Evening star., 1901-08-31
AN ANTIQUE HUNT
Quaint and Pretty Belongings of the
0lden Time
FOUND IN BUFFALO and VICINITY
Sweet Treasure Hidden in a Sugar
Bowl.
A DINING ROOM DESCRIBED
ecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

| w hSii lile TdH-AInST1cdn pals on one,
| this city seems very good center from
which to make detours in various drec
| tions. Several such jaunts 1 have been TAX
| ing with much pleasure, not to say profit.
for while seeing this beautiful country of
| western New York, ones eyes must ever
| be open to curious and interesting things
which may come in the way, and perhaps
| fortunately be secured If one has tastes
that lead to the collecting of old or antique
| articles.
There are pretty villages scattered all
| along this lake Shore and further inland
| and many of them boast an antique shop or
| two or one may hear of outlying farms
| where the possessions of former genera
tions of the family may be wheedled from
| the present members, willingly or unwill-
| ingly, for one never knows how advances
| of this nature will be received The prices
| In the shops, however, are extremely high
and 1t makes one accustomed even to New
York and Washington smile 20 see the
| serene way in which some of these people
| mention their fabulous prices. However
by inspecting one often finds desirable
| things which are reasonable as Well and it
| Is always happiness to add to a collection,
| no matter how large already.
Found at Last.
A dealer here in Buffalo told me that
| Rtn-American visitors had proved good an
| tique buyers, and that his stock as | saw
| it was much depleted. But friend with
| me found there several things which she
| had been wanting, but which so far had
| not rewarded her diligent search One was
a dear little single bed of most attractive
| shape, and another a tiny bedside table of
mahogany also, with a lower shelf pro-
tected by a metal rim and iust large
| enough to hold the glass of water which
| 1t is her inevitable habit to place near her
| at night. A nearly similar table is in a
! guest room which l have lately been occu-
| pylng, and my hostess said that farther
| back than she could remember it always
| stood at the head of her grandmothers
| bed These are the smallest mahogany
| tables have ever seen.
In of the places near here is a clever
| workman, who puts old furniture in order,
| and he has stained some old pieces of good
| shape but undesirable wood, so that they
are used in the same rooms with mahogany
with never question to their genuine
| ness. either. Of course such thing is
not to be overdone, but when really
pretty form is found it is well to know
| that something worth while may be done
| with it.
A Quaint Dining Room.
The quaintest dining room L have seen
for many day is in the beautiful small
| town where / have been spending the past
| week. It's charm begins with the entrance
| for two little steps descend from the ad-
! joining hall into the L, which forms this
| room. On one side is a sloping roof, and
| fitting under the low ceiling there is fine
| antique sideboard, covered with glass of
| the olden time; English decanters squatty
| pitchers, and the boat shaped salt cellars
cut in facets like diamonds The table has
| futed legs and drop leaves, with an irreg-
ular curve at the corners. 1t would be too
| small, except for the fact that the family
| numbers but two, but a guest or so NAV
| be accommodated on occasion A tall
! mahogany cabinet on one side is filled with
| the china which was the grandmothers
| best In her young married days when
| grandfather was pouring his wine from
| the decanter yonder, and good care has
| kept it almost entirely intact for the gem
| Tie OLD ladies whose pride it has always
| BEEN
| On the wall hangs picture worked in
| faded silks, which came from an ancestor
| still farther back, in which a maiden strolIs
N III satuen, tne needieWork OF the finest;
the white satin gown, with it's scant folds,
shimmering in the light today as it has
| for the past hundred years.
In the nearby drawing room lovely
portrait OF man In ruffied shirt with the
collar of his coat rolling high above it,
hangs on the wall, and here also is one of
the choicest mirrors l have ever seen, with
canopy top, and it's frame of massive
gilt. Odd work tables and an exquisite
corner cabinet are also here, and on it is a
miniature of lovely young woman, which
has the charm of mystery added to its own
feature and color
As 1T Happens in Books.
Years ago the original of the portrait
gazing out from the huge coat collar I
have mentioned suddenly died, and when his
widow was looking over the contents of his
desk hidden spring, inadvertently touched.
disclosed a small secret drawer whose sole
contents proved to be this miniature. No
one living knew whose face it was or had
ever heard of the original as far as could
be aScertained, but here is the miniature
and the behOlder may make what story
she pleases to satisfy whatever of the ro-
mantle may be in her nature.
Several years ago I was in this same
place, and at that time bought an old sugar
bowl at the antique store of the village
1t is pretty shape, with rather sparse
decoration in blue upon it. There are bud
ding handles either side-it Is Interesting
to study the evolution of handles on old
china-and below one of them is small
crack. One day in Washington spring
l filled the bowl with bluets and the COM
bination was charming. However on lift
ing the bowl after it had been standing
some hours l was surprised to find one end
covered with sticky substance oozing
from about this cracked handle. The water
had percolated through this little rift"
and the sugar of generations gone had so
permeated the substance of the china that
a thick treacle was the result.
Wanted 1t Back Again.
This was all recalled to my mind the
L
where 1 had bought the bowl and in talk
ing with the proprietor mentioned the
former purchase, saying had made it the
nucleus of quite a collection of sugar
bowls.
He exclaimed at once: 80 you are the
lady who bought that sugar bowl! have
wished a hundred times / knew where to
find it. I will give you twice it's value in
anything else here, but from association l
want that bowl. and it's being sold was a
mistake
The bowl is of no particular value and I
readily agreed to let him have 1t on my re-
turn to Washington If one of different
style. being equally attractive and equally
keeping up my collection in point of num-
bers.
1 seem to be fated to miss the opportuni-
ties that come to many people Of whom I
hear. For many moons have been looking
for small mirror mahogany frame with
a picture In the upper division I have seen
some, to be sure, but 1t would always hap
pen that they were in the most expensive
shops I visited. The other day friend
here showed me one, my very ideal Of what
I specially desired, and said II like this
old thing? 1 took 1t as a gift from Aunt
Jane. We were In the attic looking over
her assemblage of relics for a collection
rte ~ For