Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
AN OPEN FIREPLACE
CAN BE TURNED fNTOoA FERNERY
FOR THE SUMMER.
Handy Corner Shelves for China or
Any Trophies You May
Wish to Display.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Few persons know Just how to cover I'D
the unsightly evidences Of winter fires
when summer arrives and anything suggest
I've of heat is a WEAKNESS to the flesh. In
nearly all modern houses one finds couple
of open freplaces, and the proper method
for treating their yawning, black recesses
when not in use is simpler, possibly, than it
seems to the unthinking. In the first place,
the upper part of the chimney should be
stuffed with bag of shavings, that no SCOT
from overhead may fall down to mar the
neatness of the transformed chimney cor
ner. The stone framework should be given
a coat of Brunswick black after all traces
of SCOT and dirt have been brushed and
washed away This will give the inside of
the CRATE q smooth, shining surface that
may be kept clean with sponge and warm
water. If the chimney is lined with iron or
asbestos, as many open CRATES are. there is
need of the surface being gone over,
for gas fire leaves clean CRATE.
There are as many ways of treating the
decoration of the chimney as there are in
dividualities. A pretty idea is to turn the
unused CRATE into small fernery. This
may be done by cutting soap box to fit
into the space inside the bars and painting
it to harmonic with the color of the bars
or back wall. A second shallow box may
be fitted inside the brass fender rail, If
such rail is used. or the box may entirely
replace the ordinary fender. The box in
the CRATE should be perforated to allow the
water to drain out, and underneath it on
the hearth should stand a pan, into which
the moisture may drip. In the hearth box
small ferns may be planted. The box
should be placed inside some sort of drain
pan both box and pan being hidden by an
outer railing enameled black or white or
any color that will suit the rest of the room.
1t should be headed by narrow molding,
which shows most effectively when gilded.
1r,,n- L. tod of far IN, fho
CRATE garden, though harris tongue and
polypodum, with trailing pants, are rec
commended.
Must Have Light.
The CRATE, to make satisfactory garden.
must be rear the window, so that 1T will
receive plenty of air and light. Ferns,
however will flourish with less of the lat
ter than almost any other plants. In the
hearth box or boxes Gor several boxes may
be fitted together and used instead of one)
lobelia, geraniums. verbenaS and such flow
ers may be planted. If the mantelpiece is
wooden one. hooks may be screwed in
the underside, and hanging baskets of
flowers and trailing vines suspended there
from. Baskets containing dropping fuch-
sas, with blue and white lobeias, make
very pretty effect.
temporary receptacle for papers and
magazines may be provided by first giving
the back wall a coat of Brunswick black
and then withdrawing the bars and back
of the CRATE, finally treating them with a
coat of color wash to harmonic with the
decorations of the room. Frills OF Grape
paper, made by cutting the paper in strips
three inches wide and gathering 1t along
the center with needle and thread, are next
prepared. The CRATE on the inside over
the bars and underpart is lined with strong
white paper The Grape paper, which looks
better when of two shades, should len be
affixed to the outside Of the bars and IN
parallel lines around the sides and back Of
the CRATE. The paper should be carefully
f1uted, glue being better than paste for hold
Ing it in place, The ruching should be laid
on in graduated lengths, the widest being
placed below and the smallest above. A
corner CRATE treated in this way looks par
ticularly well. n. ..
A China Cabinet.
Those open ireplaces which are orna-
mented with wooden mantel frames may
be converted into miniature china cabinets.
The carpenters aid should be invoked to
fit into the angles of the chimney wooden
which may, be removed when |
cold weather. comes This is only pos |
sible when the crate is set we'll under the |
mantef. 1t should on the outer edge meet |
the supports of the mantel and apparently !
form a continuation Of 1t. On the sides |
of the framework there should be three |
graduated shelves and above q narrow |
shelf extending across the frame The |
frame should be painted and enameled, |
the inside of the crate having been pre-
viously treated to coating of brunswick |
black and the chimney stuffed with a bag |
of shavings protection against falling |
SCOT. On the shelves may be placed choice |
bits of ornamental china. The edge of the |
upper shelf may be fitted with row OF |
brass hooks about five inches apart, and on |
these odd cups, quaint little jugs or other |
pieces of handled pottery may |
be distributed. For those who make col |
Iections of shells these shelves will form
admirable places for displaying the conch-
illogical trophies. Each shell should have |
pasted TO 1t a small strip of paper on which |
is neatly written it's name and original
habitat
When the mantelshelf 10 Of marble or
stone, a picture Of the panel sort in
frame of fiat hard wood concealing the !
crate aperture makes an effective finish. A
glass fitted into the opening, when !
the CRATE is a removable one, may contain
stuffed birds or small animals, should |
the family be devoted to ornithology. Such
a decoration is very effective for hall or
library in houses whose masters are de-
voted to hunting.
When the CRATE Is likely to be used dur
ing the summer, as in an invalfd'S room in
a changeable climate, a curtain looks well
draped over the mantelshelf and Topped
back at the sides. This relieves the bare
ness of appearance. Inside the crate should
be treated with Brunswick black. A cary
ed stool, which may rest jardiniere
ferns or a small palm, may
stand before the CRATE when it contains
no fire. MARY KIRBY BEARD.
When Perfectly Proportional.
From Woman's Life.
The upper arm Of the perfectly formed |
woman should end at the waist line, SO that |
she can rest her elbow on table while |
standing erect, and her forearm should ex
tend to point permitting the fingers to |
mark point just below the middle Of the |
thigh. Her neck should be of the same cir |
conference.
A plumb line dropped from point marked |
by the tip Of her nose will fall at point |
one inch in front of her great toe. Her |
shoulders and her hips will make a straight |
line drawn up and down. Her waist Will !
taper gradually to twenty-sx inches, her |
hips will measure from six to ten inches !