Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-06

of plain black gauge. A very effective de- sign is of daffodils, the long slender leaves springing from the lower edge of the gauge to about half its width. From these rise the stems, bringing the flowers 80 that their outer petals form a continuous but irregular line along the upper edge .Af- ter the painting is dry cut the gauge away from the edge of the flowers, and with floselle of the same color overland or but tonhole stitch the gauge firmly, after ward touching up the flowers with the paint and concealing the stitches. To paint upon gauge it is necessary to mix the colors with Chinese white, or to use the "moist," ready-mixed water colors.
 A good surface for. decoration is offered by the enormous palmetto fans, the de- signs for which should be tropical or rural in character. A gifted young artist, Miss Pemberton, has done some excellent work of this description, favorite scenes being of cotton fields white with the bursting bolls, pasture lands with a covey of par tridges rising from the dry grass, or cy- press swamp with gray festoons of moss, the glazed and heavily y-ridged palmetto af- fording fitting background to the land scape.
 As for the cheap paper fans, now to be found in all the shops, they seem yearly to gain in beauty of design and coloring.
  blotch of inharmonious colors, when with little searching, and with very lit tie expense, there may be found fans with delicate traceries in pale and exquisite tints They are not particularly durable, but when broken or soiled one has only to regret their lost prettiness, and go in search of another.
 TREATMENT OF PLASTER FIGURES. Reproductions in plaster of all the most famous marbles, both classic and modern, beautiful bronzes and bas-reliefs, bring the pleasure of possessing such artistic creations within the reach of almost every one. The 'Melian Venus," the Dancing Faun," the ,"Disk Thrower," Donatello's l St. Johns and Virgins, Della Robbia's sing ing boys, and Barye's wonderful animal groups, with host of others, are to be bought at prices ranging from twenty-five cents to five dollars, and all of excellent workmanship.
 The objection to these lies in the un- | satisfactory effect of mass of dead white | plaster and the difficulty of keeping them | clean, as every depression offers lodging | place for dust. A wash made of oil tinted | with little umber, applied with brush, will give the plaster a tone like that of old | ivory, and prevent the dust from discolor- | ing the otherwise dry surface. Another way of treating plaster figure Is to coat | it all over with a soft, dull tint of red, | with water color. When this is thorough | ly dry, shave some white wax very fine, and sitting near fire, warm piece of thick white flannel, dip it into the wax and rub the plaster vigorously until it takes on Q fine polish. The red color will | be rubbed away from the raised parts, leaving a soft, rich shade of yellow, while | in the folds and hollows enough of it will remain to give the figure the appearance of ivory carved work, old and stained by l time, but harmonious in color and seem ingly very valuable.
 A bas- relief, as of the Virgin and child, may be beautifully colored in the same manner, using soft brown tint for the first coat instead of the red. After the polish is applied, paint the robe of the Madonna with dull red or blue, such as is | seen in the old painting, and gild, but not too brightly, the halos about the heads of | the mother and child.
 For copy of some famous bronze, bronze powder is used, and the shadows are deepened somewhat with brown paint. If it is reproduction of an antique bronze green paint is used and this, if skillfully | done, results in so good an imitation of
 old bronze with it's green stains that it re,
 quires very critical eye to detect the diff
 ference.
 NEVER TOO LATE TOO LEARN.
 Mrs Julia Ward Howe began the study
 of Greek little more than two years ago
 when she was nearing her seventieth birth
 day, and she is now reading the plays oi
 Sophocles in the original. It Is suggested
 that it is the habit of study, the constant
 reaching out toward new attainments
 that has kept her so young and vigorous
 in mental energy. This recalls the delight
 that Mrs. Prentiss, the author of 'Step
 ping Heavenward," found in her painting
 lessons, begun in her ffty-seventh year and when so untaught that, as she de
 clared, she did not know which end Of thu
 brush to use. Her days seemed already over-full of cares, occupations, and duties vet she began courses of lessons in draw
 ing and painting with undaunted ardor
 and made remarkable progress. The las
 years of her life were frightened by tn
 pleasure she found in the new employ 3 ment as is shown by the frequent refer
 ences to it in her letters.
 D It seems as if this was just what som
 women need-a now and agreeable oocu f patton. They tread the same round of du
 ties day after day, while youth and energ
 and ambition slip from them; they woul
 not forsake their duties; they love thei
 cares even; they are not ungrateful or fret @ ting under their burdens, they are onl 8 weary and in need of something that wi S lift them for a little above frying pans an 5 patches.
 Greek plays and painting are not everyone's taste; fancy work is engros n ing, but it wearies the eyes already dimme d through much setting of stitches. A fe n. minutes of study each day in some partic, ". lar line might be helpful and inspiring: 't one has little garden bed or even fe a pots in which her favorite plants are groy d ing the study of botany is recommende' With an elementary work 1t will be feur | very easy and delightful, opening u 3. eyes to wonderful secret things, ,undreame ,f of by the thoughtless, revealing new beaI !. ties in root and leaf and blossom, and Tiff 70 ing the thoughts above petty trials in 10 pure enjoyment of natures exquisite e planned mysteries.
 's HILARY.