The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-06
TO BEAUT|FY THE HOME.
Ingenious Devices That Woman
Can Employ to Make the House.
hold Attractive.
Various Cheap Articles That Can
be Easily Utilized for Pretty
Decorations.
No End of Ways by Which Clever Hands
and an Ingenious Brain Can
Work Wonders.

a
quite differently from square one,'' said
woman noted for her taste in such matters
"It should have, for instance, as little fur
niture in it as possible, while whatever can
be put there should go upon the walls
The room we were sitting in was one OF
those long, narrow ones SO often seen IN
flats Although there seemed to be good
deal in it, yet it did not appear to be
crowded, as nearly all the books, brlc-a-
brac, ETC., were on the walls. bookcase
even was on a table, it was very narrow
case, and as it stood against the wall left
one half of the space free for use for writ
ing, etc.
Tell me how you furnished this room,'
I asked as ] glanced at the floor with its
beautiful dark red and blue oriental rug
The small bookcase of light wood. with its
sides and edges shining like satin-wood:
corner shelves also filled with books, and
delicate pieces of china, etc, that looked
extensive, rare etchings and pictures OF all
kinds
"Although this is rather a luxurious. APP
nearing room it really cost very little" she
began, in answer to my question. we Will
commence with the floor first, however:
have center rug, rs you see, instead OF Il
carpet-a room is easier kept clean with
rugs, as carpets will gather dust, ETC.; be-
sides a rug ON stained MOOR makes room
look furnished i'll itself.
..Ths rug cost nearly as much as car
net would, but then it will last life
time, remember. You will notice that |
have no small rugs about save those at
the door and fireplace; IL Is having so
many small rugs about that makes so many
persons dislike rugs, as they trip up peo-
pie and children, besides making room
my floor was so bad that had to send
for a house painter to first fill up the
cl.c kOnt holes. etc, with
red putty. He then stained it this
dark brown. as you sec, Just toned up
with a little red, and over it all put a
coat Of shellac. AS ne was gooo mouse use
thoroughly dry, it will last a long time.
When it needs renewing, however, it must
then be painted, as shellac cannot be re-
moved so completely as to admit OF re-
staining. ,
"If woman needs to be very economical
she can put the red putty in the floor her
self and stain it also. A friend OF NINE
filled in the putty in bedroom floor where
it was needed, smoothing 1T OFF neatly level
with the floor, and then. instead OF STAIN
ing it, she papered the floor with cheap,
but pretty Powered paper, at about shil.
ling a roll think; then she vanished 1t all
over thoroughly, and laid down in the cen
ter of the room large home made rug that
was really beautiful. have such q rug in
nv dining room. Come and see it,"
1t was a thick, rich appearing rug OF va.
ried hues, and no one would have imagined
it to have been OF home mn :,
'It is more easily made,' she resumed OF
our return to the parlor. you first take
such rags as you intend to use, of eithe
cotton or wool, and they should be vel
mixed, of as many colors as you can get to
gether. Then tear them up as finely as pos
sible, taking care that they do not breal
too easily. The strips or pieces should no
be torn too long-half-yard lengths, fol-
instance, being prettiest. Sew the pieces
smoothly and neatly together, ana WING
them up into good-sized balls.
Now you want some large wooden knit.
ting needles, and then you knit up the balls
of rags into long straight strips, each piece
to be as long as you want the rug-ano aDon,
as one desires by knitting several pieces
and sewing them together-if one is very
careful in the joining the seams will mo-
show. The work need not be awkward, o.
bulky to HANDLE as every little while thu
pieces, or strips, can be rolled up n way
and pinned.
"My bookcase is simply very large pin
box that l had. house carpenter put tn
shelves in made tho base a little deeper
and fastened a wide strip of moding acros
the top of the case. He then sand-papere'
and rubbed it perfectly smooth for me, AM
oiled it we'll. | then applied coat after Goa
of shellac, until this nice, hard surface wa
obtained, and it has, as you see, the gloss Q
satin-wood, almost. then easily cut off
curtain pole had. the proper length for tn
bookcase, screwed the knob in the end 9
the pole again and then fastened the bracl
cts to the case for it. ] made the curtain {
crimson China silk. though any less expel
sive material might have been used. l pus
the curtain to one side, and what with tn
crimson curtain, the light, polished WOO,
we'll filled shelves of books and the to
covered with vases, ETC., the effect is exec
lent.
''My wall is parered dark grey, touche
here and there with lighter tints of tt
same color, while the border at top is of
maroon shade. This. you will observ
makes very good background for picture
etc. White wallis rs rule, make We
poor ground for objects to rest against, NJ
for walls. as we'll as carpets, medium tin
are generally the best.
INV portiere leading to my dining roc
has been very much admired, yet is ma
exactly as made the rug l described
YOU, only instead of using cotton or W.
rags used up the accumulation OF S
pieces l possessed. which makes it mu
finer in quality than the rug and very eu
to knit as we'll. though cotton or wool ia
would have done. Those two stuffed cha
that you like SO well are only comm
kitchen chairs that paid 80 cents apie
for.
Il painted the legs of the chairs blae
Then bought for one Il pink and VIII
lowered cretonne. and for the other gre
and white. 1t was very easy, of course.
stuff and cover those chairs, ana the etts
is, as you say, lovely"
WAS it not very expensive gathering
this bric-a-b rac together" asked her.
everything seemed dainty and OF su
good quality.
mot SO very. less than one would 81
pose: but then they are the gatherings
years. remember, and that is the way 81
things should be gathered-slowly and ca
fully. l never waste money on things
cause they are cheap: but whatever buy
pictures or bric-a-brac must be of &C
quality. OF course, by watching the diff
ent stores sometimes-in fact quite of
find really valuable things that are s
cheaply."
ut is we'll to learn the names of differ
wares and know their value, then one
appreciate good thing VIII II one sees
AS for these that possess l have not
the money that have spent. as they rel
sent generally money that l might OIL
wise have spent foolishly," said my arti
friend in conclusion.
San Francisco and Los Angeles Excur
Rates.
The Union Pacific Railway company
sell excursion tickets to San Francisco
Los Angeles on May Is and the same
-1l,