The National tribune., 1895-04-04
lHE OETTERHALF.

Strawberries are now in market, ut rates that
make t possible for even families Of average
wealth to provide themselves with one for
dinner.
The Spring jackets are jauntier than they
have been for several years. We have long
been devoted to the long-skirted coats aud big
lapels, that were only becoming to the tallest
women, but now the middle-sized and small
can sigh with relief over the short.
loose fronted, many -pocketed garments of this
season.
White taffetss sprinkled with tiny white
flowers especially dainty for young girls
party dresses for society buds, bridesmaids, and
girl graduates.
The silks exhibited this year to tempt woman
range from prettiy striped wash silk, costing 20
cents q yard, to magnificent. stand-alone bro
cades that are further glorfied by having gold
or silver thread half way outlining leaf or set
in the heart of flower, making the material
CLINT prettily without seeming loaded down
with metal. Between the two are innumerabie
striped and lowered china silks aud taffetas of
every possible shade and degree of fneness.
and of colors to match the most obstinate COM
plexions.
One often hears of pearls and opals growing
sick and dull spirited and needing special
treatment, and we actually leave them with
skillful jewelers. for weeks to be ministered
unto. Now we are told that pianos fall sick
not get out of tune only, but grow dispirted and
dull. This may happen if the piano be moved
from one climate to another, or if the weather
change suddenly, or if the instrument get too
much exercise or if it be neglected and have
too little. If it be wrapped in many draperiss,
and laden down with many lamps and books, it
can't breathe, and suffers from suffocation.
When piano has any Of these Manifestations
sickness, cold, or asthma-it loses its singing
tones, its softness and deepness, and is very
dull piano, indeed. Really. inanimate things
require much coddling-and there is a great
deal in these theories of sick pianos-though
only an enthusiastic piano lover will notice
and attend to these wants of his instrument.
Ordinarily people content themselves with
sional visits from the tuner, and give no further
Sc
Dvorak when he visited America found 80
much characteristic music that he worked out
in an American symphony what he fancied to
be the National character of the melodies and
rhythms He studied especially Indian ard
negro melodies, as they were peculiar TO Amer
lean music, and tried to incorporate their spirit
into this symphony. Like all symphonies, this
American needs to be studied and familiar
lied to be appreciated. 1t probably will not
please the melody-loving popular ear, nor does
it satisfy one at the first hearing. 1t has been
much praised and criticised. Time is about the
only thing that prove its value. Apropos
of music, the distinguished composer says that
sounds too humble nor insignificant for
the musician to use, to dream, over and to
weave into harmonies. The street cries of the
newsboys, huckstcrs, umbrella men. and ash
men frequently are musical, and always are
rhythmic. Most vendors of fruit. fresh fish,
newspapers. aud so forth, cry out their wares
in singing voice, because it is easier on the
throat and voice, and the singing sound is
ried farther than the shouted or screamed one.
One woman who is clever with her scissors
is making a success with silhouettes. She
cuts the quantest and drolest figures from
paper, and finds market for them for iIlustrs-
tons for young peoples magazines and books.
She will illustrate whole story in this fashion.
Her mother goose a broomstick, with three
big bats with tapping wings pulling her by
long, iuttering lines, is very satisfactory
likeness of that delightful old lady.
-
Emerson advises waiting until a book is a
year old before reading it, and it seems good
advice in these days of wild excitement over
new books. 1t is absolutely impossible to keep
up entirely with the new literature that is be-
ing discussed OH ell Sides and if one would wait
year, that good old friend Time would sort
out the best of tho hundreds and thousands and
So We them for one.
Two postof1ices, one in Ohio and one in Illi-
nois, have been named Trilby.
woman rarely tries to make her own work
easier. She invents few devices for aiding
homework and avails herself but grudgingly of
any l1b0r-saviDg machines invented for her.
With her homework she is the embodiment of
extreme conservatism. In this she is not Geo.
nomical, for any arrangement to save her work
or worry or to help keep her household effects in
good condition is direct economy. But it is hard
to jog her out of her old paths, if the means
suggested are almost as simple and easy as to
let things go. The carpet sweeper is not prop
ery appreciated, nor is the little gas stove with
two burners, that can be easily attached to the
gas fixture, and will provide sufficient heat to
get up nice little luncheon or q hasty break |
fast. Now there is little darning machine |
out, said to be very ingenious and practicable, |
but distrusted by all women despite it's neat |