Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09
When the Buyer Found Both Novel
and Tasteful Things.
An ART LESSON CLEVERLY GIVEN
Popularity Of the Russian Decora-
ton Idea Now.
HINTS FOR GIFT GIVING


Written stof Evening Otdr
The great shops are bewildering now IN
the multitude of attractions set forth. The
real charm, however, to "prowler" is in
the hunt of pretty things that do not come
In sets and dozens, but where either indi-
vidual taste caters to both those who lack
| 1t and those who have it, or where the
relics Of bygone generations are gathered
for the appreciative buyer of today. Where
these treasures are displayed the coloring
of the rooms makes desirable background
and the environment for the collected arti-
cles, and a lesson may be learned at once
by unframed eyes as to appropriateness of
setting for pretty things. Just now the
preference is for rich, strong shades OF
color in walls, making a fine background
for pictures and ornaments as well as fur
niture. Green, and especially green with
blue in peacock ,shadings, is the prime
' favorite. Everything of dark rich tone
combines with these most tremendously,
whether 1t is old mahogany furniture.
bronzes In brown or green, velvets, eastern
embroideries or rugs; dark oak, or pyro-
graphic novelties, old ivory casts. And
speaking of Old ivory tinting, l have just
learned the recipe for thus treating white
plaster. First brush with shellac mixed
with considerable raw linseed oil, which
Next brush with burnt sienna tube paint
thinned with raw linseed Oil; after a few
minutes rub OH with soft CiOtn Wnere
high lights are needed.
Novelties in Screens.
Screens are more used than ever, and
| besides the staples several decided novel
ties are brought out this season.
One of the handsomest have seen is tall,
with four rather wide panels, covered en-
tirely with gilded canvas, very similar to
burlap in weave Large bronze nails finish
all the edges, and each panel is decorated
| with design nearly covering it of oranges
and leaves. A conventionalized treatment
of the fruit forms a border, while a mass
of branches, artistically treated, almost fills
| each center. Dull metallic shades, bronzes,
greens and coppers are used with the gold
| background, forming all the nigh lights;
the effect is beautiful The painting is done
| with tube paints diluted. The Rittenhouse
Club in Philadelphia has walls treated in
this same style, a gold background, with
stenciled design afterward colored by hand.
Unfortunately. no ladies admitted to
admire these beauties, but l have seen the
water-color drawings for the decorations.
The oak woodwork in the room 1 speak Of
has been subjected to vapor stain-some
original process-by which the color perme-
ates the wood and becomes a part of it,
the shade IN this instance being gray green
New Sofa Pillows.
One would suppose that the theme Of
sofa pillows had been worn thread ,are,
but instead it has taken a new lie Of
me, Judging ny tHe
and varieties displayed. To mention few
may give ideas to some one wishing to in
clude this article of comfort in her Christ
mas list. The use of Turkish embrofd-
cries on linen for the upper side of pill
low is great fad at present. and is some
thing very practical. as they wash so well.
The usual shape is oblong, rather narrow,
as this shape prevails In the embroidered
pieces. A silk harmonizing with any one
of the silks in the work Is used for the
other side Of the nil10w finished wi
either a narrow cord or with merel-- the
seam. The shape is such change from
the usual square that 1T is a novelty in
itself, and the variety of designs and col
ors In this oriental work gives charming
results. One of the prettiest cushions 1
have seen was of green velveteen, square
with a scroll pattern forming a center
square Of blue velveteen applied, with out
line COUGHING of cord the same shade, a
very simple treatment and most pleasing
in result to any one fond of that combina-
ton. Other colors might be easily sub
stituted, of course. Broad bands of Gre
tonne can be gotten now, in large, effective
Powered patterns, and these are also used
for sofa pillows, forming border about
central square of any plain color, with
wide rufie of the plain goods on the edge.
Curtain AppIiques.
Appliqued work is used with excellent ef-
feet on curtains of lansdown that delight
full fabric heretofore used exclusively as
dress goods. 1t comes in many beautiful
shades. and for hangings is made with a
wide net border on which is applied a pat
tern of the Iansdown with COUGHING of
silk threads to conceal all Jennings. In
gray green with cream net border, these
are lovely, also in old rose. A curtain Of
plain net has white silk applique border.
Sash and vestibule curtains are made Of
white silk with a net panel inserted in the
center, and on the net various devices are
used: monogram, coat of arms or simple
conventional pattern. A number of private
yachts have these curtains, each with it's
own signal as the center in coIors, and are
very pleasant. for, while they soften the
light, the all comes through the net with
out hindrance. The latest importations for
sash curtains are similar. yet different.
White silk is the material, with incrusta-
lions of beautiful lace, Russian being a IA
vorite, the silk cut away wherever it ap-
pears.
Table Decorations.
Russian ideas in ornament are we'll to the
fore in many directions.
For table decoration there is nothing more
beautiful displayed than tea cloths and
doilies of Russian drawn work, the heavy
lace edging then being from the same
great country. The square mesh of the
drawn work, with pattern darned in, was
closely and cleverly initiated twenty-five or
more years ago by the machine lace
makers.
A Lace Find Story.
There is a little shop In a neighboring
city where nothing but lace is now kept.
| and the first proprietor. an old man. who
| died recently. had his own ideas of bust
| ness. Because his neighbors sold of old
goods reduced prices was no argument
| to him that he should, SO the old, shop
worn Id bygone stock accumulated After
his death the little place became suddenly
up to the times, and fine old embroideries
and handkercniefs yellow with age, old
fashioned laces and odds and ends of f1nery
were almost given away. A few things,
however, were left unsold. and a knowing
eye (never. however. having heard of the
place before spied among the ordinary
laces, which todays machines turn out in
such quantities, some patterns exactly like
the Russian handmade drawn work. The
price was ~ and cents yard and some
| inquiries brought out the facts have men,
| toned. For twenty-five or thirty years
these pretty laces have been lying tucked
away and only by chance will any one who
can appreciate them see them now. A
quantity was bought, and some pretty
things are already projected when these in
settings (for there were no edgfngs) Will