New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
| HOLD EpL'N ~
OLD CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED YESTERDAY
HOUSEWIVES AGAIN BFGIN WORK

-ha festival of the distar is on January l. the day
of,or "Twelfth Night" or Old Christmas, as 1t Is
known in the Southern States. On this day al
women I'm olden times were supposed 10 resume
.ba,r work which the holidays had Interrupted
The long quiet days after Christmas, though no
longer spent in spinning OF fax. are appropriately
enough ushered in with the festival OF the dis
taft" For this is the season in which all good
housewives devote much time to their linen closets
The merchants in anticipation Of the seasons de-
mand fill their shop windows with gittering ar
ray Of snowy table linen and embroidered ana
hemstitched bed linens.
There is little change this season In table linens
The patterns Of fine damask are almost the same
season bv season A well-covered ground is al
WAYS desirable because such table linen does not
show the wear quickly as one with large spaces
~ plain surface Snowdrop patterns. tiny neur-
de-us and similar heraldc designs sprinked free-
~ over cloth make good patterns.
There are also many attractive "all-over pat
terms conventionazed from the primrose, daisy
and wild field poppy. The double border Is pre-
farrad in tabecloths This leaves a narrow bor-
der on the table and necesstates the taoleclotn
being chosen to fl the table, as the inner border
ms. no evenly on all sides the table. The
second border OF the pattern hangs down. Where
the table IS round. such arrangement Is not al
WAYS possible though there are curvins porders 70
fit round tables.
There is little difference in the price or taoie
l,ren sold by the yard by the cloth The ma
iority % good housewives prefer to buy their
table linen By the cloth. with napkins and fringed
dovues % match Where it Is desirable to display
.ha polished ton OF the table the plate doylies and
other mats for the reception OF dishes are usually
embroidered In pure white or flax color IN prefer
ence TO any brighter shade.
In looking her supplies or table linen the
bousewife will find many worn places TO be darned.
aIf 81 heS
NAV be darned with fine linen ravelling or with
ere cotton thread with thin stay Of linen cam
brio laid on the back.
Few things are so des-ructibe to the household
linen az the frosts of winter. There Is a theory
that freezing linen whitens 1t. This Is true, and
the result of frost would be satisfactory II the
linen could be left the line and allowed to thaw
and dry without being touched. AS this Is impos-
sible and the cloth must be handled and folded
u,b,le frozen. II is likely TO be seriously cracked
d injured Wherever the frozen cloth Is bent
the abres are 10 be strained. and In snort
time crack appears .danufacturers OF men rec rec
ommend housekeepers to dry all their linen IN the
house during the frost season Though the linen
cannot be kept so white It can BE easily ysacnsa
cambrlc handkerchiets, and any articles OF sneer
material. certainly ought 10 be dried IN ,ne mouse
until the danger Of freezing Is over Cottons are
not so delicate and the hbres OF cotton are not 80
likely TO be injured by folding the cloth when It is
In n frozen state may hang sheetings out
doors 10 whten In the frost without fear
The best way to mark table liner is with single
,nitiaj embroidered IN an inconspicuous manner IN
one corner II Is longer considered In good
taste TO make use OF your MONOGRAM or your m
trials IN a conspicuous manner as an ornament 10
Inca simple rolled hem as narrow as possible
is the best finish to tablecioths and napkins SUCH
markings should always be done by hand. The
hemstitched hem is not often used except on table
cloths OF plain linen. finished with elaborate oor-
ders OF rich linen lace-such as are sometimes
chosen for special luncheon sets.
An Infinite variety Of rich emtroideries and laces
are allowed the tiny cloths used for afternoon
tea tables