The record-union., 1898-10-23

cult than the choice of a. carpet or wall
paper. To look at many designs is
confusing, and it is hard to carry In
ones eye or memory the exact shades
of the furnishings of room. In the
case of the young housekeeper just re-
ferTed to, her mistake could probably
have been avoided had she asked that
the roll Of carpeting be sent to her
house to be spread in the surroundings
for which it was intended. This any
carpet-dealer will do.
For much less important purchases,
too, the need for care exists. Mrs.
Candace Wheeler says that there is a
choice in the buying Of even so simple
a thing as a drinking-cup. 1t is pos
sible with the exercise of a little care to
get one that not only usefully serves its
purpose as a vessel from which to
drink, but is also a pleasing object to
the eye.
There will be new attachment to
your autumn belt, my lady. 1t con-
sists of a slight silver arrangement
made to hold a handkerchief. 1t will
be worn on the right side, directly be-
meath the arm. 1t will be made of OK
idized or filigree silver
The question Of where to place the
handkerchief has long been a subject
for discussion. To carry it tucked up
the sleeve has long been out of style
to place it in the purse gives the ugly
bulged appearance that cannot be toll
Grated. To completely hide the bit of
pretty lace from view is totally out Of
the question, but to have the dainty
edges peeping from beneath the belt
whenever the right arm is raised or
lowered meets with the approval of the
feminine sex.
The handkerchief for this fall will be
odd and pretty. It will Be made of
the thinnest, Sheerest material posi-
BILE, and hemmed neatly quite near the
edge. One corner is embroidered with
a large and heavy monogram-the
heavier the embroidery and the larger
the initials the more desirable is the
handkerchief.
1t is fastened directly in the center
by the new belt clasp and is tucked in
so that the corner containing the mon
ogram shows plainly. Some handker-
chiefs are embroidered with a regimen
tai decoration or the Stars and Stripes,
and some girls have the private sig
mails of yachts or clubs on their hand
kerchiefs.
A frequent mistake of housekeepers
who buy carelessly is made in the pur-
chase of novelties. The woman of
moderate income should exercise partic-
ular prudence in this regard, as nov
city may quickly become undesirable
because Of its popularity. The thing
that everybody is buying is not usually
the object whose presence in the house
will be a lasting enjoyment. The wom-
an who may soon discard the purchase,
if she tire of it, may indulge her wish
for the latest new thing, whereas the
woman who must delay long in replac-
ing it by something she may like better
will do we'll to wait
An old gentleman in the north of
London has been making series Of
interesting experiments with a view to
finding a solution to the question often
asked: What becomes Of the count
less nyriads Of pins, etc, that are an
nually lost?"
AS he expected, he finds that it is the
disintegrating effects of the air which
resolve even these intractable little in
struments into their elements. He put
some hundreds Of brass and steel pins,
needles. hairpins, etc, in a quiet corn
er of his garden, where they would be
subject to all the destructive agencies
OF dampness, earth, wind, etc, al
though secure from the predatory
hands and disturbing feet of inquisitive
intruders.
nra viz nrdI
hairpins We're the first taking 154 days,
on an average) to oxidize into q brown
ish MYSTERIOUS oxide-which was
scattered by the wind as it was formed,
and not a trace of a single one could
be detected at the end of seven months.
Common bright pins took as long as
eighteen months before their combus-
ton was complete. but brass ones had
been entirely turned into green verdi
girls long before that.
At the end of fifteen months an ordi-
nary penholder had had it's nib entirely
rusted away, but the wooden stick was
still almost unaltered. 1t IS probable
that the paint on it had somewhat of
a preservative effect. Some used wax
vestas were almost gone, with the ex-
ception of the cotton wick, in less than
eighty days from the time they were
deposited. but the sulphur heads of
some unlit ones were as perfect as ever.
Polished steel needles of a small size
lasted a very long time lover two
years and a halo; but a black lead PEN
ell proved itself to be practically indie
structible, both cedar and plumbago
being almost as good as when new,
even though harder things had quite
rotted.
A fault among women furnishers is
their abuse of furnishings. We are
happily we'll out of the era of barrel
chairs and grocery box divans, but
there remains a further emancipation
to be achieved. We are still too apt