Evening journal., 1900-02-23
FEATHER BEDS AGAIN.
Change In the Science and Practice Of
Bed Making.

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The science and practice OF bed
making has undergone radical
change in the past few years. In new
ly done-oyer and decorated houses,
nothing could be more impressive,
more luxurious and more radical in its
departure from the hitherto accepted
laws OF hygiene than the new beds.
The model just now In the houses
where antique mahogany completely
sweeps everything before Il is the
Georgian bed Three could sleep,
with an abundance OF stretching room,
in the area inclOsed by the four mas
sive carved posts OF one OF these big
couches and three mattresses are re-
quired TO bring the sleeping platform
up to the required height. One is OF
hair. one OF cotton. and In winter on
top of these repose a mighty tick
stuffed full Of the best white goose
feathers. When these requirements
are fulfilled the full-fiedged Georgian
bed is dressed with great attention to
detail and elegance. Old brocade
edged with bullion fringe Is used for
the hangings and counterpane that
sweeps the floor, and the coat OF arms
OF the owner is carved on the head.
board Of the couch.
Il is not every body who can lay
hands on a genuine carved Georgian
bed or dress II IN antique brocade,
but even with the modern brass and
iron bed. curtains about the head and
big feather.stuffed mattresses for win.
ter use are no longer a mere fashion.
but are a general custom. For half a
century the feather bed has been look
ed upon very coldly by experts In hy-
giene, but recently, both with regard
10 the hangings and the feather mat.
tress, change OF heart has come.
and delicate. nervous, neuralgia. rheu-
matte women, and particularly elder.
ly persons. and those afflicted with In.
somnia has been recommended TO
take the feather bed cure In the win
ter. Queen Victoria Is one Of the shin.
ing proofs OF the efficacy Of the feather
bed, for where she goes big tick full
of feathers, I'm its leather travelling
jacket, goes too. and always the cur.
tains are drawn about the head OF
the bed 10 shut or any draughts
Queen Victoria and her doctors be
lieve that the proper way to sleep In
winter is In a cold room luxuriously
Tapped IN a nest OF feathers that pre-
serve all the heat of the body and
necessitates in the coldest weather q
covering OF only one pair OF blankets
, and a down quilt. The modern bed
so-called hygienic. requires more
| heavy covering than a pair OF tirel
shoulders can stand. and a hair mat
tress constantly dissipates the human
I heat instead Of conserving Il, beslde
drawing away that priceless force
, human electricity; at least this 4
! what advocates OF the feather bed say
! All this drain the feathers prevent
the easily yielding surface they pre-
J sent permits perfect relaxation OF tn
l muscles that can never be gained on
} bed of even the best hair With IN
coming of the eighteenth century typ
1 Of English bed the feather mattres
= was introduced. and now there ar
/ numbers of women who have not onl
3 learned their virtues, but. like th
Q Queen Of England, travel about wit
/ their beds done up in leather case
/ some Of the rheumatics and sufferer
L from cold feet have pronounced then
Q selves free from their Affections whe
), luxuriatlng among the feathers
IS Feather beds are coming into ul
l. as well In nurseries, and though I.
!. children the Georgia four-poster
not yet the fashion, the gayest beC
are made to chime inwith the schem,
of nursery decoration. Charmingl
carved and painted wooden beds al
Q newly introduced. else they have bras
Il or sometimes silver let into the dar
@ wood In appropriate scenes and 4
e scriptions. On the headboard OF
8 light maple bed. for example will 1
d painted a night scene Of clouds aero.
3, the moon and a flight of owls; on II
4 foOtboard a line OF caroling cocl
greeting the sun typihes morning
g N. Y. Sun.
IS