Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-31
Written for TEE EVENING srAn.
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.

Written for TEE EVENING srAn.
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
A Number Of Pleasing Changes I'm Fur
niture and Decorations.
| THE ROTATION OF MISUNDERSTANDING OUR
FoREFATHERs' FURNITURE -PRETTY TABLES
AND CONVENIENT WRITING DEsKs-HASaINa
BOOK SHELVES, SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE.
| Though the city is dull and deserted to
| great extent there will soon be an infusion Of
new life. September is almost here and that
means an end of vacation and idleness to most
people in this work-a-day world. Families will
soon be coming home from their wanderings.
The man of the house will be at once Gbsorbed
| in his accustomed business cares and the house
wife. will also find plenty of work awaiting her.
The work viii probably be partly pleasure, too,
for if there is not a new house to be made into
home the old one will need more or less re-
furnishing. This will give her woman's taste
an opportunity to display itself. In anticipa-
ton the shops of all descriptions are getting
ready for the hoped-for rush of the next two
months. The furniture stores are beginning
already to show many attractions The small
tables are so irresistibly pretty that they need
only to be seen to be bought, even though one
may not be a real necessity. A place can always
be made for anything that appeals SO strongly
to ones fancy.
THE CHARMING LITTLE WICKER TABLES
are always attractive, even in the natural state
of the rattan, but with painting and gliding
they are doubly so. The white and gold ones
look as il made for the display of the dainty
wherewithal for afternoon tea. The pale blue
ones with the braided edge touched up in sill
yer are waiting for place in boudoir or bed
room. where this lovely color is always more or
less in favor. Others are made with little trays
and are suited to the embroiderer's needs-one
tray TO be filled with soft-tinted hosses and an
other large enough to accommodate piece of
work. Other tables there are in all the fash
ionaple woods, with their highly-polished sur
faces and varied forms. One of old oak is
pecially pretty. 1t is low, with a round top
OF good size, and the legs have a curve
that is very graceful This same table can be
ordered in the enameled white finish that is
considered so desirable just now. The changes
of fashion seem to have a certain rotation and
nothing really new appears-only reappears.
This fancy for white painted furniture is one
that prevailed in our grandmother's time, and
saw the other day white painted dressing
table at least fifty years old. During the time
black walnut was the favorite wood and white
furniture was ''out'' this same table was ban
lsned TO the nursery, as many knocks and
scratches testify. Now, however, it is proudly
brought forth again and will be put in proper
condition. so as not to be put to shame by the
brand-new set of
WHITE BED ROOM FURNITURE
with which it is to mate. This white furniture
is SO extremely pretty and the finish so perfect
that it is sure to be popular. The much-orna-
mented styles have prevailed SO long that the
plalnness of this is refreshing. The regular
set consists OF three pieces-bed, bureau and
wash stand-but chairs and small tables can be
finished to order to correspond. Many odd
pieces Of white enamel, however, can be found
In most of the shops now. The surface will
Dear washing. as, OF course, anything so deli
cate in color should. The only ornamentation
is In the brass handles and key plates. The
prettiest set has the top of the bureau and
wash stand projecting six or eight inches be-
yond the article itself at each end. This makes
much more roomy surface for the many
nowadays. To those women who make their
bed rooms their special sanctums a writing
desk Is OF the greatest use and convenience.
PRETTY WRITING DESKS.
The styles are many which are offered this
season. The majority of people will not be led
off by the white-and-gold craze, but will still
cling to the warm-looking cherry or mahogany
or the favorite oak in all its shades of antique
finish. More pretty desks are made in the lat
ter wood than perhaps any other and certainly
more pretty ones that are at the same time in
expensive. The perfectly plain wooden finish
OF the inside Is most agreeable change from
the felt covering, which used always to adorn
the writing part Of the desk. 1t was sure,
sooner or later, to be moth-eaten or, by being
wet, to draw away from the edges. to the ruin
OF Its good looks and the annoyance of its
owner. Now mat under the inkstand and q
blotter under the writing paper is all that is
needed to keep the polished surface from too
hard wear. little brass rod with plush cur
tain hanging from it in front of the pigeon
holes, Is pretty addition to any desk Some
tunes, however. this cannot be arranged with
out interfering with the opening and shutting
OF the lid A woman who has o taste for writ
ing generally has one also for reading and likes
10 have her books as convenient as her desk il.
HANGING BOOK SHELVES.
This, Of course, is easily enough managed
where one has plenty of space, but in q small
room book case takes up too much of the
floor surface. For such needs the hanging book
shelves are very useful we'll as ornamental
or can be made SO by hanging curtain from a
small brass rod at the TOP. This serves as q
protection to the books from dust and adds
much to the effect. Que can sometimes find
just what is wanted in the way Of
book shelves at the stores, but If not
a carpenter can make what is wished
if an idea of size and proportion is given him.
A set ordered to correspond with the white
furniture spoken of above would be charming
with curtain of India silk or plush, in either
delicate or decided colors. Shelves of darker
woods make very good showing, too, against
wall paper that is enough of a contrast in tone
for a background. The bamboo shelves, in sets
OF various sizes, are used good deal in this
way, both with and without curtains The wood
itself Is so light that thin curtains look better
than those of a heavy material. single cur.
tain, also, is more effective than two The top
may not be very large, but it will serve well to
show OF some pretty piece of bric-a-
brac or a small bust of favorite author An
apartment of modest pretensions as well as size
is being now considered, and a bust does not
need to be of bronze or marble to give pleasure
to Its owner. One of plaster will be quite in
keeping with its surroundings and at the same
time may be very good from an artistic point
Of view. AS woman said the other day.
There is no reason why houses should look
like barns for want of pretty and inexpensive
decoration" This is especially true OF orna-
ments, for with SO many things to be bought
or made at trifiing cost there is really NO ex-
cuse for bare, unattractive rooms.
No More Ether for Him.
From the Boston Advertiser.
Not long ago young man who had q touch
of heart disease entered the Office Of a Boston
dentist The yOunp man had n had attach 30