The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-14

90 Nj III
yellow flowers remind a person of
sunshine. Yellow and white luncheons
are very fashionable Daffodils, jon
quils tulips and towering currants are
appropriate for table decoration. But
tercups and cowslips make an artistic
: ornamentation. The centerpieces may
be embroidered with yellow flowers.
White china with gold bands may be
used to great advantage at a golden
luncheon. Salads, CONNECTIONS, cakes,
ices, glazed fruits and beverages can
readily be made to repeat the color.
The ingenious housewife can arrange
her menu so. as to include eggs, car
rots, mayonnaise, preserved peaches,
lemon jelly, cakes, oranges, lemons,
bananas and cheese.
A fashionable color in wall decora-
tonls and drapery this spring is the old
fashioned lavender-not heliotrope, vio-
let or lilac. but the real lavender shade
OF our grandmothers' gowns and rib
bons. Wall papers of lavender with
White stripes are used and curtains and
cushion covers show the same delicate
shade. In rooms with this background
one or two pieces of green furniture are
particularly effective.
Colonial rugs are an excellent floor
covering. They are much more dur
able than the jute rugs of japanese de-
sign and are less expensive than the
Smyrna rug. They come in large car
pet sizes, in small mats. hall strips and
the usual varied dimensions. The col
orlngs are good, chiefly in negative
tones and the designs unobtrusive.
There is no respectable household
in Russia without one or more samo-
vars, says the Washington Star" The
utens1l is turned out by the million.
Tuia, the Russian Sheffield, is particu-
larry famous for the production of this
article The 'samovar is in use three
or TOUR times a day; in some houses,
indeed. 1t is kept boiling the whole day
long. The samovar may be really term
ed the Russian hearth and fireside
around 1t the family and guests as
semple, drinking tea and chatting for
hours. The samovar is the utensil used
only for boiling the water. They are
usually made of brass or copper. but
there are also silver samovars, the in
side being lined with another metal In
the middle there is a kind of chimney
or IRE receptacle, around which fresh
cold water is poured into the samovar
Burning charcoal or wood is thrown
into the chimney, and it usually takes
about quarter of an hour before the
water begins to boil. this being an
nounced by a volume of steam from
under the cover. Then the boiling
water is poured upon the tea in the
pot and the latter placed upon the top
OF the samovar to keep warm as tea
coseys are unknown in Russia. The
infusion is made very strong. but only
about a fifth or quarter of glass is
filled with it, the rest being filled I'D
with the boiling water. slice Of
lemon or milk is added, according to
taste and sugar is put into the glass.
Numerous attractions are shown in
the way of bon voyage gifts. One that
combines sentiment with convenience
and taste is a little safety inkstand Of
silver. 1t is in the shape of a heart
OF highly polished silver A heart
shaped lock fits down with a spring into
tiny heart shaped clamp, needing re-
lease before the lid springs up to per-
init the use of the ink A silver travel
ing cup is made of thin rings of the
metal and shuts into a wonderfully
small leather case. Another convenience
for the summer trunk is bedroom
candle and holder. The latter is of
silver, standing perhaps three inches
high. and is about two inches in diane
ter At the base a tiny receptacle for
matches is secured by a, little door. The
candle is thick and about two inches
long, fitting snugly into the holder and
protected when not in use by a fiat lid
of silver that closes tightly. It is mod
eled after English bedroom lights Of a
former time.
Louis Vain, the famous cat painter.
processes to believe that a cat owned
by a woman is the mirror of its mis-
tress' temperament. He says that if
a cat that has been constantly with its
mistress is suddenly removed from her
society, the creature will show the
characteristics madame has displayed.
Ii she has been snappish, pussy will
scratch; if she has been sulky. pussy
will sulk, too. If this were really true.
1t would pay a prospective husband to
steal the cat of his lady love before
taking the fatal matrimonial step. AS
the cat is about the most independent
creature alive. one can't help being
skeptical of Mr.. Wains theory
As these are the days of many annual
club festivities in the way of luncheons
or breakfasts, after which speeches by
members and guests are in order. the
caution to abstain from eating nuts is
not amiss. The woman who is on the
program for a speech after the feast
must not be tempted by the appetizing
salted almonds that are sure to be Of
fered her. Nothing will more surely
interfere with the clearness of her voice.
One of the most curious and interest
ing of bridal customs among the Eski-
mos is the practice of choosing bride.
not for her face, her figure or her for
tune, but for the excellence and
strength of her teeth. Up in the polar
circle, where a mans blood freezes, and
parts of him drop off at the touch of
the icy blast, it is a difficult matter
to keep the Unframed skins from hard
ening and cracking There is only one
process known to the Eskimo that of
chewing. 1t is necessary to perform
this operation every two or three
months, and it is "a part of the wife's
duties. 1t is for that reason that an
Eskimo selects his future helpmates
for the size of their teeth and the
strength of their jaws. OF course, one
wife cannot attend to all the skins, and
so sometimes an Eskimo has as many
as ten loving helpmates. Wives are