The evening times., 1895-08-28
KEEPING FINE NAPERY.
Hints Upon Decorating and Preserv.
Ing Table Linen.

Too many of our American housekeepers
buy their store of linen ready made" but
of late there has been a marked reaction in
favor OF Ia hi sewing, which is supplied by
the better class OF fur uishing stores to those
prefer AMI are a Bile to pay forit.
The plan of every modem, well-built
house includes linen closet, where the
piles OF snowy bed and table linen should be
arranged in good order. This linen closet
ought to be in a dry place, and If hot air
from whatever heating apparatus used in
the dwelling can be conducted into it, SO
much the better. There viii then be no
| danger of damp sheets" when a bed is
hurriesliy made for some unexpected guest
For table linen the material is usually
either single or double damask, though
plain. heavy linen, hemstitched and en-
broidered, is sometimes chosen for special
occasions. At a DINER given in Boston to
bride, a linen tablecioth was embroidered
with the interlaced initials of each pair of
guests, thug marking the seats of the com.
| pany and serving as a memento Of the
| occasion.
Six damask tablecloths, with napkins to
| match, are a sufficient supply for ordinary
| use, as d set of napkins may be allowed to
| two tablecloths, IL the family is small. IL
| these are purchased ready hemmed,- at
least let the nicer ones be hemmed by hand
Instead OF henmiDg in the old-fashiuned
way, use The newer style, whore appear.
ance well repays the additional trouble. :.
For this turn down the material Il quarter
of an inch and then turn 1t back on the
stuff. ma king the two edges meet. Basic
carefully together then, holding the single
side OF the cloth toward you, sew the edges
lover and over" as the children say.
When finished take out the hastings, turn
the hem thus made upward in the same
direction as IL was folded. and it will lay
perfectly flat when ironed, wear well and
have the proper up to date effect.
Tray cloths and carvers cloths not only
look well ON the table, but are q genuine
saving in the wear and tear of frequent
washings, as they catch many splash OF
gravy or drop OF coffee which other wise
would soil the fair linen tableclOth.
For hey-days and holidays these may 30
embroidered or ornamented with drawn
work as elaborate as the owner desires; but
for daily use in plain households the dam
ask ones are sufficiently nice, and can be
purchased at the chops An economical
housekeeper who had some fine damask
tablecloths that were beginning to wear out
converted them into tray-cloths by cutting
out the best parts, hemming them and fin
ishins with torchon lace.
Another suggestion in the line OF economy,
born OF experience, is that, in purchasing
table linen. the unbleached will prove much
more durable, as the chemicals used to
whiten the damask injure 1t in some degree
The faint yellow tint OF the lax is not OBJ
jectionable. and a very few visits to the
laundry VIII bleach it snowy white
= Buffet cloths. which are included in the
list of table linen. are usually made OF plain
linen, hemstitched and decorated v.th dcy-
kind of embroidery that will stand wash
ing.
A pretty Idea for a room where the colors
will harmoniZe is to have the buffet cloth,
table center, tray cloth and carver's clotn
all OF pale pink, blue or ecru linen, em.
broidered with white.
Another point to be remembered concern.
ing table cloths is the ironing. The ordi-
nary laundress is apt to MAKE a cross fold,
which mars the smoothness of the linen.
Direct her TO fold the cloth lengthwiSe, and
then fold once more only, also lengthwise.
The marking of the linen is usually done
with indelible ink or embroidery, the old
fashioned "cross-stitch" being obsolete.
The former is sometimes executed by ex-
psrts in old English letters, OF quite elab-
crate designs, but the general woman must
be content with the name in simple script.
II time and skill permit, 1t is W orth while
to mark handsome cloths and ma pkins with
embroidered initials or monogram. A sim
pier style, which looks well for palmer
articles and can be very quickly accom-
nlished, is to outline pretty letters in whas
is known as ''stem stitch"