The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-06
TEA TAeLE TALK.

cards IL q now kiad a penwiper, which, bow
sver, may not ind it, way TO q clergyman
study table.
Fancy baskets made by the plain Indians
In the neighborhood Of Bar Harbor are the
craze, and are utilized for bonbon boxes at !
o'clock teas
German favors are Of Q more practical and
| useful kind thar ever before, and indicate a
current of common sense forcing its way into
fashionable festivity.
Triplicate pincusions have crowded the
old fashioned fat family out OF sight among
people who sniff at ancestry. and insist thai
grandfather's portrait shall be hung in the
garnet.
With 30 many quaint and pretty things for
the library desk or table, one can form a mu-
scum or miniature woman's exchange, even
II there il no inspiration to be drawn from
the exhibition.
For loose photographs there Is what aP-
pears 70 be a large volumes Of poems III top
OF where the leaves should be slides of, and
then even the most obtuse can see where to
put the pictures.
Newest correspondence cards have a few
lines of verse appertaining to letter writing
across the top, which have been cleverly So
lected. even II it may be a struggle to search
out all the authors.
A paper weight made Of q large square
block Of glass, with clock and calendar In the
center, accessible by means Of a slide In the
back, is new. and expensive enough not to be
common" for q while.
Large straw shells, like what Venus and
Undine are represented on in chromos, are q
design in waste baskets. They are inge-
niously mounted, and artificial seaweed aud
grasses help on the illusion.
A maid. presumably Holland, with water
pals from a yoke on her shoulders, comes in
china and does duty as an ash receiver. She
is dainty and fragile enough for speedy de-
struction at the bands Of the hired girl.
Note paper, actually a yard long and two
inches wide, with Just a few words" face
tiously inscribed on the upper left hand cor
ner, comes in a box Of the same dimensions,
with 'Great Scott!' printed in big letters on
tue cover.
Tulip candlesticks are new, and, 1t goes
without saying, pretty. They are on admir-
able imitation Of the flower in design, color
ing and material, and very dainty for the
French dressing table, now quite indispens-
able in milady's boudoir.
II we nave forty religions in this country,
but only one kind of sauce for boiled fish,
there is infinite variety in inkstands, both
ornamental and useful. The display causes
tho man who only uses the nye cent bottle to
gnaw his finger nails in sorrow.
Fashionable extravaganza does not stop at
utilizing Chinese four foot vases for umbrella
stands. but it is very much to be doubted IL
the Pekin manufacturers ever intended them
for such base Uses In this country. Inc ex-
ample has been set, however, and that is
enough.
Two or four shade lamps, three lights be
ing considered unlucky by the superstitious,
are the latest for miiady's drawing room,
and nobody can fail to admire the present
styles. They are intended to stand OH q
pedestal by themselves, and are worthy the
elevated distinction.
Christmas tokens and bric-a-brac have
crowded out actual Christmas cards at last,
and the ~postoHice statement OF the great fall
ing of in big envelopes this year tells the
story. Poetical sentiment was almost ex-
hausted, and the abandonment OF the cards
seems to nave come just at the right time.
For the sewing class young ladies there Is
shown a long strip Of wide gros grain RIB
bon made with loops and intended to hang at
the side of the dress like a sash. AT the end
is a pair Of scissors, and under every loop Is
hid either a needle book, spool OF thread,
emery or some other article used by amateur
seamstresses. 1t is very dainty and pretty.
All sorts Of unique and pretty things are
shown for dinner favors-animals OF silk that
hide bottles of perfume, college caps that arc
pincushions. imitation soda crackers that are
sachets, and so on to the end Of a long and
clever chapter. The prettiest goods In tins
%gastronomic line this season come from Vi
emma, although Paris makes her usual con-
tributions.