The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
TO MAKE THE TABLE EdUTIFCL.
Some simple but Valuable suggestions In tho
Art or Decoration.

Some simple but Valuable Suggestions in tho
Art or Decoration.
A clever woman who, in the dinner-giving
season is kept busy devising novel and effective
schemes for making q table beautiful, advises
not only the massing of color. but the gradu-
ating o.. It, as giving tho most satisfactory effect.
"A table where the china. candle shades. flow
ers, &C.. are entirely in one color, is always
effective" she says, but it Is far more 80 IL
this color is kept in graduated shades. If the
centre decoration is deeper in tint than the
outer part it gives an effect like that of q flower
deepening at the heart, and this effect is very
easily secured. Take a table laid with roses or
carnations. for instance: 1t can be made to fade
from deepest rose to the palest shell tint, and
thus give the variety in harmony SO pleasing to
the color-loving eye. A pretty arrangement on
this plan Is made with red carnations. A tall,
ruby glass vase, twenty inches high, with q
spreading margin, stands in the centre of the
table upon a plate-glass table mirror. In this
vase are the deep red carnations. separated
from each other by misty sprays of
asparagus, tho vase and contents being i'm
aged deep in the underlying mirror. At the
corners of the large mahogany table are placed
discs of carnations of pale red, made by tying
the flowers in small punches and laying each
bunch upon n ferny leaf of asparagus, in such a
way as to secure the round or oval effect needed.
From the centre Of the ceiling, directly over the
table. hangs a one-globe chandelier. covered by
a full red silk shade. which spreads out in UNI
brella fashion and throws a red glow over the
table underneath. This scheme Of decoration
gets its value mainly from reflection and shape.
The red lamp shade gives the glow, the ethereal
quality of color. and this is reflected, not only
in the table mirror. but upon the glasses and
silver. while the shape is beautiful.
1T is hard to secure the same graduation In a
mum OF daffodils. because the shades Of those
OF most yellow flowers are uniform. The depth
Of Of color can be supplied by using a centre piece
table decoration. because the quality OF dyed
color is seldom in true or even subtle accord
with the tints of flowers; tut this does not ap.
ply to spreads of color used as a background. A
green glass jar Of tasteful shape holding a few
slender-stcnmed chrysanthemums, with thin
spiky leaves intcrmingled shows to good advan-
When the 1p Surface Of the Six is partly iiehten n,s
by a fern,like growth of asparagus plumes 1t is
easy to lead out from the central object to
more delicate and more scattered effects of vel
low. Yellow fruit can be utilized as an effective
garland about a yellow brocade centre piece.
oranges, bright yellow lemons, a few yello wish
white grapes. and an edging Of orange leaves.
with one or two buds and open flowers, make a
charming combination of color.
I'm using smaller ttoWors. such as pansies or
in itself be- u,iful or stately. tho masses or color
must be carefully graded and varied IN order to
produce the best effect. Flowers such as lilies,
roses. narcissus. daifodils. and their kind are
graceful in shape and lend themselves more
re Oily to n decorators plans. Tho fieur de lis
makes an ideal table decoration. A vase of
purple glass, shaped like an inverted
horn. and enlivened with gold. standing
upon n square of purple velvet makes a fitting
hOlGer for the royal flower. There should be in
that vase twenty or thirty OF tho iowers with
buds and the swOrd.shnped leaves. A tapestry
effect of small foliage and velvcty pansies should
enrich tho surface OF the table at convenient
points. The silver md glassware Of the service
reflect the purplrr glow of the flower and the
result Is rich and satisfactory.
I'm using lOng-stcmnled flowers she con-
tinued. much depends on the color of the jar
or vase selected to hold them. For this purpose
glass IL far better than china. rs Its transparency
Is in itself a quality OF beauty. " hen very few
flowers are used, and those OF white or pale rose
color especially, opGlcscentg glass vases of dainty
shape are to no preferred 10 vases of moro pro-
nounccd hues. Green glass jars are the most
universally appropriate and useful.
"Of course. n satisfactory table decoration
must take into account the china, glass, and
silver used. bnt when flowers are the predomi-
nant means OF beauty II is only necessary TO sec
that the table service docs not in any way clash,
but rather help out the general scheme by sug-
gestions of color. a beautiful table Is tho cul-
mina;iun OF refined living, OF the effort to make
the satisfaction of n bodily necessity the occa-
sion of pure enjoyment for. the ideal sense.
Table decoration ~ practically n new art. al
though ii rediscoverGt one, and there are many
adopts and professionals trying 10 develop it TO
the highest possible degree"