, 1884-02-21
WOMAN AND HOME.
Why Bachelors Are Abundant
Martyrs to the Piano
-sonE or the shirtr---Rusiin on
Female Beauty---Sew Theory
of CeIds---Hints on Homo
Ornamontntion-


Hickory wood Is the fashionable fuel Just
now, and wood-boxes are being handsomely
decorated Some are covered with plush In
q shade to match the furnishing of the room,
and have dainty designs hand-painted upon
them Others are made of stamped leather
In octagon shape, and have tassels Eade OF
worsted ornamenting the ends Those made
OF bamboo are more sensible and less extrava-
giant than any of the Others, and they look
almost as decorative. They are adorned
simply with q piece of pale blu or scarlet
ribbon.
The small, cheap, colored silk handker-
chiefs are now, as little novelties, being
quilted inside, with strong sachet powder in
the lining, edged with coffee-colored lace, and
fastened together In the center by the corners
with a bow OF satin ribbon Another style OF
pocket-handkerchief sachet, intended to hold
handkerchiefs in a drawer, can be made Of
plain -colored cotton-backed satin, with two
pockets; on one side (the top, whom folded q
white handkerchief with fancy border IL
folded and arranged with four pearl-headed
pins, and stitches In tho centre. New
perambulator covers of old gold satin, with a
border worked In large cross-stitch in black
silk, and a good-sized monogram In the left
hand lower corner look well.
Tho table cover, made Of plush and orna-
mented with a border In cross-stitch, Is very
handsome. The material Is olive green plush,
and the canvas Of an old gold color, worked
In olive green and rcd crewelxL A worsted
fringe trims the cover all round. The design
for patchwork given Is particularly suitable
for silk. Enlarged 1t could be effectively
used as a centre for a crazy patchwork table
cover. bed-quilt or antimacassar. Only two
colors OF silk should be used. Any more
spoils the effect The border Of Indian en-
broidery is executed In silks on q ground OF
ala r1,.uh Tla r..n.sIar % NhA IL
made of rich claret-colored plush It Is
lined with paiest blue silk, and has a worsted
fringe to match.
The usual way of decorating the back of a
piano for a ball Is with a curtain or piece Of
embroidery gracefully arranged; but we
have also seen the palm hand-screen, on
which leaves and flowers have been sowed,
attached to the piano in patterns, three In the
centre and one at each corner. with greenery
between, so that the back was converted into
a parterre of fowes. From experience we
would sugges' that all such iornl adornment
should be most securely fastened on, or
pieces Of leaves become detached az the
dancers whirl around and adhere TO
the dresses A piece OF ruby or gold-colorsd
satin covering the piano, draped with three
Syrian curtains, one along the top and the
other two at the sides. look very we'll. As
the satin Is not very wide, several yards will
be required, but both IL and the curtains are
durable, and come in for use afterward. An
other fashionable way Is to fix a glass on the
back, and paint a spray, or rather branch Of
laburnum right across; then hide the edges
with a festooned length Of Indian yellow
nlk, looping up with gilt chains or strings of
beads
To decorate straw chairs, first paint and
varpish them the color desired. Then line
the seat and back with cheese or serge cloth
or silk or any material you prefer. Cut an
exact paper pattern OF the size or the seat Of
the chair, and then : pattern for the back,
Cut out OF common brown holland two pieces
each OF these sizes. of course not forgetting
to allow a good margin for the trimmings.
Two inches over this material lay your wad-
ding with which you are going to pad 1t, and
over that the second piece of holland A
strip two or three inches wide Is required for
the sides and depth Of tho cushion Pin this
and tho edges together to keep tho wool in
Its place until you sew 1t on, and then tie the
wadding through at intervals to form
diamonds. When this is complete. cover
this on both sides with tapestry, plush or
cloth.