Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-03
Beautiiying a North Window.

| 1t was very large bay. window And
It's outlook was none too attractive IA
| suggestion to fit it UP as a cosy cornAr.
! with a large array of cushions. did non
seem feasible, partly owing to the uni
| attractive outlook, and partly as ii
| suggested an effort beyond the means
| of the owner of that great perplexing
window. To leave it elnpfy was ont of
the question. the owner possessing an
artistic eye sure to be troubled by such
| an unoccupied space. SO much thought'
and consideration Were bestowed on it.
for some time. Then the owner SET
quietly to work, the result of, that spell
| Of thinking, and soon the great big
gaping window space was a beautiful
feature of her pretty unpretentious
| parlor.
A plain board shelf was placed the
length of the window, and the heigh.
of the sill. This shelf was draped with
white silk. That sounds very extrava-
giant, but it was not new silk 1t had
done duty as an evening gown on
many occasions, and was ripped.
| washed. and ironed to be transformed
into the drape. Its folds also hid two
small old tables at each end of the
coat of white paint before being called
into requisitioa in company with the
silk. Two wire hanging baskets. also
painted white, We're hung from the
ceiling of the window. while between
them an old fish-globe filled with water
occupied a place of honor. Then the
owner investing in several rolls of
white crinkled paper. busted herself for
some time in making flower pot covers.
Then came the finishing touches to
that big gaping bay window after
which it was big and gaping no longer.
but thing of beauty in the parlor
1t was a north window, as l said, and
November was the month it changed
its appearance in such a marvellous
manner, at comparatively small cost to
the owner. Three sword ferns, two
common begonias, a Gala lily, two
cyclarfens, and an English fern occu-
pied the shelf, each pot dressed in the
crinkled paper covers, an old saucer
below to catch drppings from it, Each
table held an umbrella plant.
Two small palms on boxes, covered
also with some of the white silk, stood
before the shelf, and in between them
globe of gold fish was placed on an
old-fashioned milking stool, brought
from it's seclusion in the attic to per-
form useful service. A pair of white
lace curtains hung from the inside of
the bow window, giving it the appear
ance of a separate little room. The
hanging globe was carefully filled with
cuttings of English ivy and wandering
jew; the wire baskets each held a pot
of Kenilworth ivy. with saucer under
it, the presence of which was hidden
by a handful of green moss. A rubber
plant too tall to do duty as decora-
ton for a table was placed where an
empty corner remained. A birds nest
and couple of well preserved large
butterflies found places in this pretty
little greenery One thing more. The
canary in his gilded cage was hung
between the curtains. and piped his adj
miration of the situation.
Later on a few Chinese primulis,
placed close to the window glass,
bloomed gaily to the evident delight of
passersby. for the window was as
pretty outside as it was within. Bulbs
rooted and brought forward in sun
ner window. bloomed well in this
aspect, as time passed. True.
it required care and attention. The
water in the tish-globe required
changing every other day. the birds
scattered seed required sweeping up.
md the plants needed watering-a dose
Of guano in water not being forgotten
leaves would an-
pear constantly, and dead blooms had
TO be carefully removed, but it gave
and still gives the owner great pleas
lre. attracts much notice and wins
much admiration. So much for the big
gaping bay window. it was beautified at
small cost and SOME trouble.