The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18
SAVE YOUR OLD SILVER.
Cot" Purses. ThimbIes. and Orna-
pients Make Beautiful Frames

All must feel in a m assure grateful to
the genius who first conceived the idea OF
| utilizing the silver ornaments OF worn
| out pocketbooks and pezs with which to
| make picture frames Indeed. many of
these 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 a pity to sell
| them for old silver. when so little is real
| lied and a made over book is expensive
| and seldom thoroughly satisfactory. The
shapes and styles of the leather parts. as
is true of almost everything. greatly
change and the old bit of silver somehow
doesn't seem to fit in we'll Then. after
their first usefulness is over, is the time
to take them to a reliable jeweIer and
have them made into n picture frame or
mirror. The Imagination can readily fol-
low the manner in which 1t is done. Both
of the silver pieces. 1t will be remembered
are NEEDED in the shape of right angle,
with one side longer than the other. They
form, therefore when placed together. tho
right angles being diagonal in position. n
rectangle which is just the shape desired
to surround a cabinet photograph. Usually
tHty are pdSleu upon DdchsEOunu oi soiue
rich shade of velvet deep crimson or blue.
and have the back SO arranged that they
may stand uprightly. Such frames are
never hung. Where the two pieces come
together a little soldering is skillfully
placed SO that the joining is almost i'm
perceptible
The fancy mirrors that are made OFT
of these bits of silver are also extremely
pretty. For them, however. it is reces-
are prettiest when the corners are round
ed 1t is also desirable for them to be Of
nearly the same width throughout ard
the design prominent one. They are then
placed around a mirror on a background of
gay velvet and very often arranged to
stand uprightly. A quainter idea is. If
one has the means. TO attach to one a ham
die made out OF enc of the old silver knit
ting needle cases which were used by our
grandmothers, and which. upon occasions
were so discreetly tucked by them in front
Of their bodices. They are very long and
shaped like small cornucopia extending
into a little curve at the downward end.
For the handle of a mirror of such design
as these made from the referred to pieces
of silver nothing could be smarter. CfI
course, rot every family has one of these
needle cases in readiness to put to such
use, but they can sometimes be found and
bought Tor rather small price at one of
the antique shops. although they are no v
becoming scarce. Such mirrors are artistic
and luxurious and appear well when lying
upon a drawing room table visitor is
sure to pick it up and examine it while
her veil and pince-nez to per-
lection before she is greeted by the hest
ess. Bag clasps also can be readily made
into mirrors. and, being quite large, but
two of them are required. In fact. it is
amusing to note how many women are
now choosing their pocketbooks and simi- |
lar articles with an eye to their later use
fulness. They also do a good deal of say I
ing up. One woman buys always the same
style of pocketboOk and so accumulates a
good number of identical pieces Of silver
She says Like Gilpin's wife, she has q
frugal mind"