Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-25
semeshi.g About window.

From the London STANDARD. July 81.
What Is q window? The answer depends very
much on the age Of the world TO which the cues
ton IL intended to apply. window may be o
mere aperture in q wall, or. OF best, An opening
covered with lattice work-such Is sttll exists in
oriental countries Five hundred years before the
building OF Rome the mother OF Sisera looked out at
Q window, ana cried through the latuce." Proba-
bly, a portion Of the lattice was made to omen by
ssS 81 Tne a was the pSen an o tire
domestic window, such as charact-rizes modern
civilization, while the slit In the wall seems
windows which ultimately adorned the eccleias-
tical edinces OF the Christian era. Some OF the
rustic windows at the present day are very much
in lead and the greater portion OF the window
Is fxed. while bile one part opens horizon
Sa on gsrhss sne 70 and aIo sash lines
easy vertical motion, are rennements connected
with . more advanced stage. In gothic archi-
terminating In head OF semi-clrculaT form
Usually there was but a single light, except In
bellry towers with the Introduction OF the pointed
place. the windows became eiongate3 TO
surprising extent, surmounted by a lancet head.
the next step was to perrorate the space between
the submits Of two Iancet-headed lights and the
fundamental principle OF the ornamental window
was obtained. Tue effect on the interior or the
chufcnes ana otner buildings is described substi
tuting "a BLAZE VI light" Tor masses OF gloom. The
full-Uiown gothic window, with Its many millions
and delicate tracery, took the place OF the con-
tracted apertures which formerly prevailed. I'm
provelnents in the manufacture or glass faciIl-
lated the change, and the Introduction Of the
glazed WINDOW has exercised marked influence
window. as we know IT, has followed on 80 late
period alter the invention OF glass This
yitreous compound was little better than a
play tnlng Tor ages The ancient Egy ptians could
make glass, but they never glazed window. Tuey
could make bottles aud various ornamental arti-
Giles composed OF colored glass; they could even
ma mis- nj n
Eelnef the Idea or producing clear, Ilgnt-trans-
mlttlng sheet, such as would exclude the weather
day.
waggsh sauant once defined a window as "an
ornce IN an ednce for the transmission OF ienticu
iar rays" THIS Is near enough TO the mark
things aow are but would uoL apply 10 the ancient
apertures. II We are to give any weight TO the
Woro "leutlcuiar." Let the dennl1on Oe what it
may, the WINDOW OF our own era sustanS im-
portant part In our social and commercial life.
10 The occupants OF dwelling there ~ the pleas
ure Oh looking out Of a window; and 10 those who
strol. along Inc street-especially tne members OF
Ine lair Sex-tnere Is the delight or looking In.
The art OF ''window dressing" is highly esteemed
IA .ness Trades which seek 10 attract the
pasSer-py INTO the expenditure or cash On
articles OF taste or dress. Tue seductive tnflu-
ences or the Snop window is responsible for Ger
rGin amount Of extravaga as well as Tor the
70 which this process is brought Is exem-
phned by the array OF beautiful and costly
goods TO be Witnessed in Regent street,
Bond street, Ludgate Hin and Cneapslde. Here
am There We See an .UectdtlOn or ST. IL, In The
construction OF windows after an anIiQuated type,
sucn as existed IN the days OF Old London. But
such designs are only applicable 10 traues or a
special CHARACTER, or where The wares severely
etuetlc. Spiendor and display are the sLiInulintS
mainly relied Upon, and plate glass lends Itself
!eauliy 10 the skin OF The giaZler In producing
tnose fascinating shop fronts which make
tne streets oI our Large Towns equivalent TO per-
petual exhibition o. Industry And art. Bat wiu-
VOWS meet US at every turn. Tue Old burden or
the window TAX and duly On glass have, happily,
been removed. Those MISERABLE 1InpostS-especi-
ally The Ioimer-Snrouded many houses IN groom
M ca Otherwise woald nave ueen hooded VITA
ilSnt. II Is curious That the WINDOW TAX was
aooisned lii 1aol, tne year or the great exhibition
In hyde PARK, "uen the world was Charmed with
gigantic STRUCTURE which might be described
dh window" Tue tendency 10 let al the ~ at
Is very MARKED In the present. day. Every Ware
mouse oears witness 10 IL, and every workshop.
Glass Is Largely supersedIng brckwork, ami IL Is
even aSserteu mat lne frasi-e IRONS LnuS given To
connefcIai structures In london, ESPECIALLY In the
city, prOviue Ior Inc wIu-r aud more rapid eXLen-
siOn VI a. e. In Ordinary dwellings windows and
wlndo" pdneS ALIKE grow IN size. fhe DAY window
mas superseded The uASaInIy uuw window, with It's
ou!Sins and ansishuy curve. Even tne attic Will
dow mas put on air or elegance, anu Jhrous houI
Tue aouoeS OF Tue people Tue more exclusive or
sldS, Tor window purposes mas made home
DngnteI and healthier place than IL was wont TO
De one nundieu Years agu. The people are the bet
IL DlJ. al sic All