The record-union., 1898-10-23

to pervert the use of things. The rise
Cand, might we say, the falD Of the 5
O'Clock tea table is a case in point.
When the hospitable English custom
OF . o'clock tea was thoroughly ingraft-
ed upon society here, spreading among
all classes, the tea tray for it's service
became a necessity. Out Of this, how
ever, soon grew the atrocity of a tea
table as permanent piece Of parlor
bric-a-brac. deliberately equipped to
the most minute detail, 1t stood peren
nially and immovably like the. piano
or the andirons. The fact that the
spirit lamp under the polished urn was
rarely lighted and that the egg shell
cups contained the cheering brew not
once in a month, was no cause, in the
minds of many chatelaines, for its ban
ishment Five o'clock tea was a fash
lonable custom, and its outward as
sumption, therefore, fashionable need.
1t finally entered the heads Of some per-
sons Of sense and taste that to have
china and silver that was needed for a
certain food and drink service always
uncovered and on the parlor table was
neither neat nor attractive. Then the
vogue of the parlor tea table passed.
Five o'clock tea is still pleasantly and
fashtonably INDUCED in, but the tray
or table now does duty as required,
and is retired when it's service is over.
In the matter of cosy corners, too,
the same point of over popularity has
been reached. We are now seeing a
reaction. The woman of taste ap-
proaches the development of cosy
corner in her home to-day with
thoughtful care. She has discovered
that many of them are crazy corners,
bizarre and inartistic in themselves, and
lncongruous with their surroundings.
For the seaside cottage or mountain
camp, the college boys or girls room,
that vagary of furnishing may still be
employed. For the permanent home,
however, it needs, as has been said,
much modification and ample exercise
OF taste. So with the Oriental corners
In spacious noble room, with back
ground that suggests it, the Oriental
nook or corner may be a fine and eff
fectfve part of its furnishing, and no
woman who pines for the corner which
is cosy or for an Oriental effect in her
home need omit it.
There was never moment when a
desire for instruction in any particular
department of household economics
was more easily gratified than at the
present. A round of art shops gives
one many good ideas. The cities are
full. too, of young men and young wo-
men who have a good knowledge of,
art as applied to the every day belong
ings of the home. If one dstrusts ones
own judgment or taste, assistance may
he bod
money. Clubwomen are constantly in
the way of hearing practical talks on
this subject. The leaven spread by
these organizations should make an i'm
preston.
In Denver last June at the biennial
meeting of the General Federation Of
Women's Clubs the conference Of art
clubs was productive Of many useful
suggestions. The papers necessarily
covered many phases of the subject,
but 1t was noticeable that the speakers
endeavored for the most part to apply
their knowledge to practical things A
woman was overheard saying to
friend as the audience was dispensing,
As soon as l get home 1 shall straight
en- the wires Of my picture frames. I
never knew before until one Of the
speakers said it this afternoon, that the
lines formed by the A of the two pic
ture cords should be avoided"
The woman who will give the matter
OF her house furnishing a little spe-
cial thought and consideration from an
artistic point Of view will find that she
can accumulate knowledge rapidly. OBJ
servation and study Of good effects
wherever She sees them will be her
best help, if she bears In mind always
the possibilities of their adaptation to
her own needs and environment
In the japanese shops there are now
TO be had sheets of silk embroidery in
various floral and conventional designs
in black and several dark colorings.
These are easily transferred to silk or
cloth fabrics which are to be used for
decorative purposes. The designs NAV
be applied with a paste or preferably
put on with concealed stitches, fine
silk of the same shade as the design
being used