the
room. In this northern climate, where
the winter sun rises late and retires
early, we should give Kim u warm well
come while he is above the horizon, and
offer the least possible obstruction to
his entrance into our houses.
A long-Suilering husband once re-
marked to his wife, who had Just had
Their drawing-room arranged in gor-
geOus crimson satin draperies, elabO-
rately lined and trimmed: my dear,
what is the use of having windows. and
then covering them up with blankets?"
1t is almost impossible to drape heavy
curtains gracefully without hiding the
entire window. except a narrow strip
in the middle of the lower sash, if
orlble curtains are used, or ut least
twO-thirds of it if single one, while
the sunshine that ought to be warming
and Frightening the whole apartment
struggles almost in vain for admission,
and, when it gets in, must be content to
enliven a small patch of the carpet. Yet
tasteful, well-chosen curtains add so
much to the appearance of room, and
are SO beautiful in themselves, with
their soft outlines and graceful curves,
that it seems barbarOus to hint that
they might be dispensed with entirely.
In this dilemma | would suggest
that the long prevailing fashion of using
only thick fabrics for winter curtains
should be disregarded, and thin ones
substituted for the sitting folds which
but the habit of lifetime |
would induce us to tolerate.
Handsome lace curtains with their |
tracery OF fairy-like frost work, or their |
rich masses of hand wrought leaves, are
too costly for most persons OF moderate |
nears. but nothing is prettier for those |
who can afford them. Though f'imsy
may detract from their merit |
in the opinion of those who are not
judges of needle-worl., no educated eye
can be deceived for a moment as to |
their real value.
So many materials once never seen
outside of the kitchen have been util-
lied and turned to good account by the
passion for decorative art, that the most
modest purse can compass something
1T once artistic and inexpensive.
Very pretty curtains are made of
trimmed with Russian lace.
Each width is cut in two lengthwise,
he edges rolled and joined again. with
4 band of insertion sewed overland be-
tween them, and the whole bordered
with lace. The material is yard wide,
and costs but six cents yard. so the
most carping critic cannot object to it
N the score of expense. If two cur
ans are used for the same window one
is enough for each, with band
If insertion, and let hang in straight
Odds over the window.
Fine osnaburgh, such as is used for
kitchen roller towels. is very effective
with border worked in outline stitch
n black or crimson; either quaint de-
'igns and grotesque figures, or more
'egular pattern, like the Grecian border.
No cornices are required for these
A broad facing should be run
m the curtain on the inside, about an
nch and half from the top, and a
tick passed through it. This is sup
ported on iron hooks driven into the
vail. fitting into Sits or notches cut in
he stick.-E. r. ScOril, in Christian
JniOn.
A Bond Of Acquaintance.