St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-06-27
WINDOW CURTAINS.


the Styles in Vogue and the Prices There
of.
A window without curtain is like a
picture without frame. With a neat
carpet, pretty walls and tasteful hang
ings room has an air Of refinement
about it, even though the rest of the
furniture be simple and insufficient. It
is mistake people make when they
put all their money in expensive parlor
sets and have only enough left to buy
gloomy shades. Where house is with
out blinds dark shades seem to be ne
cessity; but uglier hangings could
scarcely be imagined than the present
hichly-fashionable and ultra-esthetic
articles. They make house gloomy
within and give it the appearance from
without of being tenated by specters.
For a window-shade, no matter in what
room or for what kind of house, there
is nothing prettier than light-colored
holland, and there are probably few
that wear better. White is to be ig-
nored unless for summer use, and even
then dust will discolor it, even If the
Observation-Disclosures does not leave her
fineer-mar1s on it every time the panes
are wiped off. Ecru is a good shade,
and also are pearl, the opal tints, and
the first four shades of brown and olive.
The dust slips off holland muslin easily.
and these colors will look well from
either side and will not be offensive, no
matter what the color or quality OF the
furniture may be.
The spring plates relative to artistic
interiors show the holland shades
decorated with fine machine embroid-
ery. which takes away the bare look
and is a neat finish. The work is done
So nicely that the design is outlined on
both sides. Samples are shown, and
at the large stores artists are paid for
designing such patterns or borders as
the purchaser may select or suggest.
Sometimes the finish is a border pat
tern eight inches deep, and again fancy
will call for a right line dado or a
creeper of some luxuriant leaf The
sketch may be run in with silk the
same color as the shade or of some con-
trastino shade. Other shades Of this
class, called the dado holland, come
stamped with deep border of tinsel
and metallic coloring. These are less
desirable than the former, as they be-
long to an era of glitter which was
repudiated some time ago. Embroid-
cred curtains cost from $3.50 to s. per
window, which price includes the trim
mings.
Venetian shades are again revived,
and some people are having them put
in their houses in place of inside shut
ters They are finished with deep
wooden cornices. under which they are
rolled. These goods cost just about as
much as shutters, and are by no means
as durable. The blinds are made to
order to match the finish of the room
for which they are intended.
Transparencies are no longer used
for sash curtains, as they soil readily,
and few curtains are success after the
second washing. In their place India
silk is used, as well as silk grenadine
and light madras cloths The silks
are by far the best adapted for this
purpose, as the texture is soft and PHI
able and admits Of being gracefully
draped. The colors are various shades
from green to blush red, India reds,
olive greens, gold, copper, gilt, and
those blue shades that are seen only in
Oriental fabrics. The pattern is thirty
two inches wide, sells at $1.25, and is
made up in hangings with a narrow
fringe down the edges and bottom.
Slender rods of brass or natural wood
are usedin hanging, and silk cords or
narrow ribbon for looping. Sometimes
these curtains hang from the top to
the sill, and again they are seen, in
aristocratic homes, covering but half
the window. This is pleasing in a
window, or even for the center of a
bay window, but would not be recon-
mended for general use.
Madras cloths vary in price from 81
to 81, and there are limitations to be
bought at fifty cents, which will answer
every purpose. especially for sleeping
rooms or halls. Dotted muslins come
still cheaper, and when looped back
with white or yellow ribbons give a
house cheerful appearance.
In these days of rich hangings, win
doWs are dressed as comfortably as
though they were animate, and $500 is
not c0nSldered Dy some people y large
amount with which to dress a pair
properly. The shade and sash curtain
being selected, the next thing is to
pick out drapery- one that viii look
pretty from the street and at the same
tune beautify the room. Lace is the
first choice with the majority, and
where the room is in constant use. a
medium quality is preferred. Excel
lent Madras canvas costs but fifty
cents, but the lace and insertions will
bring the expense far above the price
of a good Nottingham, which is dura-
bic, pretty and quite as little trouble to
care for as any curtain made Swiss
cn,rnlic1I1n n11r.tni,ns Of s1,,nn,.;or enc lft1r