The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-27
for 1nnrnen.


Some wise person tells US to look close
ly to details in studying character, which
makes me wonder If we ever do a thing
which does not reveal our real selves.
Even the buying of a chair counts one
In an individuals little index of charac-
teristics. And if a woman allows the
man of the family to make the choices
alone, that is proof positive that, like
Mrs. Pitt Crawley, she has no character
at all. And, generally speaking, man,
with all his wonderful qualities, is no
shopper. for he usually manages to pay
the top price for a poor seller and
yet cannot be convinced that he hasn't
really distinguished himself until his lit
tier half buys a more desirable article
for from one to ten dollars less. It's
all in knowing when and what-but the
drawer half's above such miserable de-
tailsi
To come back to the chair, let US turn
our backs upon the bony sort, and posi-
lively refuse to be lured into their treach-
erous embraces. In the estimation of
your humble servant the framework of
a chair should be, for the most part,
concealed, just like that of a fine animal
enough at least to spare ones funny
bones. Few of us are pining to be hui
man skeletons, SO why favor the skele-
ton chair? Indeed, when your hostess
puts you into one of those carved abomi-
nations whose SUGGESTIONS of intricately-
carved designs stand for splendid misery,
not to mention ~black-and-blue elbows,
you may rest assured of her impatience
to be cultivating some other denizen in
the garden of her acquaintance.
To my mind the Turkish chair, with
its wealth of springs and hair, its rich
hued velvety covering, and its ability to
accommodate itself instantly to any and
every position, betokens the truly de-
lightful hostess. Once pressed into this
restful nest there is no possible doubt
of your welcomed And in leather it's an
ideal chair comfort for library or sitting
room. And it's not to be had for the
proverbial song, unless ones vocal efforts
are in great demand. These leather ones
range from $SS up. mostly VI.
Ne
For lounging and reading nan like
the Morris chairs, and in corduroy they
may be had for SO and even less. A
chair built similarly, but with only one
position, is likewise an easy reading
chair, if one likes its polished wooden
arms. One thing in their favor, they're
broad and rounding. The back is very
high, the price 81.
So
Spindling gilt chairs are nice for those
who like them. or who fancy a white and
gold apartment, the sort which always
seems to be minus one thing, i. e., the
ribbon guard to keep people out. And
there's not much to be said in favor of
the little chairs, which must be first
cousins to these fragile denominations,
even though the various monarchies are
held responsible: they boast choice bits
Of delicate brocade, or at times priceless
tapestries which gives one with ''cul-
hah a chance to murnur an apprecia-
tive bit of tapestry jargon.
Just now, as summer is coming, we
find our eyes turning towards the large,
luxurious chain in rattan. 1t is certainly
ideal comfort about the time, the mer-
curry takes it into its head to coquet with
the n~ineties. One very easy affair is
enameied in a cool grey green, picked out
in gold; and with a cushion or so in deli
SdiS SiiilAd Snh II , DIS utterly u6SlIdDl6
as the Turkish chair is for winter. For,
however we may feel about the unspealk-
able Turk, we have no idea of going
back on his chair-except in a resting
sense.
Breakfast in Belgium, says s'Harper's
Magazine" proceeds in courses, with a
change of plates at each service. but not
a change of knives and forks. These i'm
plements must be used through successive
courses, however, dissimilar, resting be-
tween whites on glass or silver holders,
placed beside each cover. The holders,
alas! / often forgot to employ, sending
my knife and fork out on my plate, to
the maids confusion and my own dismay.
An English woman, long resident in Brus-
sells, invited me to Inner with the cheer
ing assurance: I'VE are English, not Bel
gian, in our ways. We change the knives
and forks Meats and the fruits to which
we are accustomed are dear in Belgium,
but Yankee products grace many tables.
II don't know what we should do with
out your be~ef-extracts for sauces, and
your California timed fruits" observed
my hostess at a charming breakfast.
Feel at home,' said another lady, pleas
antly; here is some manse pea" AS her
pronunciation and the dish itself-a So
called mince pie-resenbled nothing fa-
miliar to my ear or vision, I was baffled
for the moment as to the nature of her
kline intentions.
If I visited a weaving school at eight
in the morning, when all the men were
yet in that startling home undress which
prevails in some households before the
formal dejeuner, the wife of the weav-
ing master would press me, "Prenez
Quelque chose. je vous en- prize, madem-
~oiselle." I called early one day on a Sec
rotary at. Charleroi, with whom I had
business, hearing that he was about to
leave town. HI was out on the street.
but he can't hav gone far" protested
his son, sfor he hasn't dressed himself
yet" Which alarming statement proved
too true, as I soon discovered when an
arparition appeared on the threshold,
unwashed. uncombed, with overcoat and
neck-handkerchief by no means conceal
ing the uamistakahle loose night robe
beneath. So suggestive was the spectacle
that, declining the unembarrassed en-
treaties of monsieur's spouse. Pray
take something, mademoiselle," de-
sratched my inquiries n fed.-From
From Home to Throne in Belgium"
HN