Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
How Rooms May Be Changed for Re-
ception Purposes.
INGENUITY AND TASTE
Can Make Ordinary Furnishings Look Neat
and Pieasant-A Tea Table and Its Accom-
MISUNDERSTANDING Plants and Lamps Are
Observation-Disclosures In Desk Ornaments
Written Tor The Evening Star.

MUSE settllnS IN Llle autumn one uurIles on 10
the preparation and distribution of Christmas
gifts. Now again the house claims the atten-
ton, but in the way OF making it most at
tractive for receiving friends or for entertain
ing in different ways. Before this time tho
manual labor in connection with beautifying
her homo has been undergone by the house
mistress, for there are always some things that
che must do, if the hes. results are to be OBJ
tanned. and now only arrangement of the be-
longings with a view to the best effect in en-
Pertaining is the ruling duty OF tie hour.
HAPPY EFFECT OF TEMPORARY CHANCES.
Some little temporary changes often make
shouse pret.ier for special occasions, while,
perhaps, not SO conducive to beauty and COM
fort Of everyday life. and a quick eye and
practical hand can give quite different and
more inviting aspect to rooms when they are
70 be given up solely to the Use of visitors. by
combination one may almost insure a
comfortable and satisfactory time to their
occupants, and in this way hostess
may be really aided by the inanimate objects
in her drawing room If she knows enough to
make them OF such assistance by her skillful
arrangement Two easy chairs and a screen
may make cozy retreat that will conduce to
tete-a-tete even in crowd; big
corner diyan is sure to be filed with q lively
group, and so on through the room or rooms
the leading spirit may dictate the success of
her gathering of friends in q measure. As
said, the pieces Of furniture may depart from
their usual places, for the better general effect
on special occasions or even for the whole sea-
eon, which Is more less in all our homes
given over to visitors and visiting. Rather
ordinary-l9oking rooms may DO given q really
attractive look by little good management OF
the kind have spoken of.
ArTRAcTIvESEss OF GROWING PLANTS.
BY all means have q few growing plants
about, palms if possible, anything else that is
attsinable, and . lamp or two, and as the day
light of the short winter DAYS waues let the
lamps be lighted early as possible and the
softened lights under the tinted shades will
cast q glamour over rooms that in the broad
glare OF merclless sunshine might be less than
pretty With the good and cheap lamps which
are so plentiful now every one can have these
attractive additions to their rooms the paper
SHADES being so effective.in shape and coloring
II more expensive ones are out of the question;
only today sawa suggestion in regard to these
shades, which are apt 10 scorch and so bring la
Dor to naught that is that thin strip of asbestos
be put on the inside of the shade where it
comes near the lamp chimney, thus making it
FIRE proof.
TEA TABLE ARRANGEMENT.
A tea table even OF modest mien makes a
further attraction in o room when ones guests
are received, or an adjoining one, whether
this is the source of ell Refreshments offered
wish TO welcome friends. and vet do not care to
or cannot have more elaborate tables the tea
table Is quite sufficient, ami an inexpensive
OUTFIT NAV be gotten by picking up odd things
as one finds them
pretty little tea caddy first saw the light a
Few days ago since it was bought one hot day
last summer, when tea caddles were the last
thing a shopper would be hunting for. This
one, however. came to the notice, and was SO
pretty and just what a search the winter before
had failed to find. that il was purchased at
once Now 1t is looked upon as a prize and
takes its place On tea table which is a repre-
Eentation OF several pleasant things. The tea
cups and teapots were painted by the hostess
who serves the tea, and tea cloth was embrod-
cred by the same fingers which painted the
CHINA. The sugar bowl was the gift of one
friend. the small cut-gass dish which holds
the lemon represents another one, and SO
on through the spoons, each Of differ
emit design and from different place.
to the tea kettle. sugar tongs and tea SCOOP and
strainer. The plate which holds the small
CAKES or waters was presented also, and the
eaddy Is about the only thing which has been
prosaically purchased; so the whole idea and
associations of this little tea table are pleasant
In the extreme.
PRETTY SMALL SCREEN.
pretty small screen on exhibition at one of
the decorative art societies has been described.
and is not beyond the powers of many a home
worker; a small clothes horse is the foundation
OF this, as of so many other effective screens,
and, Ike most others now it is
painted white. Two folds are used. and
a silk curtain hangs from the top
bar to the floor and on each
making back On the front reaching from
the upper to the middle bar on each fold also
Is piece of pasteboard-in which are a num-
Der OF openings for photographs. Both square
and oval shapes are used for these openings and
the pasteboard is covered with brocaded silk,
and Is fastened to the bars at top and bottom
max hack to it
cate colo-lng this might be made very pretty
and does not seem at all difficult of accom-
Ilishment.
Another screen with the same white frame ia
arranged differently, according to another de-
scriptlOn- The curtain is at the back. but is
fastened 10 the lowest bar as well as the top
and drawn In tight folds. From the upper TO
the middle bar on the front of each fold narrow
.loDoA Is crossed and recrossed. making a lat
zee work, each time il crosses the bar being
Caught with a brass tack TO the wood. This Is
70. photographs, too, but is scarcely a. effect
I've a. the other.
NEW THINGS FOR DESKS.
New things tor desks are always appearing,
though il seems as if ingenuity must give out
After while in the matter A hand-painted
srticie Is writing pad Of letter paper size,
with the outside painted in perfect Dresden
china style. the gay colorirg showing we'll on
She wnite background OF the heavy paper which
forms TIE cover. AID which think is put on
after peing painted A novelty in paper cut
tiers Is Tat ivory blade the same width ali the
way, but with oper-work silver oyerlaylpg one
end for space to designate a handle. II ia
unique and very pretty as well as pleasant to
use.
Even the India rubbers which are used 70
overcome blunde-s Of one kind Or another
have little silver holder to make then, III 10
associate with a.! the other fnery with which
modern desks are fitted up, and some of these
have IN addition a brush for sweeping away the
dust made BY the rubber. a silver band more
or less ornamentcd, connecting the two. Penwip-
ers OF ehamols, silver mounted. are used almost
more than anything else, but / saw pretty
little one awhile ago which was the best OF any,
thing similar which have noticed and which
could be easily copied Lying the desk 1t
looked Ike two Carnations most natural in
co!oring- The flowers we're made of dark red
Ielt, small circles being noiched and then
folded by doubling two three times q good
many together giving the idea of the full rag
ged petals.
AFTER enough were sewed together to make
IniEblown flower olive green felt was cut to
niake the green leaves EMBEDDING them and
rubber stem added TIVE flowers were used
aac hall dozen long, spiky leaves cut from
the green felt, and all were tied together in a
graceful way with a red ribbon, and at the tying
place they were apparently laid down upon a
smsA heart-shaped piece cut from the olive
felt and backed by several leaves Of the same
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