Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09
SoClETYS FAD FOR CRESTS.



grams, crests and enhlena il the rro.
yailing fad. 1t is fash IONS latest
foible. Years ago little English girls
were similar collectors The daughters
OF noble houses exchanged their crested
noteheads ami bnrtered the family
escutoheons. At present that form Of
collecting has many followers in New
York, 1t iB the rival of TINT long
established institution, stamp collect
ing.
New York has set the fashiun, aud
all over the cnuntry young women are
engaged with the brightly coored EN-
blems. Notehsads, society stationery,
menu cards and engraved invitations
are sought for eagerly. Some collectors
accumulate their treasures in scrap
hooks; others display them in frames.
They are also used in many decorative
waye.
The young women who for a long
time have been engaged in soiling
their fingers in an effort to produces
hand. painted china are now turning
their attention TO tho little emblema.
Pretty effects are produced ON white
china by skilful arrangement Of on
graved college flags or society dies.
Tho college tiug is also used TO decorate
picture frames.
Souvenirs Of the last bont race. tho
foot.nall fayorite or the golf champion
arc produced readily by this menns.
Another purpose to which tho dies are
put is in the decoration of fans. In
some cases they are very elaborate. A
plain white silk or satin fan 10 used,
and the skilful arrangement Of the
,ari.colored crests produces II decided
novelty. The number of crests used
varies. One Fifth avenue girl points
with pride to a fan which contains
nearly u thousand different emblems.
When she began to decorate that fan
life lost all JOY for her friends. Her
young admirers were all pressed into
service. Sue begged crests. shs bought
crests She must needs have crests
from all over tho world. The fan ia q
potpourri In many colorH. II contains
emolems from England, Ireland, Sc0t-
lana, Austria Belgium, Holland,
France. and, in fact, all countries are
represented.
In the centre of the fan the American
flag floats triumphant. Around this are
grouped the engraved monographs OF
the President ana prominent statesmen.
Around these are circled the Goa of.
arms of tho royal family Of England.
Another part of the fan ia devoted to
famous authors, and yet another to
popular actors. The engraved mono
grams of New York'a -Four Hundred
and of the social favorites OF nearly all
the larger cities are embraced in the
collection. The young woman has de
voted the greater part of two years 70
her work of art
In consequence of the demand sevaral
etationers in Fifth avenue and Broad.
way and the best known jewelry estah-
lishments in the city have undertaken
to supply crests.
One OF the largest manufacturing en-.
grayers and steel die stampers Of the
city has given up all other departments
of his business and now deyotes his
time exclusively TO producing mono
grams coata- arms and flag sheets
for collectors. Twenty five men are
employed in the engraving alone.
Ihese mon working full time cannot
produce enough to satisfy the trade.
Every die goes through tho press al
timee, and at most 1000 sheets a week
can De made. The work is produced
from hand. stamped steel sectional dies
| and requires considerable care and
skill. Flags are the most popular with
buyers. In addition TO the college pan
nRnts, those reproduced include the
pennants OF the various nations, mill.
tary and naval flags. and signal flags.
Of the signal flags one Of the most
popular is tho Presidents flag. Tho
flag which is given to tho breeze when
the Chief Executive Of the nation ia
on board a vessel is printed in dark
blue; in the centre is the eagle, sur
mounted by the words "lf pluribus
Cnum," and the 10 stars. The sjecre-
tary OF the Navy's flag bears for white
stars and an anchor on dark blue
| ground. Others that are popular are
the Revenue Ensign, the United States
Pennant and Ensign, the Naval Dis
patch ana the Admiral'h flag.
Grover Cleyeland's crest, printed 10
gold, is a favorite. 1t benrs tho in
scription, Pro dec OF Iatria." The
crest of Con. U. S. Grant beare a ram
pant lion with thu word 'Stahilis. :"
The crest of the Emperor of Germany
and Bismarck arc much sought by col.
ectors. President Mcllinley's crest
hears an armored hand grasping a
sheaf of grain. The inscription, Not
too much, appears aboye tho name
Mckinley.
The coats OF arms OF Queen Victoria
and Of the Prince of Wales arc favorites.
One of tine handsomest things that has
been produced in the desire 10 satisfy
collectors is the Jubilee memorial crest.
In tho centre appears the head Of tho
| Queen, printed IN gold. Ii is set
against background Of red, hand
painted. The whole is surmountsd by
a crown OF gold, with appropriate in.
scriptions. The insignia OF the Society
of Colonial Danes, Daughters of the
American Revolution and Sons Of the
American Revolution are iavorites
among the society embloms.
Among the crests and monograms of
actors, Sarah Bernhartli, Ellen Terry,
Henry living, Maude Adams and Ada
Rehan take precedence. Monograms OF
Charles Dickens. Harriet Beeuher
Stowe and Henry Ward Beeuher are
much priced. A unique Bneet hears
what appears to be the entire pack If
playing cards in miniature. The five
OF diamonds, however, has boon re-
peatal in the deck to avoid The neces
atty of paying internal revenue
Sew Inventions Wanted.
Chicago News.
| Duplicate heHds--for the people who
lose their heads" at critical moments
: stump-pullsr-fo people who sud
denly hecoms rooted to the SPOT"
A hrace-for the Use of weak,
kneed'' persons 10 the hour Of danger.
An anchor-for holding people who
are frequently transported with de.
light. "