Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-03
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Something Of Interest to Every In
dustrious and Tasteful Housewife.
Apply SUGGE ST1ON
Novelties in Various Branches OF Household
Adjournment Which May Be Manufactured at
Home and at Comparatively Small Ex-
pense, With but Little Expenditure Of Time.
Written for The Evening Star.

most remote homes in our land 1t is fairly
pathetic to look over the correspondence COL
umns OF some Of the household magazines and
see how isolated are many of the lives to which
these papers come as almost the only glimpse
OF the outer world. These people place such
dependence on the journal that fate has brought
In their way that no wonder the tributes are
many from these grateful hearts. In many an
out-of-the-way home some ingenious woman
has carried out in more or less modified way
the suggestions her paper gives her-often lit
eraliy, sometimes with the changes her circum-
stances and surroundings may dictate. The
house may be rough, but the identifying touches
OF woman's hand can transform even such an
abode into tasteful attractiveness. Nothing is
too hopeless when enthusiasm guides even lin
tied taste aud moderate ability.
sIcX GIRLS ATTIC ROOM.
An account comes to me of the effect Of an
inspiring household journal in a little PARKWAY
home, where young girl was doomed to spend
her DAYS in IN upper chamber which had little
in its cherries monotony to brighten her in
valid lot.
The house in which she lived was a little one
story affair, with a garnet or attic room, with
slanting roof and dormer window. and as a lady
living near came to know the forlorn lot OF her
poorer neighbor, she determined that some-
thing must be done to make more attractive
this little attic room where the sick girl lay.
The resources Of the small town were extremely
limited and the means of the benefactor did
not permit her to order nythirg from a larger
place, but she looked over her papers with
hope Of finding some available suggestion, and
soon had her ideas ready to carry out.
At the only paper hangers in the place she
found wall paper OF alternate stripes Of white
and rose color. This she had put upon the
side walls and ceiling of the room, so that the
effect, when done, was of pink canvas tent.
In the old-fashoned stock at the paper
hangers she found brown border in a rope
pattern and an imitation of pair of tassels in
the paper joined in the peak of the room, with
big tassei pasted carefully at each end of the
rope against the wall. and it gave still further
resemblance to tent. An old white muslin
dress of her own made a curtain for the dor
mer window and frilled cover for the tiny
bedside table.
Such a blessed change for weary eyes was
this pretty arrangement that the grateful sick
girl declared she lived now in the tent of
Kindness. 1t was not great undertaking to
accomplish this bit Of true charity, but it
made infinitely less dull the dreary life within
the tent-like wallis 1t is a gracious thing to do
to extend thus the idea Of home decoration be-
yond ones own home to those where hitherto
the thought has had no being.
SOMETHING NEW IN WASTE BASKETS.
Something new in waste baskets of fancy
style is shown, which looks very dainty while it
is in its first freshness; q frame, consisting of
four side pieces and bottom, is fastened
together by lacing cord through eyeiets for
the purpose. The basket when formed, flares
little outward at the top; the inside of each side
is cut out. leaving only margin two inches wide
of the framework, which appears to be Of paste
board covered with rough-surfaced white
paper like water color paper. The cut-out
spaces are filled with huted India silk, put in
very neatly and with the raw edges concealed
by the paper. The cord is tied in loops and
ends final at each upper corner matching in
color the silk sides. With all the pretty baskets
ready in the shops it seems perhaps q far
fetched idea to make them up in this style;
still. as l began with saying, they are dainty
looking, with their pretty coloring, and are
positively a novelty, which counts often with
purchasers. The prices are not high, ranging
from Sl.25 to S1.75, if l remember correctly.
Dresden china still holds its own, in point of
popularity, and some of the shapes bought this
season are quite unique in form Small boxes
bonbonieres, if one Gkes-are in the shape OF
mandolins and violins. as well as the more
regulation styles. One china mandolin have
seen about half the size OF the real musical in
strument, and with everything complete about
it. 1t is a curiosity, of course, but l cannot
fancy any one desiring to possess it.
PRETTY THINGS IN JAPANESE CHINA
things and lower prices than ever; most of it
is thin, delicate ware, with not very fine deco
ration and rather bright colors, but if one has
little money to spend it will 60 farther with
better result in Japanese china than probably
any other. AS an instance, saw a little tea set
Of pretty shape. consisting of tea pot, sugar
bowl, cream pitcher and two cups and saucers
what Is called tete-a-tete set--for 80 cents
for the whole thing. The decoration was an
tvnrt att at 1naa
ware, with the red a little too brilliant and
the gold little too shiny if one could
satisfy ones taste completely, but on a table,
where 1t was not overshadowed by more
expensive things, this would make a really
pretty show, and the shape and texture re-
duces the over brightness of the coloring. By
the side Of this another set at 80. 50 was as
pretty as even an artistic taste could ask for:
the color was the soft light blue SO often seen
in Japanese china in pretty all-Over design,
while the low shape was as attractive as could
be, enhanced by the five little white feet on
which each of the three larger pieces stood.
quite unlike anything had ever seen before.
lie two cups and saucers were pleasant TO
handle and look ut and cup Of afternoon tea
served in this pretty set. on a cloth with this
same old blue in the embroidery. would satisfy
even fastidious person. Single cups of ia
panese china, SO pleasant to use from the thin
ness Of the ware, are In many styles. some
marvelously cheap, too. From 10 cents to 81
may De LASDeT tuesc DIlccb range, JUdnd III
cents bling enough to buy really pretty cup.
In odd boxes, match safes, soap dishes and
other pieces which may be put to various uses,
the choice is not limited i'll shape. though it is
in coloring. Blue and white, soft green, red
and yellow are ali easily gotten. Pink sell
dom sees in japanese goods though i'll very
delicate coloring 1t appears in cups and saucers,
seldom In the fancifui shapes
PHOTOGRAPH FRAMES.
There need be no fear photographs as dec
GRAFTON going out while such quantities Of
lovely aud new style frames are all the time ap-
pearing to display them; silver, gold and
ivory white take the lead as favorites, though
the gold is rather to the fore as the most Of a
novelty. Last year these could be obtained i'll
some places, but, believe. were not for sale
here. This season brings pretty variety Of
them, and they are charming. Oval and heart
| shapes prevail, with knot of ribbon at the
top Of each. The sizes vary, both large and
small appearing.
The gilt is OF fine quality, and these pretty
triiies are not very cheap; they will probably
be one of the popular gifts at Christmas time,
Tor every one can find place for several, II
fortune should so favor them.
Another article which would be good for q
Christmas present is spool case for silks,
pre;ter than any taing Of The kind which has
come TO my notice before. The one speak of
Is of maize coiored watered silk, with yellow
green ribbon trimming it. friend has kindly
given the proportions and cost Of this very
pretty novelty.