Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-18
THINGS OF BEAUTY
Rare Gems of the Loom IN Ar
tistic Display.
The Window Decorations OF the
Great Monroe Street Firm
of Spring 4 Co.

Nothing more completely eviDces The
march OF culture ana advance Of ss-
thetios IN modern society than the
blending of the beautiful With the
useful IN objects OF daily use and
ASSOCIATION. Manufacturers OF exple
fabrics. IN short producers of all CON-
merclsl and art products spend more
mouey and enlist more talent as the
years go by IN an attempt 70 advance
the intrinsic art value of their mes-
chandise. Next 10 the plastic arts per-
haps no field OF human activity has
shown SO marked advance, III recent
years, in the art quality Of It's product
as that OF the production OF textile
faprlcs- And tue marked characteristic
of this advancement is the conspicuous
coupling of the beautiful aud the
useful.
1t 10 no longer either in
good taste. or does II supserye
economy to limit ones self To meager
supply of apparel, or TO accept coarse
and undesirable fabrics for domestic
use. The markets are now supplied
with seasonabie goods, endless III
variety and exquisite IN hgure and
fabric and all within the reach OF the
masses. 1t is no longer extravagance,
but rather economy. 10 indulge III u
variety OF garments. each suited 70 a
particular season or cline. In fact
such abundance OF necessary articles
subserves alike truthfuiness, comfort
and economy. No observing person,
male or female, can fail To observe
these truths if he gives hut passing
thought TO current mStters. In these
days OF intense rivalry and business
sagacity among commercial houses the
observations OF this chapter lind per-
petual exemplifcstion. For instance
One cannot pass along one Of the thor
oughfares OF our Giles or towns with
out having a convincing object lesson
sustaining these opinions. thrust home
upon him. OurOwn city furnishes many
illustrations of them IN the displays
of fabrics made by merchants in their
great show windows.
fernaps the greatest effort in the
line OF window displays that has been
afforded by the seasons efforts is that
which was made In the great front of
Spring & Co.'s yesterday. The fabrics
displayed were among the rarest gem:
OF the loom and represented the most
artistic conceptions IN seasonabie dres;
fabrics that the European and Amer.
can markets have brought on,
this season. Any mention oil
this rich display without reference
TO the manner III which it was made
were an injustice to the intelligence
which 1t designed 1t. In ITS ensemble
the front was veritable bower oil
loneliness; q dream of harmoniou,
cOlCring, and artistic arrangement
The chief features of the display were
several life sized wax figures. in naturs
posture, draped with various fabrics
The effect Was charming, particular,
so rs the figures were exquisitel,
moulded and conformed to accepted
standards of rare beauty.
1t goes without saying, of course
that the windows were objects of OF
serving interest to throngs of richl,
dressed observers who congregated be
fore them upon the pavement
| Wherever one might be anon
the shops and stores, the hrs
remark upon the lips of each was
"Have you seen those lovely windo,
! decorations at Spring 4 Co.'s?" Vas
crowds Will view the rare display TODAY
and the sale of fine fabrics, suits an
parasols will probably be the larges
ever known in tine city retail trade.