Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-09
NEW YORK MUSINGS.

the man Of flowers. "Ahi but 1t is by intui-
ton. There is no rule, no theory no formu-
la. Show me the church where the fine
wedding is TO take place and l will see its
possibilities. Take me to the house where
the fete is to be held end | will find its in
dlViduallty. and dress / as is most seemIy.
II isn't the restraining hand of the florist
as much as the decorative sense thai proves
him the artist
i am given a mansion of wealth to maks
festive for a grand ball. The walls of the
drawing room are hung with fine tapestries
me corridors have handsome paintings by
he old masters. There is elegance and
TehnemeGt on every side. What shall
40. Shall ! subordinate all this 10 tawdry
lot 0f greens and r~SeS and bank ND the
Carrara marble carvings on the mantes with
garden truck? Shall | hide the pictures
Uhder garlands and string smiiax across
me tapestry and pui potted plants wher-
ever / can find room for them. and cactf
lat every angle of rhe stairway?
II / do this | am not the artist. I am
SIMPLY the salesman. selling my merchan-
disc and not my art AS an artis, I dis
cover the fine points of the rooms, the
IftalrWays, the corridors I discover the
weak points. ! develop the fine points by
!eaVlng them alone and building a back
ground from which they stand forth r
discover that the drawing room has an
ugly angle; cross it out with some palm.
ana rubber plants. The stairway lacks spa
clous effect end broad vista: I use mirrors
framed IN smilax or ferns. put palm of
so IN an angie within range of reflection.
There IS a small room in white ana
gold perhaps. Here I can use thousands
or roses and make ii bower of beauty
because OF the background There must
De congruous plan In the decorations.
one room must supplement another. The
Corridors must belong in the scheme
Ia M H.
cut on the same floral bias. I will cur
tain the windows with roses will tie
from the four corners strands of bios
SONS with great bow knot of ribbon
Inc tables in the banquet hall shall have
bands OF broad ribbon knotted at every
piate with bunch Of choice flowers and
a spray OF ferns. The favors of the cotil-
Ion Will determine to some extent this
scheme OF decoration I shall use in the
ballroom. But above and beyond all things.
VIII not overdecorate. That is the error
OF the vulgarian.
THE newest thing in the decorator.
fancy is the elaborate use of ribbon. We
combine broad satin loops in table deco
rating to a great extent. Even In corsags
bouquets RIBBON has come in vogue knot
tea In with the touch of green foliage as
a background for rare blossoms punched in
the center. AT the rosebud luncheon.
ribbons have been profusely used and with
very dainty effect. The more unstudied In
ue1all and arrangement the decoration is
the more successful the art of it. The
formal and elaborate center pieces and
wonderful floral constructions are entirely
out Of date for the dinner table. And the
simpler and lighter the effect for the tea
taDle, or the luncheon decorations the
better with ribbon can get the color
development more readily than with the
use OF a carload Of expensive flowers. And
the flowers must necessarily be used spar
lngly Tor table decoration since a luncheon
is not Hover show nor a dinner an orchid
exhibit. and the florist who makes them
such is transcending the bounds of good
taste
Several society women 1 know are born
decorators; they can plan a table as eff
fsctively as a professional floral artist and
with that touch Of individuality it is hard
for the florist to give. The woman with
good taste and small pocketbook can be
her own decorator with every chance Of
success, II she does not overload her table
with flowers or overcrowd her rooms with
palms and smilax. This is strictly unpro-
fessional information, however. In decora-
lions for home weddings the same advice
applies. DO not try to turn indoors out
doors to make room for lot of plants
and floral arches and bells and what not
II the house is one of elegance 1t needs an
artists hand of restraint to paint in the
atmosphere Of festivity without adding
tawdrness in green. If it is a humble
nome not too spacious. the decOrat
must be in accord. Plenty Of white satin
ribbon. few bowls of roses here and there.
hlagree Of green vines caught on the
chandeliers and newell post of the staircase.
and some sort of Arcadian background Of
green leaves and trailing blossoms where
the bridal party stands is ample to suggest
the bridal feStiveness of the occasion. Gar
denas and uamelias are being used more
than ever this season for boutonnieres for
the ushers at weddings. but the carnation
is still the standby and always in good
taste though considerably less expensive
than the other blossoms. The Malmaison,
which in England shows a great double
bunch of Wilderness, is not obtainable here
to any extent so we produce artificial
Malmaison by punching a number Of the
smaller carnations together stem.
and this is the most largely worn blossom
for weddings and full-dress occasions"
X Z x
Fancy waists are again to be fashionable
! for spring ant summer wear. and although
they are no longer the very latest fad, their
usefulness and comfort have been so thor
| Oughly vel established that every com
plete spring outf. includes three or four
of them. The silks that are fashionable
this season are peculiarly well adapted for
fancy waists, and there are numberless pat
terms to choose from. There are the silks
! in light color, suitable for theater and
evening wear, while in the darker every
! conceivable shade Is shown
Even the handsomest gowns have an extra
waist of some fancy silk or brocade with
which to make a change if so desired. The
great difference in this seasons fancy
waists is in the ruf1e or basque effect in
stead of the round simply finished with a
belt and the difference is much more be-
coming to the majority Of figures The
| rufle or frill does not extend all around
the waist but starts from the second dart
or side seam it is generally cut on the bias
and is not more than four or five inches
wide. but there are some put on the straight
way Of the goods and boxplaited in the
back. Still another. and this the newest.
has bias side pieces put plain but hang
ing down fully a quarter of a yard over the
hips, and graduated to a small ruffe at the
back. This is an evident desire TO return
to paniers, but that paniers will not be al
lowed this spring may positively De stated.
The wild rage for buttons is not over
yet No, indeed. The manufacturers would
laugh at the idea and show you page after
page Of exquisite designs already in prepare
ton. Their are beautifully jeweled ones
thick with rhinestones. turquoise, pearls,
emeralds and every other Offering stone in
the kingdom. They are extremely large,
! too many of them. Miniature buttons are
in vogue quite as much as formerly and are
exquisitely delicate in coloring. Huge but
| tons of cut steel are used on gowns Of gray
with splendid effect.
Tiny fiat or round balls of polished silver
! or metal make a pretty finish for mixed
cheviot gowns, as well as the tiny buttons
hill