Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02
BLACK BED DRESSING.
One OF the Latest Kinks in the Fashions
BILE World.

Black silk bed-dressing is the fad
that is now tickling the ultra-fashiona-
BILE women and drawing heavily on the
resources of their purses, says the
Philadelphia Record. As yet it is the
exclusive property of a select few, who
are trying to guard it 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 win
ter is over it will be strange.
Not many moons ago, so the story is
told, a pretty black-eyed maiden, who
was the general manager of a bloom
ing infanta in the land of fandangoes,
conceived the idea of dressing up the
infants little couch in black silk and
lace. for which the youngster possessed
native fondness. The young infant.
in the exuberance of her spirits, told
some of the other toddlers that lived
in the same election district near Mad
rid, and so the news and the fashion
spread around.
Mrs. Frank Leslie of New York City,
an enthusiastic devotee of all that is
rich and beautiful in this worlds
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 near
ly all, is of black. 1t may be of silk,
satin, linen, or muslin, according to
the length of PERSONS purse. OF
course the mattress, which is always
invisible to the visitor, will not suffer
any change.
The sheets in recent outfit that was
made at the leading dry-goods house
were of black silk and as soft as sum-
mer zephyr. The edges were hemmed
with a half-inch border of black satin.
A comforter was made of black silk
very prettily quilted and ornamented
with a beautiful design in the center,
hand-embroidered in carmine silk.
The spread was made of black silk of
the finest possible texture and trim
Gus profusion of black satin bows and
films of black Spanish lace, with here
and there tiny bow of s -ron-yellow
satin ribbon. Instead of two pillows
there was one huge bolster that did
not reach up as high as the pillow or
dinarily does, possibly for the reason
that it might have hidden the hand
some carving on the head of the ebon-
lied bedstead on which the whole was
arranged. The bolster was dream of
delicate embroidery in black silk-a
large floral design ornamented the
center, from which there strayed away
toward either side delicate tracings of
vines and flowers. In the midst of all
this naked little Cupids, emil oidered,
disported themselves among the vines
with arrows at rest.
The centerpiece on the bedstead was
Cupid with his arrow and bow lying
by his side and smile of victory on
his face. The head came out in high
relief from the background, and
around it score of tiny cherubs fut-
tered.
Over all this hung canopy of black
silk covered with real Spanish lace,
and black satin and orange bows were
tastefully arranged 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 handsome up
town residence. IL cost very nearly
$4,000 and it took three months to
make it.
''Of course these are very rare or
ders," said the merchant, after ex-
planning the article as described. "We
do not expect to get another one like
it, although we may. The same thing
may be made up in linen, or even mus
lin, but of course it would not pay
to put all that fine embroidery on
Them