The record-union., 1898-04-03

aN' O WIS.,
n'IAkN III N MNSgh
The growing perfection in wicker fur
niture has advanced it from the sum
mer house to the winter city home; 70:
it is possible now to get the most at
tractive of corner seats and small nj
vans, as we'll as big easy chairs, in
wicker that may be colored- to suit
the decorations Of a room. Then, with
cushions and pillows very high de-
gree of comfort is insured. For apart
ments, this wicker furniture is particu-
1arly desirable It is light to move
about and can easily be cleaned. be-
cause it is possible to wipe it over
with a damp cloth. For the summer
home, of course. nothing supersedes il
In GOODNESS and general appropriate
ness
At many dinners this winter, iced
coffee has been served at the end OF
the meal, instead of the usual derni-
tasse 1t is the same black coffee, but
is cooled in a small china freezer pack
ed in ice to which a little salt has been
added
The mind cure for indigestion is not
without votares, and is perhaps Valu-
able A number of persons recently
encountered, who never pay the slight
est attention to what they eat, beyond
satisfying their appetites, agree that
they would have dyspepsia If they
thought about it. One woman says
that the only time she has ever had
any sort of indigestion was while visit
ing at the home of a friend who talked
about everything she ate She found
herself for the first time in her life
weighing the digestive pros and cons
of the food before her, and in watch
ing for after-dinner discomfort, soon
felt it. While this can hardly be said
to be an invulnerable argument, it 1d-
mits of some qualifying use.
A pretty center-piece at a recent
luncheon was of Parma violets ar
ranged in oblong form on a mirror mat
This was flanked with two rings OF the
same flowers Following out the idea,
the name cards were circular or OBJ
long in shape. and were made of parch-
ment. with yiolets painted upon them
and ribbon garlands in gold
The practice grows among women of
utilizing the time consumed in COM
passing the inexorable distances which
are part of the life of New York
City. 1t is very common to find five
or six women in a car deep in books.
One was seen the other day-an elderly
lady she was-with her Bible open in
her lap, and her reading was evidently
of that calm and contemplative char
acter which belongs to the Bible. and
which also has rather been accepted as
belonging to the privacy of ones own
room. She would read a few verses,
then look off, apparently seeing moth
ing of her surroundings. yielding only
to the reflections gathered from her
book. The sight of such peaceful leis-
ure in rushing elevated car was con-
spicuous enough to draw all eyes to
its exponent. Occasionally a woman is
found, in the back part of the last car
of train. industriously taking some
needed stitches in a glove or even a
dress skirt. man the other day in
terested the passengers around him by
his deep absorption in a game of chess.
He carried one of the little pocket
boards with adjustable men. and as
he played he carefully conned a book
of rules which he held in the SAM,
hand with the board. So interested
was he that when he started to leave
the train at the bridge, he did not
stop his playing as he walked down
the aisle of the car and across the
long bridge corridors to board a second
train. The distances around Greater
New York, now that people live any
where within its limits, and not. as
used to be the case, either between
Fourth and Forty-second streets. or
clustered around the edge of the river
on Brooklyn Heights, are long enough
to call for ways of passing the time
which must be consumed in traversing
them.
Specialists in digestion point out that
only the heart of lettuce should be
eaten; the outer dark green leaves are
needless tax to the stomach. as they
contain nothing of value to the system
The word impaired by Mrs Frederick
Nathan in her recent address on the
ethics of domestic service is suggestive
because it is at variance with the prac-
tice Of many housekeepers. Mrs. Ma
than set forth that the reception of
male visitors by the housemaids was
right and should be permitted unde,
certain obvious restrictions Moreover
place should be arranged for such
reception--a second room il the hons.
was large enough, and If not. the kitchen
should be provided with certain acces-
series of evening dress, so to speak. to
make it a comfortable and attractive
place for the reception of a visitor A
gay table cover. a swinging lamp. a
wooden rocking chair that could have
cushions to be used in the evening,
shades at the windows that could be
drawn. and if needed, a cheap screen
to shut out perhaps, some kitchen sight
that was not attractive. This small
outlay was only just on the part OF
even the most economical mistress The
morality of the practice was urged II
was natural that young women should
enjoy the society of young men. If the
mistress did not permit it within her
establishment, it would be INDUCED in
certainly in the street or in worse
places. and the confidence and protec-
ton of the mistress was really the
maids right to demand and her privi-