The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
FASHIONS FEATHER FAD
Queen Victoria Uses a Downy Bed
for Health's Sake.
MANY American Women Follow Her
british Majesty's Rule and Travel
WIN Their own Mattresses The
Hcneht of n Feather-Fnied Tick
Tor Nervous and Rheumatic People.

| WI" ihcfr own Mattresses The
Hcneht of n Feather-Fnied Tick
for Nervous and Rheumatic pro,,.
The science and practice OF bed making
has undergone radical change in the past
few years. In the newly done over and
decorated houses, no throne Of state could
be more impressive. more luxurious. and
more radical in its departure from the
hitherto accepted laws of hygiene than the
bed lucky CUES; is invited to sleep in.
The model just now in the houses where
the antique mahogany era sweeps every
thing before it is the Georgian bed
Three could sleep with an abundance Of
stretching room. in the area enclosed by
| the four massive carven posts OF one of
these big ccuches and three mattresses are
required to bring the sleeping platform up
10 the required height. One is Of hair, one
Of cotton. and In winter on top Of these
reposes Il mighty tick stuffed full of the
best white goose feathers. When these
requirements are fulfilled the full fiedged
Georgian bed is dressed with an attention
| 10 detail and elegance that gives 1t an ap-
pearance hardly less sumptuous than the
/
with bullion fringe forming the hangings
and eounterpane that sweeps the floor Is
| what Is utilized on bed of the type In Mrs.
| George Crocker's new house. and the coat
\ -of-arms OF the owner is carved on the
! head board OF the couch.
| 1t is not everybody. however. who can
| lay possessive hands on a really truly
carved Georgian bed or dress It in antique
brocade. but even with the modern brass
and iron bed it is true that curtains about
the head and big feather stuffed mattresses
for winter are no longer fashion but
general custom.
For half century the feather bed has
been looked upon very coldly by our lead
ers in hygiene, but recently, both with re-
gard to the hangings and the feather mat
tress. change of heart has come. and dell
cate, nervous. neuralgia rheumatic wo-
men, and particularly elderly persons and
those afflicted with insomnia, have been
recommended to the feather-bed cure in
the winter. Queen Victoria Is one of the
shining proofs OF the efficacy OF tine feather
bed, for where her majesty goes her big
tick full Of feathers In its leather travel
ing jacket goes too. and always the cur
tains are drawn about the head OF her bed
to shut off and treacherous little draughts
Queen Victoria and her doctors believe
that the proper way to sleep in winter is in
a cold room luxuriously Tapped in nest
Of feathers that preserves all the heat OF
the body and necessitates In the coolest
weather a covering OF but one pair OF
blankets and down quilt. The modern
bed, sc-called hygienic. requires more
heavy covering than a pair OF tired shoul-
ders can stand, and the hair mattress con-
stantly dissipates the human heat instead
OF conserving it, beside drawing away that
r-inclarc forra human OLE
All this drain the feathers prevent. and
the easily yielding surface they present per-
mits perfect relaxation of the muscles, that
can never be gained on a bed Of even the
best hair. With the coming OF the eight
zenith century type Of English bed the
feather mattress was successfully intro
duced. and now there are numbers OF
women who have not only learned their viz
tues, but like the Queen OF England, travel
about with their beds done up In leather
cases. Some Of the rheumatics and suffer-
ers from cold extremities have pronounced
themselves immune from their grievous
Affections when luxuriating among the
feathers.
Feather beds are as well coming INTO use
In nurseries and though for children the
Georgian fouTposter is not yet the fashion,
the gayest beds are made to chime in with
the schemes for nursery decoration
ChdrmiDgly carved ana painteu NVoucn
beds are newly introduced. else they have
brass or sometimes silver let into the dark
wood in appropriate scenes and inscriP-
lions. On the headboard of a light maple
bed will for example, be painted night
scene of clouds across the moon ana
fight of owls: on the footboard long line
of caroling cocks greeting the sun typshes
morning.
An exquisite mahogany bed made for
BOSTON miIlionaire's child showed in sill
yer inlay on the headboard moon and
tinv sails with a quotation IN silver letters
beneath from Tennyson's lullaby in the
Princess.
So prominently are the beds featured in
handsome sleeping rooms nowadays. that
4 is no wonder their clothing shows all
the art and lavish beauty and lace OF
woman's wearing apparel
Sheets II any fneness are always made
with broad bands of drawn work running
bout the four sides and linen lace whipped
IN the edges. The costly California bian-
lets are sent to a needle woman before
hey are ready for use to have their edges
lightly scalloped and buttonhole-stltched
With silk and a monogram worked in the
corners. Duvets cove.ed with china silk
how a fluff of valenciennes frills and pink
ID Hounces about their edges, and the huge
ham pillows used by day are upholstered
n exactly accord with the duvet. Added
n this righteousness there are beds with
zig sachet pillows that lie all day between
he sheets and when taken out at night
urround the sleeper with sleep inviting
OF violets or rose leaves.