Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-26

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ABOUT Such pkcoRA-
TIoN-AN ERA OF HARD BENCHES PRETTY
TOILET BOXES MADE OF GLASS.
#fNHSA RAPERIES. frills and iouuces have
"a disappeared from gowns only to re-
appear on furniture, Beds are canO-
~ pied, especially the brass or white
ana gold iron ones. Dressers and
toilet tables are the only objects wearing
oVersklrts at present, while even the wash
stands are often draped with valances hanging
10 the foor Cabinets have their curtains and
festoons of silk. while Grapes" filings and
throws - euphoniously so named - are
showered on unoffending chairs until one seeks
something undecorated as a relief to the ewes
Each of these ideas is good in some places. and
used somewhat sparingly in a house. but il is
the overriding of ornament that spoils effects
ana that should be guarded against. Take 70
instance, waShstand which Is draped as have
SAID; 1t should be, in the first place with a fig
ured material, one which will not show spots of
waite r, for IL is certain TO be splashed more or
less at every using. 1t should also be with
something that will wash. for il will surely
need 1t If IN constant use. One such wash
stand might be very pretty in a house where il
would be specially suited TO a room. but as a
general thing draperIes seem out of place
about washing apparatus.
UNIQUE STAND.
1 recall a stand, however both convenient
| and pretty, which had a chintz frill reaching to
the floor, matching the window curtains and
also the curtain concealing the shelves and
books which filled in the space between the
chimney ana the end of the room. and served for
a closet The room was a small one and there
was no space in it to accommodate an ordi-
| nary Washstand. Between window on one
slde, however, and door on another was a
corner where was place large enough for a
stand longer and shallowcr than the regula-
tlon one. Into this corner a carpenter fitted a
shelf, fitted to the walls on two sides with one
leg at the outer corner. Another shelf was
added six inches above for shoes the
valance was added. and from its extra length a
commodlous washstand was arranged small
| towel rack was fastened to the door which
| opened just at hand, and the equipment was
! complete.
| sAsHEs FOR DRAPERIEs.
Where draperies are used the ribbons for
! tying them back or festooning them grow wider
| and wider. Regular sash ribbons are often
seen tied in bows as big as Yum-Yum's best
sash, and very pretty they look. too. Not only
| are the iace-edged curtains to the dresser thus
| adorned. but such bows are also tied to the
| posts OF the brass bed.
| sCoNCEs AND LAMPS.
Whoever can has sconces and lamps for bed
room use, all oddities in either form being
sought after. Roman lamps. church lamps
| brought from abroad, jeweled fairy lamps and
silver and brass sconces abound in the MANY
beautiful homes of Washington. Sconces are
fastened to bureau or dresser-into the wood
work of door frames or directly TO the walls
themselves. Lamps. if possible are hung with
chains from archway or ceiling Bedside
tables are very low only about eighteen inches
high, and these have lamp or candle, with col
ored shade to tone the light.
POPULARITY IN RUSSIAN SILVER
Russian silver is being used to great extent
and all kinds of table Dishes as well as toilet
articles are to be seen of it. 1t has the enamel
which is peculiar to Russian work. Old models
OF tins kind of silver are being copied for many
modern uses. buckles and clasps of Russian sill
yer being much priced.
AN ERA OF HARD SEATS
Among the odd bits of furniture much affecte d
now are the Hamlet seats with the curying o
| arms, which are merely the extensions of the
seat proper. In hard woods they are expensive
luxurles (wlthout being in the least luxuriousD
but enameled or stained ones can be bought
for much less and still be well-looking affairs
1t must be we are losing some of our love of
| ease as people. The hardest and woodenest
OF couches are now provided for our guests
and ourselves in drawing room and library
OId-fashloned settles are quite 1.-The thing" now
while hall benches have wandered into other
| spheres and are also used as library seats
Couches so like church pews have sprung into
| favor that people are actually taking the pews
themselves, and one hears of wonderful bar
gains IN the way of pew seats from dismantled
churches. Pillows are much used to alleviate
| the hardness of these favored benches which
are probably reaction against Turkish upbol-
stored and downv cOuches, SO inviting to moths
In this warm climate. More and more their
devastations influence house keepers against
too much upholstered furniture and wooden
hangings.
MADE OF RIBBONS AND GLASS
The exquisite cut-glass bottles, jars trays
and almost numberless ornaments for bureau
and dressing table are at once the admiration
and despair of many people to whom they are
unattainable Instead of some Of these bits. ="
and quite pretty enough to be used among
them. are the glass boxes made in sections and
bound with ribbons, then caught together
| securely These may be made plain and
square for handkerchiefs and gloves or they
! may be fashioned In fanciful shapes. according
to the design OF the maker. Clear glass; not
very thick, Is the best and prettiest and suits
most tastes, though mirror and ground
glass are sometimes chosen. pattern must
be accurately cut of pasteboard for each piece
and then any glazier will cut the glass accord
ingy. The binding ribbon is of satin or gros
grain ribbon, and whether the edge shall be
plcot or plain is a matter of fancy. 1t should be
about two inches in width to give the best
effect. The corners are the joining places, and
the ribbon should start from there, drawing it
around the piece and fastening it as snugly as
possible when the first end is reached again
The ribbon at the other corners should be laid
over in plaits and fastened well by
sewing. When all the pieces for the
box are bound they can be
sewed together at the corners and bows put on
| to conceal the stitches. Lids are put on by
making several stitches of the sewing silk serve
as hinges. Sometimes large glass beads are
| used as feet and are sewed to each corner
box may be made much more elaborate than
this with irregular or sloping sides, depending
| entirely on the ingenuity of the designer; also
whether or not the box shall have colored lin
ing in the bottom to match the binding ribbon
is matter of taste. piece of plush, slightly
padded or of silk, is addition to the looks
| and almost necessity when jewelry of any
kind is to be kept withinH A thing not to be
| omitted is a strap of ribbon fastened to each
| front corner Of the lid and then to each front
corner of the box to prevent the lid falling
back as the box is opened. Without this pre-
caution the lid would be apt to break from
dropping back and striking the bureau.
oTToMANs IN THE BED ROOM.
For bed room use nothing is more convenien
than one or more low ottomans. As seat be-
fore the dresser for hair dressing purposes it is
preferable to a chair, and whenever a low chair
would be used in making ones toilet an OTTO