The evening world., 1888-11-28
BLACK B~EDsPREADs.
Something About the Latest whim Of the
Fnshionable World.
iIrom ne Philadelphia Rseord.l

tISom ns Philadelphia Rseord.1
The world Of fashion and society has be-
come 30 singular in the choice Of Its whims.
and has carried them to such extremes, that
1t is really refreshing to see some new fad
that has as an excuse for its conception the
furtherance of some not over-extrayagant idea
in household decoration and msthetic effect.
Such q fad is the latest one that has found its
way across the Atlantic from Spain's black
eyed daughters Of royal birth, and it is now
being taken up by American ladies with a
vim and dash that illustrates how quick
they are to recognize a good thing when they
sec it.
Black silk bed dressing is the fad that is
now tickling the ultra-fashionable women
and drawing heavily on the resources of
their purses. As yet it is the exclusive
property OF u select few, who are trying to
guard 1t very zealously, but everybody
knows what adopts women are at keeping
secrets, and If the fashion is not adopted in
every home that can afford it before the
Winter Is over it will be strange.
Not many moons ago, so the story IL told,
a pretty biack-eyed maiden, who was the gen
eral manager of II blooming infauta in the
land OF fandangos. conceived the idea OF
dressing up the infanta's little couch in
black silk and lace. for which the youngster
possessed o native fondness: The young IN;
fanta, in the exuberance Of her spirits, told
some of the other toddlers that lived in the
same election district near Madrid, and 80
the news and the fashion spread around.
Mrs. Frank Leslie, OF New York City. an
enthusiastic deyotee of oil that is rich and
beautiful in this worlds goods, is said to
have introduced the idea in this country, and
many of the fashionable people followed
suit. 1t has now reached this city, and, while
the fact is not commonly known, it has been
introduced into some of the finest houses.
All the material on the bed, or nearly oil, is
of black. 1t may be of silk, satin, linen. or
muslin, according to the length of a persons
purse. OF course, the mattress, which Is al
ways invisible to the visitor, will not suffer
any change.
The sheets in a recent outfit that was made
at q leading dry-goods house were of black
silk and as soft as a Summer zephyr. The
edges were hemmed with q half-inch border
Of black satin. A comforter was made Of
black silk. very prettily quilted and orna-
mented with q beautiful design in the centre,
hand embroidered in carmine silk. The
spread was made of black silk of the finest
possible texture and trimmed on the outer
edges with a decorous profusion of black satin
bows and films of black Spanish lace, with
here and there q tiny bow of saffron yellow
satin ribbon. Instead of two pillows there
was one huge bolster that did not reach up as
high as the pillow ordinarily does, possibly
for the reason that it might have hidden the
handsome carving on the head of the ebon-
lied bedstead on which the whole was ar
ranged. The bolster was a dream of delight
~ ~ pihSA oiiA u lhlBO
floral design ornamented the centre, from
which there strayed away towards either side
delicate ttacings. of vines and flowers. In
the midst of oil this naked little Cupids, en-
broidered, disported themselves among the
vines with arrows at rest.
The centre piece on the bedstead was O
Cupid with his arrow and bow lying by his
side and q smile of victory on his face. The
head came out in high relief from the back
ground. and around it q score of tiny cherubs
futtered.
Over all this hung o canopy of black silk
covered with real Spanish lace, and black
satin and orange bow were tastefully ar
ranged around the corners and draperies.
This thing of beauty was made for a young
couple now out of the city on their bridal
tour, and awaits their coming in o handsome
uptown residence. 1t cost very nearly
50, 900. and it took two months to make it.
of course, these are very rare orders"
said the merchant, after explaining the ar
ticle as described. I'VE do not expect to
get another one like it, although we may.
The same thing, may be made up in linen. or
even muslin, but. of course, it would not
pay to put all that fine embroidery on them"