Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10

Decoration Of the House With Plants
and Cut Flowers.

From Our Continent.
In the general decoration Of the drawing
room the windOw-curtains, if these are lace,
should not be overlooked. Long strings of
SIMILAR can be tackled to the lace at intervals
with thread and needle, and the foliage picked
apart so that the entire fabric is covered; the
effect is that of a drapery of light vines. The
snsilaI curtains may be then caught back with
bunch of bright roses. The beauty and grace Of
this arrangement must be seen to be entirely
appreciated.
For trimming chandeliers and gas brackets
nothing is so ornamental as butterfly orchids
The cork or bark upon which the orchid is fas-
tened can be tied to the gas fixture aud hidden
by festoons of Lygodiun scandens or SIMILAR.
chains or which may be gracefully twined about
the fixture. The butterfly blossoms should be
so arranged as to culver about the jets of light;
the effect is very airy, and the blossoms SO per-
fectly represent insects that the lights seem
surrounded with speckled winged beauties.
This is costly but charming fashion for chan
delier or candeabra decoration.
Specimen palms and tree ferns are highly
decorative If suitably placed in the drawing
room. Plants in the parlOr should neUe7' be in
the aoay, as is frequently the case where those of
too great size are stood in corners with their
frOnds reaching so widely that they have to be
lodged. COcOs ,oeohleliand and BO,pOnid spectd-
bills se71-ul1tG are very handsome plants to en-
plOy for room decoration. Finely grown ferns
look particularly well, placed upon pedestals.
There is opportunity for a display of fine taste
in the dining-rOom decoration. Discrimination
must be exercised in using blossoms of agreea-
BILE OdOr tor the table, besides in having these in
color suitable to the occasion. For instance,
where as for young ladies' luncheon party,
Hinsdale pinks or Bouseline rosebuds would be
appropriate. for dinner of older persons richer
flowers would be more In keeping. Carnations
make brilliant table decoration and their deli
cate spicy fragrance is never Objectionable.
The "Firebrand'' or ia Purete" look COR
geously by gas light. and should be allowed
their own spike-like foliage. Roses are very
much used for table characterization, and calas,
If laid fiat among ferns smilax, are effective.
1t is decided by general vote that the center
floral piece of the table should not be high as it
interferes with the view opposite. 1t may be
arranged in several ways. This season the lay
| ing OF square of crimson plush on the table.
cloth under the center light has been popular.
The plush is edged with foliage, young Gala
diums being handsome for this purpose. A
fiat basket of roses or lilies is placed upon this
Ferns are deservedly favorte for center pieces.
Many persons would like to have standard
center piece OF growing ferns on their dining
table did they know how to arrange one so that
nothing but the foliage would be seen. 1t may
be accomplished in the following manner: Have
plain pine leaf made for the middle one of the
extension table. with an aperture in the exact
center, into which the box of growing ferns
Hldy uc ldSteueu. Two tapleClOIQS instead OF
one are required to cover the table containing
the growing fern piece. Fold these lengthwise
through the center and pin firmly around the
stems the seams of each cloth together, allow
ing one seam to lap over the other half an inch
Press this lap down fiat the length of the table
with heavy heated flat-iron So place the
fern frOnds that they will hide the pinned
points. This arrangement is not as trouble
some as it may appear; it looks very nicely and
the growing ferns, if watered judiciously, will
remain handsome the entire season.
There is no part of the decoration for enter
tainments which has exhausted so much of flor
lists ingenuity as the favOrs for luncheon parties
dinners and the cOtilliOn. These have assumed
all shapes from the horseshoe to the hunting
horn. Very costly and elegant designs are i'm
ported for fower-holders. sSatin bags, hand
painted. and swinging from ribbons stamped in
letters of gold with the name of the person to
wear it, are filled with superb roses. There has
been such disregard of expense for favors. that
at present the feast is regarded as hardly in good
form unless an 6xtravagant favor is laid at
each cover. When selected roses worth from
one to three dollars each are punched for the
favor it becomes valuable gift. FavOrs of
fabulous worth have been made for some Of the
private dinners given in New York city the past
season. Jeweled pins have been attached to the
floral design by which it could be fastened to
the belt. To our taste single long stemmed
rose laid by each plate is charming favor, and
for the german, where every lady probably is
decorated, one choice flower is frequently more
acceptable than a bouquet Small palm-leaf or
peacock-feather fans with knot Of flowers at
the handle-perhaps spray fastened up one
side-are very pretty and acceptable favors if
choice flowers are selected for the purpose.
Spring blossoms and light foliage are the most
suitable for the vases in the bed-chamber
Daises, lily-Of-the-valley, larksppr and corn
flowers arranged with grasses look daintily on
the dressing table. As soon as any blossoms
placed about the house become blighted they
should be thrown out. Dead flowers are I'M
wholesome, and give an apartment dreary and
neglected appearance. F. A. BENSON.