Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28

covered with superb rugs One with rugs
made of ostrich feathers of two shades--the
short, white, fluffy feathers of the breast ana
the brownish feathers from under the wing Of
the gigantic bird of Paragnay-and the other
with the notified yellow and white fur Of the
guanaco, the royal ermine Of the Incas. Two
pairs Of brass slippers, one near the fireplace
are it turns out slippers at all nor even shoes
smaller silver one, beAutifu1ly chased, lies on a
table and perhaps . hundred years ago 1t held
the dainty foot Of Peruvian belle, as she rode
out to coaQuests ct admiration. In a collec-
non Of antique silver-American, Dutch and
Perrviszs-eoms quaint forms give pleasure to
lrs. Curt3e' gusets. she has q pair of can
delsbrs6 all silver, that once were lighted at
the table Of their owner, Henry Clay. In
Peruvian silver she has some curious old stew
pans; in Dutch, collection Of spoons of odd
sizes and shapes and q set Of pepper boxes
which were perhaps century ago the re-
ceptacle for some grand danes face patches
They are shaped something like q covered vase
and were worn suspended from the belt. Mrs.
Curtis had the lids perforated and they make
the cutest Of pepper pots. With the Russian
modern gold enameled spoons Mrs. Curtis has
set Of Afghanistee spoons, which are gold,
enameled in black, a gold vodka cup and many
other pretty things to mark her travels in the
land of the car.
SPOONS FROM MANY COUNTRIES.
During Mr.. and Mrs. W. F. Mattingly's trip
abroad last summer they made collection Of
spoons as souvenirs Of their stay in each place.
Miss Mattingly, who had been the two years
previous in Europe. studying in Dresden and
travelling with her teachers through southern
Italy and France, had also commenced to make
a similar collection, which she pursued so assid-
uously that at the conclusion Of her even more
extended journeys last summer with her par
ents she had an enviabls assortment Of the
spoons Of nearly every leading city in the old
countries. Her entire collection numbers
about forty and Mrs. Mattingly has about
twenty Of equally quaint and valuable spoons.
Excepting one they are all small coffee spoons.
This Q; one .. exception has possibly, no ooetsr.
at The Hague. 1t is of old Dutch manu-
facture and has q bowl almost as big
as a soup ladle. The handle 10 richly
carved and is surmounted by ship in full sail,
having two or three figures at the prov waving
a salute to somebody on an unknown shore.
1t Is called wedding spoon and it probably
ladled out in years Of service some delicious
nectar at the nuptual festivities OF the family
whose coat-of-arms is stamped on the back of the
bowl Among the little spoons nearly all have
or of the country. One has the bowl made of
an old Austrian coin and one came from Juns-
bruck, others from Geneva, Zurich, Interlacken,
Strasburg, st. Moritz, Rotterdam, The Hague,
Norway. Russia, Antwerp and Munich have each
a distinctively odd decoration. One from Co.
logne has at the top Of the handle the shield of
the city, eleven flames typifying st. Ursula's
band Of 1000 virgins and martyrs. A spoon
from Dresden has an exquisitely painted china
handles another from Holland has the sug-
ain has the rose; the shamrock and the thistle
twined together; in another set the shamrock
by itself shows a spoon bought in Dublin;
another that has thistle, made Of an amethyst,
\ Scotch spoon, and the third bought in Lon
don has the lion at the top of the handles an
hOnQll n "A ,~h 10
called the lucky spoon, has u small gold coin
sunk in the bowl, bust Of Shakespeare sur
mounting the handle; another odd spoon from
the same place has perforated bowl to
ends in a sharp point by which the berry can be
carried to the mouth; an Italian spoon from
Beilagio, has flying Mercury on the handle;
the figure of Helvetia tops off Swiss spoon.
heur-de-lis French spoon. the coat-of-arms
of Paris another; the figure of Joan OF Arc is
on another French spoon, and dying lion, an
exact copy Of that on the field at Waterloo is
carved at the top OF a spoon bought at this
historic spot. Another odd piece of silver used
every day at the table is little COW. On her
back is ny; Lift the hy and a receptacle for
boiling milk presents itself. kaise her up
gently by her curly tail aud the hot fluid runs
into the cup of coffee from her oLen mouth.
Mr.. Mattingly prizes also some odd beer mugs
that be picked up in the land where the
book fiourishes. One, a stately affair from
eprio1sly enough will only play while it is
tilted.
SOME BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURE.
Mr.. and Mrs. ". ]. Hutchinson in the fine
residence on Massachusetts, avenue, which they
have made their winter home the past two or
three years, have many fine pictures, not only
fine examples of the skill of tile artist they rep
resent but also portraying subjects SO pleasing
that one always returns to look at them with
To Nv Int . =.
latter qualification appeals strongly. and of the
part OF his collection which he brought here
from his New York country house the follow
ing are some he likes best himself. feeling in
which many lovers cordially join: In the hall
way hangs superb judith" by Benjamin
Constant. The theological Dispute" and THE
Tangled Skein" are two examples Of Casa
nova, the detail Of the latter being
truly remarkable. Schenck's ''Sheep in . Snow
Storm Emile Saubin's Parted" palmerais
Rico and Toilet Of the Bride" BY Adrain
MORGAN; two marines, one by DIR. Hass, "Of
the Coast OF Massachusetts," and the other by
Turimermans, ''O6 the Coast Of Holland, are
a . few Of the many. Two pieces Of statuary,
eaglia, and the original '.Evangeline," from
which, some years ago. . copy was made and
presented to the poet Longfellow, are In them
| selves absolute treasures. Mrs. Hutchinson 10
skilled In an art favored by ladies IN the me-
diSval ages, and requiring more taste and pa
| tent industry than any Of the modern dscora-
tive work. She makes superb tapestries, and
three Of the most Injurious chairs In her draw
ing room are covered with her own work.
MAS xosLE's SPOONS.
Mrs. Noble, during her iasny visits abroad,
began to collect a. souvenirs Of each city she
fancied spoon, and the nucleus Of this eollec-
ton, 70 which 1he is still adding, are displayed
| ON tabls with slass-eovered top in the draw
| ing room Of her homo here. There are al sortu
Of them from tiny eoGss spoons to large ladies,
| and they are made both Of gold and silver.
Each specimen 10 work OF ART and the shapes
| and designs are not often seen duplicated. For
The number Of silver spoons that shs can put In
uss q her tAbls shs has probably more thar
| any two householdsrs In the cabinet circle and
| Imaginable rennon b givea foe possesGing q
many. An aoquaintanes 81 Ma Hohie's an