The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-26
THE HOUSEHOLD.
Idle Hour Suggestions,

Very many of the average farmers
| families feel, with reason, that their
lives are not only humdrum but cheer
less and barren. Not because of any
lack of necessities, but because there is
so little in the home that is simply
pretty, and from the lack of beautiful
and dainty things that are al ways a
pleasure to look at and have in daily
use, and more often than will be readily
acknowledged the fault is with the
women themselves. There is one line
in which country women seem spe-
cially unmindful. While few are artists
almost invariably they are neat sewers,
and anyone who can make good but
tonhole is capable of being a good en-
broiderer, for neatness and regularity
are the two requisites. 1t does not
take 80 much money as time to make
many things as pretty and tasteful as
found in the homes of the wealthy.
Take for instance the table: White
napery, which can be boiled, is as
cheap and fer more attractive than col
ored, and with handsome initials worked
in Asiatic dyes silk (Which are alb
solutely fast) is decidedly pretty. The
addition of few doilies worked in
white or colors brightens the table and
gives an air of refinement impossible
with a faded red cloth. Linen and
Asiatic dye embroidery silks are mex
pensive and the most serviceable ma
terials that can be obtained, for both
launder well and wear like iron.
Stamped linen may be bought for five
cents to several dollars piece, or round
thread linen which comes by the yard
can be cut in different sizes and worked
in designs drawn from growing leaves
and flowers, both for the dining-table
and the other little tables and nantes.
Butchers linen is as nearly indestructi-
BILE as any fabric and does admirably
for sofa and hammock pillows, and
hemstiched covers for bureau, tables,
etc., embellished with embroidery. The
numerous down and fir pillows that add
so much to ones comfort are cheaply
made of white or brown linen or denim,
and embroidered in colors brighten a
room or piazza. The waste embroidery
silk that comes by the ounce is even
cheaper than buying by the dozen
skeins. Magazine and book covers cost
but few cents each if homemade and
are very dainty as we'll as useful in saw
Ing Lut DluuluRos uo WIG VI u Lull-
lionaire made a case for nine family
photographs from half yard of white
linen and two skeins of embroidery
silk, costing less than thirty-five cents.
Yet how many poorer people idly long
for expensive cases they cannot buy,
instead of making the pretty case within
their means. There is almost no limit
to the ornamental things that can be
made if one has the inclination. Ini-
tials embroidered in the colors of the
room to which they belong, give an air
of individuality to towels and bed linen.
A plain hemstiched handkerchief is
greatly improved by hand-embroidered
monogram, or pretty running design
when that is fashions fancy. Initials
or full name on all underwear is
necessity when the washing is done out
of the home and is always an addition
to the plainest garment. If one has
the means there are countless elegant
articles that can be made, but for those
of limited means, and for hard, every
day use, white and colored linens and
Asiatic dyes stand ready for the idle
or purposeless half-hours every country
woman has, and the resultant beauty
and usefulness is MANIFOLD greater than
the expense and time involved.
LILLIAN WRIGHT.