Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-20
TABLE DECORATION.
Good Taste Prevails Once More
Over Silly Asthetic Kinks.


Over Silly @sthetic Kinks.
Silk Has Resigned Its Pretensions as n
Substitute for Linen-C1ear Glass the
Correct Thing-Brass Kettles
for the Tea-TabIe.
The table-cloth, says the Chicago Tribune,
Is naturally the first question to be consid-
ereo In settlng table, and, to many wom-
en-, IL IS the most important Silk is no
longer considered an elegant substitute for
linen. Nothing is handsomer or more effect
i've than damask of purest white 1t makes
the best background for floral decorations ::
ana, strongest recommendation of all to the
extravagant, it is much more costly than
silk or satin. The newest tabIe-cloths are
an hem-stitched by hand They come in
patterns of delicate designs.
The hnenis exquisitely fine IN texture, and
the hem-stitching is frequently elaborated
win ine-drawn work. The cheapest of
these table-cloths, with napkins to match
are $50, while they vary, according to size.
from $50 to $75-good prices for plain linenl
But II these white cloths seem too simple
and unootruslve in style, even more costly
ones are provided to meet the demands Of
the wealthy. PLAIN linen embroidered in
dainty silks makes the highest-priced table
covering.
Flowers are scattered in artistic profusion
over the whole cloth. The embroidering is
done by skillful hands, as it must be as
smooth and exact as if woven in the linen.
yellow and pink are the favorite colors for
these embrolderies. The embroidered table
cloths are edged with lace, and cost from
$50 up to $500
Colored luncheon cloths are no longer
fashionable, although the coIored borders
are more or less used. Fringed table,
cloths are still in high favor and to the
Superficial observer they seem more eIe-
CANT than those with hem stitched borders
Pretty fringed cloths may be bought for
80 or Sl5, and even less. Fringe ALWAYS
appeals to the feminine eye. Every house
keeper covets at least one fringed table
clotn, but, alas from practical cons1dera-
lions, fringe is not always to be recon-
mended, because it will knot or tangle, and
lew servants can be taught to properly
laundry fringed articles.
Many of the new cloths come in squares
TO suit the round tables now so fashionable
All OF the most elegant luncheons and SUD-
pers are this season served at round tables
which are charmingly adapted for sociabil-
lty. Unfortunately, the scope of the round
table is limited. 1t is impossible to use a
round table that will seat more than six-
teen or eighteen, while twelve is the num-
Der ordinarily accommodated by medium
sized table. Round tables admit of most
artlstlc decoration. Round center pieces of
boiling cloth, embroidered linen, or hand
some lace are used. These center-pieces
are often lined with silk, and they give a
touch Of color to the cloth. A low bowl of
flowers, mound of ferns, a candelabrum
or shaded tmp placed in the center, will
make sufficient decoration for a round
table.
The woman with limited means who reads
about round tables and signs because hers
Is OF the square extension pattern need not
despair, for little ingenuity will provide
every woman with Handicapped table
All that is necessary is to order a carpenter
or furniture dealer to make circular top of
pine, or other common wood. The top
should be six or eight feet in diameter and
provided with clamps that will fasten it Sc
curely to the abridged form of the square
extension table.
Small napkins and doilies are still uni
versally used, although the decline of the
hnger-bow apparently reduces their sphere
OF usefulness. They are, however, so dainty,
so decorative and so costly that no woman
will dispense with them. They are used on
! the bread plate, in the cake-basket and be-
meath the butter-dish; they are thrown over
the Saratoga potatoes, they are placed like
an individual table cloth beneath each plate,
and they form little islands of fringe upon
which salt and pepper boxes are placed like
miniature silver lighthouses These doilies
are costly trifies. They are in various
styles, and come in sets, with the long
Scarfs for the center of square or oblong
tables. Embroidered linen, boiling cloth,
and pineapple silk are used, and the doilies
cost from $40 to S25 a dozen. But the in
dustrious woman need not buy her doilies
or table scarfs. Pretty ones may be made
at slight expense by embroidering plain
linen with wash silks. Tray covers are
much used beneath the silver tea service at
the foot of the table. The tray covers are
hem-stitched or fringed all around and they
may be ornamented in outline patterns.
With the improved and delicate taste in
| table covering the rage for colored glass
! ware and calico effects in china has de-
clined. Clear glass is now the only thing
used on the table-if it can be cut-glass so
much the better. There has been an effort
to revive the glass cream pitcher and sugar
bowl of our grandmothers' time, while the
| quaint china coffee-pot was to accompany
them; but silver is still preferred by the
majority Of people China, unless it be the
most costly. is decorated with delicate
traceries and tiny threads of gold. Every
day dishes show great improvement, and
people now buy less coloring and better
glaze The Japanese porcelains find con-
| slant and ready sale, for they are reasona-
BILE in price and the decorations are always
models Of conventional treatment
| The brass kettle is now a fixture on every
! tea table and the army of tea drinkers
| ought to return thanks to whoever intro
duced it. With the disappearance of boiled
tea the National health ought to improve
| The custom of making tea on the table in
PRODUCES another pretty and quaint piece of
fancy work-the tea coy. The tea coy of
our grandmothers was large knitted affair
half oval in shape and resembling mans
cap in appearance. The tea coy of today
has, like every thing else, been subjected
to an aesthetic metamorphosis. 1t is now
made of painted channels skin, colored plush
| or quilted satin, lined with eider-down. A
tassel or bow of ribbon is placed on top so
that it may be easily removed from the tea
pot when the tea is sufficiently STEPPED.
------S O--
HOMELY PHILOSOPHY.
Reflections of Man Who Knows All
About the Outrages of Fortune,
Insincerity is often mistaken for a lack of
honesty.
The ring of com is often the knell of
friendship.
They never need fear a fall who never