Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
wfittsn for The Evening Star.

| a. many OF the objects are, the eyes OF uncui-
tivated women are caught like those of chill
dren and the generally useless things are
bought to b presented a. holiday gifts and
further cucumber rooms overloaded with cheap
ornamentation a. it is. Enlightenment to such
minds seems almost hopeless whom one con-
sidsrs how deliberate choice il made Of such
articles ~ speak Of. where at every store
almost an equal variety Of really pretty things
10 shown. Nor d IL any sign that limited
amount Of money must necessarily result in
the purchase Of tasteless article, for often
there is a choice between good and bad for the
same price and the bad is chosen. 1t is dis
heartenins for any one who hopes for an eleva-
ton of taste in household matters among ell
classes to BEE what ignorance and utter absence
Of all good taste often is found in teachers in
various branches Of decorative art.
BAD TASTE IN TEACHERS.
Some young woman or girl who thinks she
would like to do art work. in some branch is
taken in hand by one Of these instructors and
is made to perpetrate about as bad specimens
Of handiwork as II she had been left to her own
uncultured devices. When really good and
pretty things are SO abundantly offered and for
such low prices as are asked now it seems q pity
that trash will still attract.
On every hand in the papers and magazines
which have a word to say in the housekeeper's
vantage OF the low prices at which table and
bed linens are offered at this time Of year, when
ones fund for replenishing goes further than
at any other season.
The same advice will hold good in many
other departments as well. On every hand
remnants and reduced prices make buying in
evitable IL one sees the possibilities of things,
and can plan at the moment . fit use for the
attractive offerings. If, on the other hand, one
has no definite purpose in buying it is better to
resist the wiles Of the bargains" for an ac-
cumulation Of odds and ends which only require
taking care Of is to be avoided. Surprising,
however, that one has sewing chair that needs
new cushions or a book case which Is curtainless
where a single portiere would look well-then,
now Is the time to buy.
SOME REMARKABLY CHEAP THINGS.
Some Of the things that are offered are re-
markably cheap. For instance, cotton fabric
woven like raw silk, in plain, artistic colors,
and fifty inches wide, was selling the other day
at Is cents yard. A lady seeing this at once
bought hangings for country house for an
upon the same pile Of goods made sudden
purchase likewise, which will give an added
touch Of comfort to her sitting room. She had
been contemplating having bookshelves put
either side Of the mantel, and this goods was
very suitable for curtains, so she bought
enough for those and also to make portiere to
the door leading into the hall The book case
hangings will be made up with gimp or fancy
braid edging them, and put across in fringe
style: with tasssl fringe or strands Of wool
braided in in uneven fringe hanging below it,
The same trimming will probably be put on
the portiere also, for 1t seems suitable FOR the
everyday wear Of . sitting room-more so
than anything more elaborate. The goods
being cotton IL more liable to fade than wool,
and 10 one would not care TO put much hand
work upon them. For several seasons, how
ever, they will probably look well, and then
one would feel Justified in laying them aside,
considering their trifing cost
ODD BITS or ruRSrTuRE.
With furniture, as with other things, now il
the time TO get pretty odd chairs, some at very
low prices, which win suit a variety Of places.
Some Of those painted in white or light colors
and with rockers mako q pretty addition to
many rooms.
II one II wanting . very inexpensive material
for fitting up bed room or small sitting room
the furniture sateens which sell for 1917 cents
yard are e. pretty a. one could wish. Some Of
them have almos: the coloring and designs Of
French cretonne, one being especially pretty
with cream ground and bouquets Of tulips and
roses scattered over it. This sateen ia 10 soft
that It makes curtains that drape ~ well az silk
making . bed spread or the hangings for a
dressing table. Its pretty design makes all
further ornamentation of its surface unneces-
sary. though little cotton tassel fringe used
az An edging makes the prettiest finish posi-
BILE. These fringes are only cents yard and
can usually be found in colors to suit all such
patterns. / am very sure the colors in the
eatesn are fast, so that washing will not hurt it.
This will be better than silkoline in some places
and even cheaper, though now have seen silk
oline sold for 10 cents . yard, but that is only a
sold 50 low.
KNITTED AND cRocHErED LACE.
Many ladies' especially those whose eyesight
will not permit them to do all kinds Of fine
work, are fond Of knitting and crocheting lace.
There is an iteration about the pattern that
soon makes such work more or less mechanical,
and 80 the eyes are not ~ much taxed as would
seem inevitable in seeing the work. There are,
OF course, innumerable patterns for such laces,
some very elaborate, but one Of the best uses
which have seen IL put TO, when made with
the prettiest effect II insertion in linen pill
low cases. saw some lately which were very
handsome; made in this way: A hem, three
inches wide, vas on the edge, and the crocheted
insertion. two inches wide, was above that; then
came another hem, two inches wide, making @
plain but handsome and suitable decoration.
When ribbons are used on chairs, ottomans
them follow the fAvorits festoon effect as much
% possible. Thus . stool in the style called
Indian, Of light wood, was the cushion caught
at one corner with square bow Of ribbon two
niche: wide An end Of the ribbon is then
down to the lowest corner diagohally opposite
to the first bow, where IL IL tied in q second
me, no other ribbon being used on It, Rib
bons on small chairs are put on similarly, . bow
and a ribbon carelessly twisted around the
spokes and caught on the diagonal corner.
When such thing 10 gracefully done the effect
may be pretty, but 1t must have an artistic
hand to do the tying and twisting or dowdy
result is sure to follow and the chair was better
in ite pristine state.