The morning call., 1890-06-10
Old Brasses and Crystals.


ing horn carried through the Revolution or
the staring silhouette Of q great grandfather
or mirror framed in diugy gilt with a
bright-toned Watteau picture above the
glass, it becomes monarch of q woman's af-
fections. 1t is pretty to see the pride with
which these things are exhibited at spring
luncheons and flower parties in fine old
country houses within easy reach of town.
| think there were people who went to
church last winter 10 see slender girl fol-
lowing the service in a tiny prayer-b0ok
that was an inheritance from an aunt i've
generations removed who received it as a
birthday gift iu the middle of tie seven
teenth century. The young woman who
possessed such an heirloom was a daughter
of Admiral Foxhall Parker and namesake
of the courtly General Elisha Lawrence
Parker-her name was Eliza Lawrence
Parker-who was said to be the bravest and
pOllteSt member of the staff of General
Washington. This young Virginian when
friend took tea with her would spread the
little table with china and crystal and silver
brought from England in colonial days and
when the fragrant cup had begun to
cheer, but not lnebriate, she would per-
haps bring out a tiny brass-bound chest
holding poem written in honor of Miss
Rebecca Redman, one of her ancestors, by
Major Andre, the spy; or she would lead
you in front of the old carved mirror that
hung in the ballroom when the British
Guards danced with the stately Philadel-
phia bellies.
In Waverley place there is an old-fash-
ioned house built after Peter Stuyvesant's
ideal. An atmosphere of colonial roominess
and substantially pervades it, and all the
furniture is antique, or wherever piece
has had to be replaced the substitute has
been designed from some model of the last
century. The house belongs to a woman,
an heress in her own name; a woman who
wears black always. but not mourning; a
rich black that rustles like bamboo. She
is slender and fragile, and you might fancy
her supported by rather than supporting
the stately gown, which is always fastened
by some ancient brooch, as she permits you
to inspect some of the finest old brasses in
America, and old Venetian glasses flashing
with jewels and old Dutch drinking-glasses
crowned with notices and old PRINTS and
quaint old books until you are transported
mentally quite into the atmosphere of
other times and another civilization.
After an hour with her perhaps you call
at the Enos establishment-Mr. w. X. Enos
used to transact good deal OF w. Ii. Van
derbilts business-and when you have sat
on old chairs and gazed at old carvings
from which depend old haDgings, then it is
quite within the bounds OF possibility that
your steps may carry you to Mrs. NJ. Louise
Thomas where you will be confronted by
old mahogany and old silver, and will end
by going home and dreaming that the world
has rolled backward and made you q con-
temporary OF some sweet dame of New AM
sterdam her face and figure smothered in
fluffy marabout and her hair quantity puffed
about her high-bred face as she walks pc
tween the box borders and gathers pinks
and myrtle and buebells in a shady garden
that slopes down to the East River.
A Girls Studio.
l see there are people who object to the
,nl,r sfrir hao hal IL 70 l,a
frank and say "old maid" But when the
maid is young one, not yet %. there is no
expression which so well describes for you
her free and independent existence. A few
days ago | had a glimpse of charming
girls studio, decorated, | believe, by The
girl. 1t is a room of moderate size in
house which shelters number of these de-
tached women. NJ ost Of them work at one
thing or another, and enjoy good incomes.
They form delightful colony. This par
ticuIar den is the abode of a particularly
clever young woman. The floor is of bricks
painted yellow and spread with rugs IN
shades of yellow and brown. The walls
have been washed in with cloudy brown.
the effect of which Is rather ancient and
mellow and altogether agreeable. Above
this is freZe OF yellow, on which are
St0rks and other quaint figures in brown.
The ceiling is creamy tint, sDashed here
and there with rnddy light in old red or
gold. There is fireplace in one corner.
built of yellow bricks, and the windows are
curtalned with soft, w0Olen stuffs In yellow
The chairs are in antique shapes in yellow
brown oak, and big divan is heaped with
cushions which repeat the colors. The
walls are hung with etchings, aud these are
in oak frames. Over The doors there are
shelves, and on these and on the mantel and
in the window, and in the various odd cor
ners are brown and yellow jugs which last
saw filled with buttercups nestled among
maidenhair ferns. The girl was serving
lunch, and she spread it on tawny yellow
cloth and in yellowish Japanese china. |
do not suppose have given you any idea OF
the studio, but it is a pretty den. and illus
trates the progress OF the girl bachelor. She
is-perhaps you have guessed it-red-headed
and of exqusitely fair complexion. She
wears tea gown of China silk OF warm
cream tone, with front of brown. Do you
understand now the significance of the color
schemeP The room is designed to suit the
skin OF its owner and her curls. H.
NeW York. May. 1890. Copyrign