The broad ax., 1899-03-04

ing tables, and all the lovers OF fancy
work. who not long since were cover
ing yards Of linen, with colored floss
and filo silk, are now giving their en-
ergy to the perfection Of Swiss en-
broiderys says the Philadelphia In
quirer.
Plain white linen, embroidered only
In white, Is the character OF all the
best new tea cloths and center pieces,
though white lace has not lost one
whit Of its popularity. From the mex
pensive renaissance to the most exqui-
site duchess and rose point, dinner ia
bles are respondent, and some Of the
point lace center pieces are splendid
enough to serve as the bridal handker-
chiefs for royal princesses. They are
rather small and the lace is set fat on
4 round or scaIloped center of finest
French batiste that Is embroidered in
a wreath OF white flowers.
In consequence OF this lavish use OF
lace. nearly all the most formal din
ners OF the past spring, and Of the
present autumn, have been served on
bare boards. The lace center piece, &C
companied by plate, decanter and can
delabra doilies. is laid on the brilliSnt-
ly polished, naked mahogany, or dull
black oak, in order to achieve the best
effect and show Just how beautiful
your lace set is. The same scheme is
followed where the board is ornament
ed with a set of Mexican drawn work.
and though the rule is all for white.
some women gid refined gold by en-
broidery. in colored floss, sprays and
bouquets. both on the renaissance lace
and on drawn work. The consequence
is brilliant. certainly, but scarcely so
refined in appearance as the pure
white.
Luncheons, suppers and midday
breakfasts are now so generally served
on the boards. with doilies only, that
the handsomest damask table cloths
are looking for Jobs on bargain coun-
tiers. and the smartest little breakfast
cloth one can use. Informally and en-
famille. is a large square Of hem
stitched linen that is damasked all
over. but not in figures. and then rich
ly wrought in white Swiss embroidery.
Great attention is given to the de-
signs done in this new needlework. 1t
would require too much space to de-
scribe the Jacobean. Egyptian and
Henri Deux patterns that are stamped
on these squares for working and that
emanate from able artists in London
and Paris. Quite as highly esteemed
as the beautiful Mexican drawn work
is that which comes from Russia. II
is different from the Mexican, being
done on heavy home-woven linen In
the natural or half-bleached tints Of
the fax.
From Russia is brought over also
the almost forgotten art of doing cut
work. The patternc on the handspun
linen squares are first embroidered and
then cut out until the finished piece
resembles a sort OF superb lace. With
all these articles the owners initials
are worked in one corner Of the mar
row hem.
Women who find pleasure in intro
ducing novelties In the arrangement Of
their dinner tables are using Candida
bra and candlesticks in the form of
vases. A tall OF short. crystal or sill
yer vase. with a rather wide lip and
slender stem. is so arranged that when
filed with flowers a candle can be fixed
In the midst Of the blooms, while a
most unique and more expensive dec
Grafton is an illuminated fee castle.
Caterers freeze these in any form de-
sired, and some are exquisite minia-
lures Of Chantilly, Warwick. the
wartburg, or Hohenschwangan In Ba-
varia. In clear or pale-tinted ice the
castle Is frozen and all its towers Or
namented with small candles. Not
only is the castle an odd and pretty
ornament. but 1t keeps the room at
very pleasant temperature, In spite Of
candle heat and the presence Of many
guests.
Among the lesser items Of interest
At the dinner-tables this autumn are
name cards at every cover In the form
of tiny slips Of very thin glass. The
edges are beyeled and the names are
engraved on or laid on in gilt Sow
ernirs and menu-cards are just as
much ignored as ever. and Il Is no
longer continued In good taste to lay
bouquets and boutonnieres beside the
guests plates.
Those. however, who do not keep q
very wary eye on the march Of i'm
movements In the way Of table COM
forts win be surprised b fnd several
new silver utensils tbs winter be-
side their covers. With the fruit
course Is now served an odd-looking
knife that has q silver handle and the
narrovest Of steel blades This II ac-
eompanied by rather deadly weapon
that appears to Be . straight cork
screw mounted on q straight silver
shaft handle. In reality these new ar
rivals are designed for the better mas
terry Of oranges. apples and pears. The
corkscrew Is driven. by q def rotary
motion. into the fruit. which Il thus
0rrnfv heId during the removal Of the