Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-08
NOT MUCH MONEY.

NOT MUCH MONEY.
There are hosts of women who have
discovered that TO possess an de steele
toilet table they need not spend much
money. For these latest fancies IN furnl-
ture can be duplicated in many herr
tage from fair woman's grandmother.
Stored away in cd New York attics, COW
cred by dust and scratches, were dressing
tables that are now the envy Of many
rich women without grandmothers.
But let no one suppose that these an
Gent tables are restored In an amateur
fashion. Only dealer who thoroughly
understands the treatment of woods Is
trusted to polish them up. At the outset
of the craze n large number OF tables
perfect in shape were ruined by ignorant
polishing.
The French styles are never draped.
AS a usual thing the wood Is so eXquisitely
inlaid that one would not wish 10 hide the
design.
Next in mode to this extreme fashion
IS the use of some old chest OF drawers
in handsome wood. These are more often
obtainable that the French dresser. for
few are the houses that do not possess
an old mahogany set of drawers. more or
less elegant Such chests, with mirror
hung above, are furnishing many smart
woman's apartments.
In the chest is devoid OF ornament,
brass handles are bought and attached.
The large mirror to hang above can be
either square or long. A lining OF satin
is put in all the drawers, a layer of cot
combating underneath, sprinkled with
sachet-powder When lavender Is used
the old-time effect is complete.
The ordianry square-glass. marble
topped bureau OF five years ago seems to
be obsolete.
The brass dresser, too, Is another style
that Is rapidly going out.
Ordinary tables are used for dressers
in the place of the bureau. a pain work.
table prettily covered. with an oak-framed
mirror hanging above. is considered in
correct taste. These two pieces can be
got together for S., whereas the ordinary
pine bureau costs so. The handsomest
toilet articles are not considered out of
place on IL.
The plain solid. clean style OF dresser
has taken the place of the homemade
table of pine covered and draped with
muslin.
The latter, while pretty, should never
have been advised, for it was a difficult
matter to keep 1t clean. The least dust
ruined It's daintlness. Many girls had
these muslin toilet-tables in their rooms
as eftectlNe furnishings, DuL Sacredly
guarded them from all use.
One of the novel devices for n dresser
which saw lately was owned by young
decorator OF high standing in New York.
A mrrored door that had been I'M
swung from a china closet in an old
fashioned house was placed across o cor
ner in the sleeping ROOM its hinges being
removed. Against II was set low chest
of brass-handled drawers. A heavy yell
low satin cover was laid over the. top
OF the chest. and the tall door was
draped with an old hshing-net. The toilet
articles were Of burnt ivory.
This arrangement correspondent with
the window draping, which was OF yell
low silk, with a fish-net thrown careless,
ly over the pole.
DRAPING MATERIALS.
Mirrors are sometimes draped. but not
all with silk.
White silk muslin In double width Is
considered a good draping material. The
edges are finished with a 4-inch accor-
deon pleating of the same. The piece IL
caught at the centre above the mirror
with a white satin bow and the drapery
hangs plainly down by the sides OF the
table without being caught. A cover IL
made in the same way OF the same mate
rial and laid over strip OF white canton
flannel
Most women openly prefer washable
covers: many use the ever-dainty butch
er's linen with wide hemstitched hens.
The mistake Is now seldom made OF
draping plain table around the legs.
The effect Of simplicity is sought Where
q decorative cover Is used II Is usually
made from satin ribbon and lace. The
ribbons should be four inches wide and
Joined with open heavy yellow lace.
Three bands are sufficient. A cover should
not come quite to the edge OF the table.
A rufiie OF the lace Is put around the
whole and a thin protective piece Of
chamois or canton flannel placed under.
Many use pieces Of plain or brocade silk.
with the edges simply turned In, not
hemned.
Frilled white Swiss covers are some
times used. but not with the old orthodox
pink or blue Innings. They may have
satin butterfly at one end.
Chiffon II used a. q cover for these
dainty white mahogany dressers that are
- yery sxpsnsivA but ~ very BEAUTIFUL