The record-union., 1897-01-03

A study Of lamp shades SHOWS clearly /
that the severe Empire shade is more
and more replacing the elaborate lace
and silk articles that have made the
tall lamps of the household look like
dancing girls for a number Of years
past. These simple shades, made or
water-color paper, are still much decor
ated in Delft effects, but are begin
ming, too, to show a greater variety OF
treatment. On one a close and abun-
dant wreath of poppies was painted
with great skill and fidelity to nature.
The artist, indeed, had contrived to give
to these rather stiff blossoms a touch of
graceful clustering that does not belong
to them naturally, and which, with
their splendid coloring, contributed
beautiful result. AS much brilliant eff
feet can be secured in these painted
shades as in those made of tulle and
silk and in more artistic fashion Con-
yentional lamps and shades, however,
are not so much sought now as the
lamp that is evolved from something
not originally intended to serve in that
capacity. A brass milk can that re-
turning traveller brought with her from
Holland found itself a lamp soon after
dts arrival in New York. 1t was slight
ly beaten and polished, fitted with
fount and shade. and the thing was
done. The Italian wine TASKS in their
wicker castings are susceptible of trans
formation into pretty boudoir lamps by
the addition of a delicate lamp bulb
and a light and simple shade.
The work og the Catholic ladies in
Brooklyn who have the management or
the Women's Catholic Association of
that city is something of departure
from the usual routine of benevolent
work undertaken by the women of that
sect. The association, which is now three
years old and very prosperous, is mod
eled closely on the lines of the Young
Women's Christian Association. 1t is a
clubhouse for young women, where
they can get almost any sort Of helpful
instruction and entertainment. There
are free classes in plain sewing, pre-
paratory dressmaking, penmanship and
elementary English, and classes, at
which a nominal fee is charged, in type
writing, stenography, bookkeeping, ply
steal culture, and other departments OF
direct commercial value to the members.
On two evenings in the week a class of
hospital nurses meets to receive IN
struction in invalid cooking, and a chat
ing-dish course is engaging the atten-
1ion of another class on one afternoon
An elaboration of the course In domes-
tic science is intended to give its partlcl-
pants most thorough training IN all
. home work A series of entertainments
to consist of lectures, concerts, and the
like. is to be given on succeeding We'd
nesday evenings during the season.
Fiftv-one national societies were rep
resented at the meetings of the National
Council of Women held on December
Sd and 4th. With few exceptions the re-
ports from these organizations showed
g gratifying progress in work undertaken.
One of these exceptions was found in the
report read by Mrs. NJ. A. Lowell OF
PHILADELPHIA Of the work Of the Anti
Vfvisectlon Society. Part of the effort
of this society is directed toward the
bird despoiling and slaughter for mil
8 Jinerv purposes Mrs. Lowell eloquently
denounced the practice and begged
every woman present who wore an
aigrette in her hat to tear it out before
she left the building, adding: Il have
had only occasional glimpses OF the
speakers here to-day-through grove
. of the plumes plucked from the breasts
of mother birds while lowering over
their Young" She reported that almost
no progress had been made towards
getting women to stop encouragement
Of these cruel practices. the demand for
bird plumage being practically no less
than it has been for number Of years.
One of the best fertilizers for the win
dow garden Is the coffee left over from
breakfast. It should be applied cold
Coffee grounds are often recommended.
but I have found that they have ten
dency to mold
Fish nets for drapery are so popular
shat they are being manufactured regu-
larly for decorative purpose. Naturally
their variety has been increased, ana
they are dyed in many art shades. The
natural soft gray that has the tint OF an
old unpainted board fence is still much
esteemed. The weave of the Chesa-
Daake fish nets has been copied and IS
Known in many harmonious colorings.
r,asaa Of poisoning from the use of
,,,,nad goods arise with sufficient ire
-,,,a,,cv 10 keep alive the suspicion that
e,1cb food will bear watching at least
calr,on and other fish seem particularly
,,r>odurtfve OF trouble after being
ranea Timed chicken and dried beef
So Recently been the cause Of serious
tupass in two separated communities
TrroT, examination, In these instances.
s,er7n, sufficiently virulent to XIII rats
and p7,inea pigs was found. While 1t IS
not necessary, perhaps, TO be unduiy
sIarroed over these isolated cases, Il Is
rau - observe caution and TO examine
closely the appearance and navor OF
env canned food before using II. Almost
any germ is killed in the cooking ana IL
IS an excellent plan to heat thoroughly
all timed food even IL It must be cooled
again before being served fouf9hs
boiling water over dried beef VIII WASH
Ct and make Il tender without materi-
ally tnjuring its flavor. 1t may De
quickly dried ir the oven
The little hooded chairs OF wicker
which are seen on the beach at french
and English watering places Tor child
ren's use are offered in some shops Ter
the nursery. They are stained In seal
ing wax. red, forest-green. or n'effiy