River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-05-24
UTILITY OF OLD SILVER.
Many beautiful Ornaments Can fse
Made of Worn-0ut Me-
terialS.

All must feel in measure grateful
to the genius who first conceived the
idea of utilizing the silver ornaments
OF worn-out pocketbooks and bags
with which TO make picture frames.
Indeed, says the Mexican Herald,
many of the pieces are really things
of beauty, both in design and hand
modelling, and have been no small
item in the original cost of the card
case or pocketbook. 1t has always
been felt TO be pity to sell them for
old silver. when so little is realized,
and made-over book is expensive and
seldom thoroughly satisfactory The
shapes and styles of the leather parts,
as is true of almost everything. great
~ change, and the old bit of silver
somehow doesn't seem to fit in well
Then, after their first usefulness is
over. is the time TO take them to 4
reliable jeweler and have them made
into picture frame or mirror. The
imagination can readily follow the
manner in which il is done. Both of
the silver pieces, it will be remem-
bered. are nodded in the shape of
right angle. with one side longer than
the other. they form. therefore, when
placed together, the right angles be-
ing diagonal in position, a rectangle,
which is just the shape desired to
surround cabinet photograph.
Usually they are pasted upon back
ground of some rich shade of velvet,
deep crimson or blue. and have the
back so arranged that they may stand
upright. Such frames are never hung
Where the two pieces come together
a little soldering is skillfully placed
so that the joining is almost inper-
ceptible.
The fancy mirrors that are made
out of these bits of silver are also eX-
tremely pretty. For them, however.
it is necessary to have at least four
pieces. and they are prettiest when
the corners are rounded 1t is also
desirable for them to be of nearly the
same width throughout and the de-
sign a prominent one. They are then
placed around a mirror on back
ground of gay velvet and very often
arranged to stand upright. A quainter
idea is. If one has the means. TO at
tach to one a handle made out of one
of the old silver knitting needle
cases which were used by our grand
mothers, and which, upon occasions,
were so discreetly tackled by them in
front Of their bodices. They are very
long and shaped like a small CORFU
copia extending into little curve at
the downward end. For the handle
of a mirror of such a design as those
made from the referred to pieces of
silver nothing could be smarter. OF
course, not every family has one of
these needle cases in readiness to be
put to such a use, but they can some
times be found and bought for rather
a small price at one of the antique
shops, although they are now becom-
ing scarce. Such mirrors are artistic
and luxurious and appear well when
lying upon drawing-room table. A
visitor is sure to pick up and examine
it while arranging her veil and pince-
nez to perfection before she is greeted
by the hostess Bag clasps also can
be readily made into mirrors and he
ing quite large, but two of them ste
required. In fact. il is amusing 10
note how many women are now chot s
ing their pocketbooks and similar ar
ticles with an eye to their later use
fitness. They also do a good deal of
Saving up" One woman buys always
the same style of pocketbook and SO
accumulates. good number OF idt n
teal pieces of silver. She says: Like
Gilnin's wife. She has a FRUGAL mind. :"