Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-07
THE FLEETING SHOW.

The golden rule of house decoration, as
proclaimed by William Morris, author of
can Earthly Paradise" is this: 'Have
nothing in your home that you do not
know to be useful or believe to be beauti-
full" Strict adherence to this law would
distend ragbags and cause dust heaps to
rise skyward, while many rooms would be
relieved of a plethora of so-called orna-
ments, purposeless and tasteless, that
weary the eye with their obtrusive splashes
of color, and that become, on sweeping
days, positive weariness to the flesh and
snares of the adversary.
But as every home decorator must de-
| eide, according to the guiding light of her
own judgment, whether it be false or true,
as to what is useful and what is beauti-
full, and as many articles not to be classed
under either head are precious because of
their associations, it follows that uni
versal rejection of such bric-a-brac will
not take place Immediately. The delight
of one will still be the aversion of
another, while each can claim that the
law is on her side Perhaps the only rule
for which general observance can be ex-
pected is this: Avoid superfuity. Have
as many useful and beautiful things in
your home as you can afford, but do not
have them all on exhibition at once.
Mr.. Morris golden rule may now be ap-
piled to the following hints for art needle
work.
Embossed work is very effective style of
decoration and though not considered leg
innate embroidery it is both handsome and
durable.
For this work artificial flowers and leaves
are used, rose, and other flowers having
rather large petals being best adapted to
| the purpose. The flowers should be lightly
| smoothed with warm iron so as to f1atten
| them somewhat, and are then appIiqued
upon velvet or plush which seem to form
| the most suitable background. Placing
the flowers upon the material
arrange. them in as graceful and natural
| positions as possible and secure them firm
| ly with concealed stitches, then fasten
down the edge of every leaf and petal with
| closely set Kensington stitch taken with
| strands of floss of the exact color. If the
| flower is double sew down the outer petals
| first and let them all puff slightly to give
| the effect of raised work. One large rose
| with leaves and stem forms beautiful
| embellishment for a plush photograph
| case.
The glove press is convenience for the
dressing table which will be found "worth
it's weight" A couple of thin pieces of
wood of the required size are first smooth
| ly covered with white muslin and then
| with silkolene OF China silk. An ordinary
brick after being thoroughly dried, has
strong brown paper neatly pasted over it
ON all sides and after another drying it is
bons passed around this weight, tied on
| top and sewed to the covering, form the
handles by which it is lifted. Gloves,
neckties or laces pulled smooth after wear
| ing and placed between the boards are kept
| fiat and are relieved of their wrinkles by
the even pressure of the weight and are
taken out looking quite fresh and new. If
it is desired that the glove press shall be
| very ornamental it may be furnished with
covers of painted satin, kid or chamois.
| A pretty square for a table cover may
be made from large damask napkin by
working out the design of lthe border,
which should be striking rather than intri-
cate, with bright colored silks in the ori-
entail style and introducing threads of Jap
anese gold which will not tarnish in wash
ing. The edge should be finished with a
border of Russian lace. This lace, by the
way, hitherto little known outside the en-
pire of the Tsars, is now in great demand
in Paris, one firm alone having ordered
the lace makers of Orel. Nothing but the
purest linen thread is used for it, and the
designs are bold and somewhat barbaric.
This is the only real lace which is pro-
duced in mixtures of color. The un-
bleached fax makes a deep ecru tint, and
with this pale or dark blue, deep red, old
rose, orange or golden brown threads are
occasionally interwoven. Ecru with red
or blue is favorite combination, and
sometimes lace is found made entirely of
blended colors. These laces will be much
used for edging tea and lunch cloths, the
embroidery wrought to match the tints OF
the lace, and Oriental china ware carrying
out the same scheme of color.
Some of the new lunch and tea cloths
have in addition to the embroidered de-
sign, quantity suggestive motto, wrought
in shades of yellow floselle:
| 'Tea does our fancy aid
And keeps the palace of the SOUL"
Wrote Edmund Waller, and these words
would ftly embellish the tea cloth, al
would also this bit from Pope:
sometimes counsel take, and sometimes tea. ;
While for a lunch cloth a remark of
Sancho Panza's would be in order:
BLESSINGS on him who invented
The food that appeases hunger"
| WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT!
!, | If lay waste and wither up with doubt,
The blessed fields of heaven where once my
faith
Possessed itself serenely safe from death;
II deny the things past finding out;
Or il orphan my own soul of One
That seemed a Father, and make void the plac,
Within me where He dwelt in power and grace,
What do gain that am myself undone!
W. d. Howells.
FANCIFUL FOOT GEAR.