Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-18
coUNTERPANE.

ANOTHER COUNTERPART.
A very handsome bed-spresd may be
made of coarse linen sheeting, the coarse
linen being preferred because of its re-
semblance to old homespun linen. The
spread should be just large enough to lay
over the bed without tucking in, and the
edge finished with an inch-wide hem
stitched hem. A row of simple drawn
work or several lines of hemstitching may
be made to form an insertion above the
hem if the worker desires. In the centre
a large conventional design with long flow
ing lines is stamped; if the design is circu-
lar quarter of the same forms the pat
tern for each corner, or single large fg-
ures, not too intricate in form. may be
traced at intervals over the surface, if
preferred. Under the stamped pattern an
tique or fish-net lace is carefully
and firmly basted. The de-
sign is then worked around with
large stitches in skeleton buttonhole stitch
taken in reversion of the usual way, that
is, with the needle pointed in toward the
centre of the leaf or scroll, being careful
to sew through both linen and lace. Rope
silk or art thread in white or color is used
according to choice.
When the embroidery is done the linen
within the lines is cut away, leaving the
lace so that the figure is transparent and
has the effect of having been made by a
net work of threads as in Mexican drawn
work The object of turning the button
hole stitch is to prevent the raveling OF
the linen edges. The work is sketchy and
rapid in execution and snowy in effect.
This style of embroidery is not new, being
modification, of bind nf naaH1aUnrE
much in vogue sixty years ago and more.
The materials then used were the finest of
muslin and lace and the stitch close over
handing with white cotton, the finer parts
of the pattern being embroidered in satin
stitch. Ladies' capes or large double col
lars, and the tiny caps then considered es-
sential to baby's comfort and wel-being,
were embroidered in most elaborate and
dainty designs with a neatness and deli
cacy that speaks well for the deft fingers
and patient souls of our grandmothers.
APAGEl
The nickname must CO. 1t has received
sentence of expulsion from polite society
and is ON the eve of departure. Is not
this sign of the timesl-s token that
since women are continually gaining new
honors and dignities, are filling new posi-
tions of trust and responsibility. her name
should be elevated with her and fitly SYM
bolize her worth. The pet name, the home
name is for the use of those only who are
nearest and dearest, for private use at
that, but in society, or in business, or the
profession, let us have no more of them.
They are distinctly incongruous.
At meeting of the New York Board OF
Education recently, a report was adopted
preventing women teachers from being
called by any but their full names. ''The
use of nicknames by teachers, and in the
records of this Board, is undignifed and
improper" was the language of the report,
and the Commissioners saw the force of
this and in wisdom adopted it.
A writer in the "World" narrates a case
in point. The writer chad an instructor
whose fond parents and friends had dub
bed her 'Tootsie.' The name demoralized
the class. Poems were written to Tootsie,
sketches were made of her, and alleged
songs were composed in her honor. loot
sic occupied our minds to the exclusion OF
everything else, and at the end of the
year each and every one of us ignomini,
ously failed in an examination"
This case is an extreme one, yet who can
not remember some one whose uHdignihec
nickname belied and dishonored herl Her,
is another instance. Imagine middle
aged woman, refined, gracious, sweet, ye
spirited, with musical and stately bap
tismal name, being habitually addressed
by here friends, kinsfoiks and acquaintance
as "Fatty!" The name became fastened tc
her in her roly-poly childhood, but as she
grew to slender, willowy grace, the name
strangely enough, though evils are always
10th to leave us, clung closer.
One would imagine her rebelling agains
it, but if she did, she failed to rid herself
of the misleading term. Even old ser
wants addressed her as "Miss Fatty" and
her very dearest friends often spoke of hel
as "Fat''-. She was partly to blame, ,oi
course, as is every one who allows nick
name to become common property. II
would often require much courage and tact
to induce people to give up the use of {
name which from pleasant associations
and long acquaintance had lost for then
disagreeable or unsuitable suggestions.
There is good sense in the edict that the
nickname must go. Bon voyage to OBJ
livion. HILARY.