The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-19

the little 1ellCWS on al LIE HSW
lions today, says Annie Rittenhouse IN
the Philadelphia Press"
one shop on Chestnut street shows al
most a window of utensils of decoration
where the cherub in every form is used
1t brings us back to the early days OF art
which is rather an interesting ~rennais-
sance.
For instance, this merchant shows a
new candelabra. of which the body is a
cherub. who uphoIds in his right hand
three heavy candlesticks.
The cherubs In these candelabra are
admirably poised. seeming to swing upon
one foot. They are, in reality. screwed
to the base under their two feet, but this
method Of fastening them to the wall
throws all the body of the cherub up
ward, which gives an especially pretty
effect.
The entire bronze work is thus shown;
the candelabra are thrown far enough
out from the wall to be pretty, and the
graceful attitude of the cherub gives one
the Impression OF a real Infant flying
through the air, more than any metal al
| fair screwed down to plaster.
I think they are the most beautiful cam
delabra / have ever seen.
The candlesticks are all different in
height and depth, so that the variety OF
candles used may add to the atmosphere
of carelessness about the figure.
Gilt decoration, which has come in SO
extensively, Allows the heads Of the
cherubs everywhere. The great mirrors
which are used over the mantels and be-
tween the windows have these cherubs
at each corner, or flying out from the CEN
ter, and one splendid mirror is oval, with
a cherub on either side and one at the
| top and bottom. the FOUR of them swing
ing out from their feet and holding diff
ferently-shaped candlesticks.
The mar tina was showing this mirror
advised the use of crimson candles in it.
BY the way, speaking Of candles, the
cathedral shape is the most available
for decorative purposes. There is quite
a tendency among women to give the at
mosphere of an altar to their mantel-
piece, and this IS obtained by the fine re-
ligious pictures, framed in gold. in the
heavy mirrors, and in the tall, cathedral
candles, that are fully a foot long and
longer.
These candles are made to be lighted
My on occasions. and therefore they are
made of certain materials 50 that the wax
does not melt and run down the side.
In the big colored candles the smallest
candle shade obtainable is used SO h a
the length and color Of the candle may
be fully seen.
Remember this fact, II you are putting
any decoration in your house, even if you
are using them for lighting purposes on
the table at a luncheon or dinner, ask
for the cathedral candle and see to it
that it is very long.
But this is a depression from the che
rubs. although they are closely connected
with candles in all the decorative shops
today.
Where the cherub makes Its appearance
is on many heavy china decorations. For
instance, the old-fashioned china plaques
in Roman colors are coming back, and
the head and figure of the cherub are
most frequently used.
These figures are wreathed in ~garlands,
are dancing through space, or cooling and
billing with each other.
The fancy for the little fellow has ever
come down to paper weights. I saw some
of the sweetest Imaginable ones for sale
yesterday. The base was a porphyry
stone and on it an ininitesimal cherub
was turning a somersault. His head was
QOWn, Tiny udIuS supporting u. oiiS Nlup-
by. dimpled little leg straight in the air.
the other little leg propelling him over
They have them in many sizes, but the
wee ones are the most delightfully."- gro
tesque, and I for one intend to own so
attractive a piece of desk furniture.
In the days before inventions revolu-
tionized the world of society, as well as the
grosser, more material world of labor,
says 'sHarper's Bazaar" department was
an important branch of education, and
was included among the advantages to
he enjoyed at fashionable seminaries. So
well was it understood to be essential
that even the dsme-schools assumed. for
a slight additional compensation. to i'll
struct their small pupils in the graces OF
polite society, and their ~'tuppence extra
for manners passed into a common say
ing. When mature persons failed to OBJ
serve the proprieties, there was fine scorn
in the remark that their parents had not
spent the ~"tuppence extra" for them in
their youth. Nothing was too small or
insignificant to escape the attention of the
professors of the art of behavior, and the
means taken to secure perfection in every
act and motion seem very cumbersome
and precise to our latter-day notions. The
girl who is hidden to .step lively as she
enters or leaves a public conveyance Cali
not help a feeling of amusement when she
reads of an old carriage which, equally
with the harp and piano, was kept for
practice, the high and narrow steps of the
vehicles Of those days exacting a sure
movement of the sanda1ed fet and a light
and graceful balance of the Whole figure
There was, however, a substratum OF
good sense in the old time attention to de-
tails of behavior, spite of much which
seems formal or fussy to our modern
IDEAS. BY enforcing constant practice q
the arts and sciences Of social and domes-
tic life, confidence was gained and awk-
wardness b~anished; and while thus engag-
ed with the minor morals, weightier mat.
ters were not neglected. There were IN
culcated respect and reverence for parents
and elders, graceful recognition of this
rights OF equals in age or position, very
kindly thought for those who served, AND
duty to ones self no less. In its tinel
flower it was that courtesy which in il:
consideration for others is but paying {
debt Of self-respect."
The nursery ought to be the pretties
and most cheerful room In the house, will
amnla reqenfac1es for tovs soma affrac