The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-23

durable and even these soon break IL .
bedstead is daily drawn over them.
A great deal is said in praise Of highly
decorative wall papers, especially those
having floral designs, for bedrooms Come
Oh them are deserving, are beautiful In
e'ery way. but for person of quiet tastes
nine-tenths Of them would make room
iatolerable by their glazing and inoon-
uous CO mbinations Of colors. The decor
atious on the wall Of a bedroom should
always be in light, delicate colors, but In
order to make the effect OF the room ms
whole quiet and restful, the .colors must
be soft and harmonious, or In pleasing
accord, and the pattern unobtrusiye.
SCOTCH Holland window shades cost
more ut first than unglazed domestic ones
but they are safer and cheaper In the END.
too, because they can be cleaned again
and again with "a damp cloth.
Tbs decorative posi- bilites of half-length
sash curt aims are small, but when made
OF inconspiouous material they are not IN
the least obtrusive, and from practical
standpoint they are unequaled small
IN etal rods, with socket ends, now COST
but trifie. DO not waste your time ana
patience by shirring,t them over tape.
Hanging car cts over q line. and then
beating hard to remove the dust, VIII
shorten their iiv,s mors than month oil
ordinary wear, and the same Is true CT
rugs, or of taking hold of one end AND
whipping them. DO not stay In this tut
either. Lay them on the ground wrong
side upward at frst), and beat and sweep
thoroughly on both sides. Borax is iess
likely to fade carpets than ammonia, ana
will frsshen the colors equally we'll. Use
In the proportion of one heapin8 teaspoon
full to u gallon Of hot water.
[xx1. mas
charming background for rugs, but 10
shows dust and litter rs quickly as .
polished floor,
Borax Is unequaled for washing lace
curtains. Very much OF the strain which
ordinarily comes on long lace curtains IN
washing car be avoided by doubling eacn
curtain at the middle lengthwise ana
tying a strip of old muslin loosely around
IL at two points between the fold and the
ends. Soak fifteen minutes Mt time In
warm water, to which borax has been
added In the proportion named above;
squeeze and press down with the hanus,
and in raising always take hold OF tne
muslin tie string, and wiring gently
rough wringer. Repeat this as many
times as necessary, and do not remove the
Ties until you are ready to pin the cur
tains out. Never shake out lace cur
tain whe n wet, for IL is sure TO make
havoc with the finer meshes.
III some Of the windows In room get
more direct sunlight than .others, be sure
to mark tho ones that were at the sunni
est window, and change their position
when .rehangipg. MADRAS. crepe or other
curtains that are bordered alike on each
edge, or curtains without any border, can
have their days heightened by changing
from one side of win1ow to the other
as the sun does its mischief near the in
ner edge.
In wall paper, as in every other feature
of house furnishing, taste and discretion
in choosing are more desirable than any
certain style. In fact, no one color or
pattern can DO said to be fasl ionsble to
the exclusion of any other. III the ceiling
of room is high, and you admire deep
frie2e have one, by all means; but If You
have one with a low ceiling for the same
reason, however beautiful or stylish 1t
may be in itself, you.do less we'll than the
woman who uses narrow border, or
none at all, but carries the side wall paper
to the ceiling, covers the joining with
narrow wood cornice and puts picture
moulding ten or twelve inches below It;
or else omits the angle moulding and
puts the picture rail just far enough be-
low the ceiling to admit u hook.
Gentleman.