Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-11
Some Suggestions for Making Life
More Attractive.
The EFFECT OF SURROUNDINGS.
The Pretty Maid and the Picture
Gown.
A NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT.

II people could be convinced that color
has a decided influence on their lives they
would not select such gloomy, monotonous
wall papers as they often do. Life has SO
many troubles from which it is impossible
to escape, 1t seems a pity to make our
homes dismal with collection of low
tones in carpets and decorations.
In decorating a house it is better to avoid
blunders by consulting a professional dec
orator, If possible. Amateur decorating is
like amateur doctOring and will making.
1t Is possible in any one of these to make
fortunate hit, either in doing a house"
administering some physic from the family
medicine chest or even in dispensing with
a lawyers services if ones last will and
testament is a simple one; but 1t is only
reasonable to suppose that those who have
given their lives to any profession must
know a hundred things that escape the
mere novice, and are consequently able to
avoid the blunders into which the un-
initiated SO easily fall. In wall paper, for
instance, a pattern that you like on the
frame or in the sample books may be a
disappointment when you see 1t on the
walls, If you never have seen it in a room
of similar size and appearance to your own
And when the mischief is done and cannot
VIC ACpSiLCu yo0 Will "OhocA why ehSAS 40
such an effect Of depression.
Decorative papers and bright colors will
sometimes work such a transformation
scene and put to flight so much gloom that
1t would be better to use them. Yellow can
rarely go wrong in any room. 1t Is con-
centrated sunshine and will give almost the
same pleasure though in a less degree, as
a wood fire blazing on the hearth on a dull
November day. If you are living In a dingy,
spiritless room try ceiling paper in soft
nd IN cit OF
or blue and yellow. and see how the tired,
worried, vexed old world will brighten for
you at once.
The girl that possesses the artistic
faculty should exercise it in regard to her
gowns. She should keep within sight Of
the prevailing modes. Of course, but Eer
gowns should carry the stamp Of indi-
viduality. Fashion DEGREES are useful, and
even absolutely necessary to those who
have no time or ability to make their own
designs; but to a large proportion of pretty
girls nothing is more becoming than the
picture gown" Not all pretty girls, it
fully. To some Of them the tailor-built
air Is natural. essential, and most becom-
ing. 1t is the peachy girl. the girl who
Is fond Of quaint great-grandmother robes
soft tambour muslins. simple skirts mus
lin fichus and sleeve ruffies. and knots
Of ribbon" that should wear the picturesque
gown. Then. If she is ingenious and taste
full, she has a distinct advantage over her
less gifted friends. for she will be always
Independent of fashions mandates and al
ways charming and distingue.
The costumes of the bridesmaids at a
recent fashionable wedding may serve as
an illustration. The young girls white
satin gowns-the skirts. with small trains
hanging in soft folds from the waist-with
nousseline fichus. trimmed with fine old
lace and fastened with diamond brooches
the gift Of the bridegroom: large black
picture hats, with white feathers, and they
carried bouquets Of exquisite pink carna-
tons tied with long. broad black ribbons
The Old China Fad.
At a fashionable luncheon not long ago
the conversation turned upon old china
and the Unsuitable propensity of fanatical
connoisseurs for examining the mark on a
bit OF rare porcelain. A question arose as
to the courtesy of turning over a plate in
the face of the owner, in order to get. the
assurance Of the date and the manufac-
tory.
The hostess, whose collection of valuable
china contained only genuine. authenticated
specimens. expressed herself as gratfied
when she met with any one sufficiently
interested and informed to care to examine
the marks on her cups and bowls.
1t was unanimously admitted, however
that very few collectors could be quite
free from uneasiness under such circum-
stances.
Il will tell you my peculiar experience
with china lover" said one of the
guests. 1T was once my unlucky fate to
be taken in to dinner by gentleman who
was perfectly crazy on the subject of old
china. He was also a most absent minded
individual. The dinner was given by some
very rich people and it happened that the
soup was served in exquisite and almost
unique specimens of old china. NY right
hand neighbor. eager in pursuit of his pet
hobby and utterly obivicus of the smoking
hot PURGE in his plate calmly turned il
over to examine the mark on the back
Tablesu!'
The state jewels Of Austria are very
magnificent, but the empress does not use
them. AS she has to give a receipt for
them every time she wears them she pre-
need not go unadorned. as hers are valued
at H,500,000
When her majesty was crowned she wore
the state Jewels. of course. At that ex-
was the sum of $4,000 for SNUFF boxes. pre-
sented to officials delegated to attend the
ceremony.
The names of the winter colors are quite
irresistible-the almond-greens, the drab-
peaches, the pinkey- browns and the sedge-
tinted greens. But the name of the very
newest most exclusive material-"splashed''
velveteens-is not so pretty. The material is
prettier than the name would lead one to
suppose. A charming pattern has a ground
of brown velveteen covered with tiny
splashes Of light mauve silk. irregularly
disposed, like the stars in the armament on
q clear night.
A New Feature for Entertainments.
The cafe chantant bids fair to be a popu-
lar feature Of this seasons entertainments
given for charitable purposes. For those
who have not so far arranged a cafe chan
tant and do not know how it Is managed
few hints may be Of service.
At one end of the room a large refresh
ment stall should be placed. where cups
and saucers, plates. coffee urns, cakes, ices
in fact, everything that is required-are
placed. Around the room numerous little
tables should be arranged and girls, in caps
and aprons. detailed to wait upon them. Yet
prettier than caps and newer are silk hand
kerchiefs of different colors, to suit the
wearer. twisted up into little turbans.
At the other end of the room, opposite the
refreshment stall, should be a small plat
form for vocal and instrumental musicians
If possible a comic singer or a man to play
the banjo should be engaged. The concert
should last about quarter of an hour and
at the end of that time all the people pres
ent would be expected to leave to make
room for a fresh relay When the place is
full again another concert begins, which
also lasts for about the same time and so
on throughout the evening. The charge for
entrance should include. of course the con-
cert and as much refreshment as each per-
son wishes This is slight sketch ONLY
The details must be left to individual taste
Who is so fortunate as to have laid by
among grandmother's treasures the thin
long chain that she used to wear alta oh cd