New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-03
HOME AND SOCIETY.
CHAT OF THE SEASON.

CIA1 OF THE >EASON.
The coming Of January and the departure of the
holidays bring thoughts back to the TJrkaday
world. This is set apart by universal accord
for household sewing, and at this time the orderly
housewife looks over her stores Of table linen and
bedding, makes those that need repairing and lays
IN fresh supplies from the special January sales which
are now an important feature Of tie shops Offering
linens embrodericS and cantons. The history Of the
great linen sales now held each by the trade dates
back in this city, according 10 linen merchants. but
score of years. one Of the linen manufacturers OF
Belfast offered his entire stock at that time to the
highest bidder, ard after keen competition between
several Of the leading merchants in the trade the stock
was secured by firm in this city. y. I. stewart VINO
was one of the competitors, finding himself beaten on
his own favOTitc ground the linen trade. Immediately
reduced his already enormous stock Of linens to low
figure that his successful competitor in the Belfast
bid found ii difficult to keep pace with him. In the
month d January. when these sales were naugur'tcl
competition high. and what had been dull season
became one of the busiest and livciest. Merchants
found that the January sales, even at the reduced
prices were remarkably remuncrativc; and the follow
ing year special imporatiOnS of linen were made ana
q special display of household goods be anne feature
of the shops the last holiday bells had
ceased ringing.
Thus the January sales instituted. and thus
they remain. Further back than this however II *
interesting to note that, even in England and else
where the season Immediately after the holidays IS
devoted the linen closet. II date back to the
quaint Old festival of Saint DsafS day January - the
day on which work was generally resumed after the
holidays. on this day the took mp the distaf
and went back their spinning. The spinning OF GOOD
linen much the duty of the lady Of the castle
as it was of the owicst maid. The diStaf was fire.
quently used to signify woman. and the old law OF
France declared that the "never falls to the
distaH." So kindly a writer as CHANGER says:
Deceit weeping. spinning. God hath given
To women kindly, Whle theN may i've
Whether or NOT wOmcn's long ages of training at the
distaf have given them special love for fine linens
certain that every takes especial pride
in the of her linen closet Fine and beautiful as
were the homes pun linens of Oden times. II was not
possible by the oldme processes Of weaving TO pro
duce much variety of pattern. The bock-and checker
pattern. the snowdrop pattern beloved by all good
housewives examples of what could be done before
the invention of the Jacquard loom. and we believe
these patterns are still produced by that oM-timc
method Of The great invention of tie French
which has revoluOnzed textile fabrics. has made
IL possible TO produce almost infinite variety Of
QuSite patterns In these goods. 1t is advantage 10
choose small, neat patterns in table linen. Where
table damask of medium price is chosen it should be
we'll covered by the pattern Where there is much
plain surface displayed. the cloth should be of fine
quality II will have dull lacklustre look. instead
of glossy, satiny appearance. All sensible house
wives provide telling of dOube-faccd cotton flannel
to use under their table damask This feng from
60 cents to 81 yard and va dS a square of the
cloth. IS sufficient TO ordinary family table
Table linen which is not bleached 10 "a snowy white
ness, but left creamy tint. longer than the
snOw-whlte linen which is bleached by the use OF
acids, as Of the French linens 1t Is possible
70 get beached linens in market but they
usually of the peary tint.
1t is an excellent plan TO have carving cloths to 70
under the meat platter in order the cloth from
drppings or spatterS. Accomplished embroderers FIRE
quently work a square of linen with an appropriate
.l-fp= 10, Ma nfa
aoylie A DOYLE is to be distinguished from a napkin
by fringed edge. a napkin having plain henmcd
edge This at least, is the distinction made in the
shops.
The heavy cottonS. which seem coarse because they
with raised thread. preferred where
cotton sheets chosen. and cotton sheet is often
preferred in winter to OF linen. Ii is not cold
linen. and physicians IT Is more wholesome
Where linen sheets chosen. the Dutch linens. which
have the exact appearance Of the home made linens
of long ago are preferred. They not however, Of
the snowy wilderness OF the fine French linens Of
those Irish linens which bcached by artificial pro
cesses. Like all graSs-beachcd goods they have
creamy tint
Persons who confirmed JaegerlteS sheets Of
the finest wool Of pure texture saiiny
that it is said they DO not iritate skin. the
coarse flannel Shee Of unhappy memory. used in olden
times. wont 20 do. II is matter Of doubt, how
ever whether it IS possible 70 make sheet of
wool that will not prove a source OF torture to
person Of delicate skin. There certainly many
persons especially little children. who endure
The touch Of the finest wool without being iriated by
the spiral nature Of the construction Of the ultimate
fbres
The fashionable towel Is still plain white with n
hemstitched border. with the initials Of the owner
worked BY hand in incOnSpicuOis letters about inch
high at The right hand There bcau-
tful frinccd towels. with borders in drawn work
in the finest Fayal work. which is species Of en-
brodery done drawn threads and cvecuted in per
lection the Azores. These towels generally in
tended for bureau stand covers, or for " sham"
towels to throw the towel rack and conceal those
In use For regular use the choice Of the buyer Hes
bctwcen camask and huclI.lack. \ great many people
find that the finest huckaback towel i Irritating t.
the skill and 50 choose damask. The largest guam
tity Of towels sold. however, # the hucka1acl.
variety and in The finest qualities this goods is as
soft in finish and free from rOughness as brdSeye
linen. This quality sell, by the piece Mt the rate Of
about 81 a yard. Hern-tcted towels OF this quality
;r, from 81 t. S24 q Dozen There is a rough heavy
quality Of huckaback called giant huck "ilch l.
liked by athletes II retains it, sharpness after
washing The Russian crash is also a faroritc friction
towel for the same reason. The Turkish friction
towel though excellent at first soon becomes S0lt anu
lo,es its sharpness The knitted towels made from
tape, knitted in ridges. open to somewhat
the same objection All friction towels should DC
washed very rapidly, stretched into shape and dned
a, quickly as possible. 1t is unnecessary 10 add ua'
they should be irOned.
In these days of factory made linens II Is espccEH
essential that tho goods should be carefully hundeieu
The fibre of linen * easily cracked when 1t Is III a
frozen state, and for this reason ii Is much wiser
10 dry 1t in the house during cold weather Ou
fashioned linen such great grandm0thers "oVe
could be easily hung outdoors in winter ana allowed
10 bleach In The frost well as In the dew but
where the fibre has been weakened by the use VI
powerful bleachers IL is impossible that 1t should
wear like The Od-time linens