Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-09-05

FINISHING TOuCHeo
TIE last touch In 6nishiug . piece Of
work u moro important than some care
Iess souls remember. who has not sur
fered treat incouvenieuce from buttons
which loosen with very little wear, hang
BY q thread, and drop on whom most
peededf No gentlewoman looks well
dressed, however rich and styllsh are
her clothes, n she has an effect OF an
tidipess 10 the missing buttons on her
boots or gloves, or In bits or ragtsg and
bobtail hanging from her gown. Fringe:
rent from their fastenlngs, bows pinned
on instead Of securely sewed, ends OF
braid, and frayed appearsnce ut the
bottom of ones skirts are fatal defects
In q girls toilet, 20 are rips 10 the hn-
eers Of glove, and faded, dust-woru
flowers on hat.
It IL q good plan to secure buttons
and strings BY an extra sewing, when
the articles on which these arc esscntials
are sent home from the shop. A little
precautionary care ut this time may
ave one from modification and mishap,
very likely at an announcement moment.
Every Que knows the perversity with
which button breaks from its moor
ings when one Ii In q great hurry to
keep an engag cement or to catch train,
and there IL positively not an Instant to
spare for fastening Il on.
In setting . table, the nnishing touch
Ia seen In the nicely With which the
dishes are arranged, the meats garnish-
ed with q little parsley, the red tomatoes
with their dressing Of pale yellow may
onnaise set like jewels on the delicate
green leaves Of lettuce, the glass POLISH
ed I'LL It shines, and the centre OF the
feast crowned with flowers.
Garden flowers are very lovely TOT
table decoration, but the finishlng touch
Il often equally artistic when Q mass OF
feathery ferns, q wreath Of Wild elena
tis, a bunch Of bitter-sweet, or . com
blnation Of sweet clover and golden
daisies with rich brown disks are ar
ranged TO do honor to the feast. III one
lives near the woods, or In any village
where the Wild flowers have not fed
before the sound of the hammer and the
trsmping feet of the crowd, 1t 10 pos.
sible to deck ones table with q great
variety Of blooms. II one member OF
the family, we will suppose 1t to be q
bright little girl, will take this duty
upon herself and attend to II daily,
there will never lack the grace OF this
finishing touch. =,
In sending gift to friend 1t 10 well
to remind ones self of the beauty I'm
parted by dainty externals. There 10
nothing sinful In brown wrapping-paper
and grocer's twine, but smooth white
psper and narrow silkeu ribbon convey
. sense Of careful thought on the giver's
part, and awaken anticipation on that
Of the receiver to an extent quite sur
passing the little trouble II was to think
OF them. To wrap gift daintlly and
pack It with scrupulous nicely should
be ones invariable rule, never to be de-
Waited from or broken without some
manifestly good reason.
A woman who has the endowment OF
genius once wrote some sweet sympa-
thetic verses on the occasion OF the
death of friend. The stanzas were
really ine, but she failed to impart 70
them the true flavor Of delicate compli-
ment, because she scrlbhled them hasti.
IL of on a sheet Of coarse-looklng ruled
fO0lscap, which had to be folded many
times before she could squeeze u Into an
envelope intended for commercial note.
Had she copied her poem on due smooth
paper Of conventional size, folded u
once, and Inserted II In q square envel-
ope OF the appropriate size, the message
OF comfort would have had far more
chance to soothe the Wounded hearts OF
the m0urners.
Not long ago lady was packing a
luncheon for y friend who was to 20
away by train. With the incest care she
cut and buttered biscuits, made tempt
Ing sandwiches, and sliced delicious
homemade cake. Each little parcel was
then separately wrapped In white us
sue-paper, and when opened by the
traveller the lunch-box presented q real
Invitation to appetite. The finishing
touch was not wanting In the piqusnt
olive or two, which, with the tiny fork,
were lying between the sandwiches In
very small fiat bottle, and In the tiny
glass Of Jelly, with the small souvenir
spoon, which fitted Into corner OF the
box.
In preparing the school luncheon, q
little supervision by some one who Is not
careless as to the finishing touch would
be repaid In the rest With which the
children would eat.
Bread and butter plates, with separate
knives and prettily made balls Of butter
not too small, are q great improvement
over the old plan Of laying bread on the
cloth and putting bit Of butter on the
edge Of plate. 1t IL at the table that
the finishing touch IL most In evidence,
but Il is not to be neglected anywhere
In the house, or In the toilet, or In the
intercourse Of society.