Evening star., 1901-02-09
American Taste for Novelty in All
Furnishing Details.
Two RECENTLY DECORATED ROOMS
Old Family Belongings Enshrined
in a New Place.
DESIGNS AND FABRICS USED


Written for The Evening Star.
Here in America, where the universal
taste is for novelty, 1t seems somewhat re-
markable that the same chintz should still
be in use at Osborne which Prince Albert
selected when he made that the home of
the queen in the early days of their mar
ried life. 1t is sentiment, Of course. con-
nected with him that has kept this same
pattern in use there all these years, but it
shows constancy not often to be found In
the survivor of any union. There is pic
ture seldom seen-of the queen, Prince AL
bert and several Of their children-painted
on the terrace at Osborne. about the time
that these same furnishings were first put
there and while the years have rolled on,
bringing so many changes to the group
thus pictured. the inanimate things have
remained the same. renewed but unchanged
so that the eyes Of the old and dying queen
looked out upon the same surroundings as
greeted them when they were young and
life was full of brightness for her.
It has always seemed to me that the COM
fort Of an English chintZ furnished drawing
room was unsurpassed and am glad to see
that we are beginning to appreciate 1t, Tor
some new, beautiful and complete houses
are thus treated In bed rooms cotton COW
erings and hangings have always been more
or less in use here, and nothing can De
such goods Is the heavy, smooth-surfaced
material known by the rather anomalous
name of 'art ticking Some name more
agreeable should really be given this hand
some goods, which is heavy enough to hang
unlined as portiere or curtain; and durable
enough to wear for years. The colors are
claimed to be perfectly fast and the shades
and designs all that could be desired. The
patterns are most Of them rather large; in
some the flowers are enormous, but these
are the favorites and the smaller, neat
designs are the ones left over until another
season usually. 1t seems very daring to
conservative minded person to put guam
tity of this gay and striking material in a
room, but knowing it is the fashion she is
led into It and from that time on she finds
constant pleasure in the result.
Recent Example.
A few months ago a Washington woman
renovated her own bed room and put in
much of the art ticking in bands Of pink
and yellow roses on a white ground. When
1t was completed she liked the effect, but
felt quite dubious whether the staying
qualities of so much gayety and on such a
large scale would prove satisfactory, but
after daily test for several months as l
said, she finds just as much pleasure in the
harmonious coloring and beautiful shading
of the flowers she did the day they were
completed, and they look just as fresh as
then also. Especially pretty are the long
intensifyng the glow of the rose colors
and greens. which the white ground height
ems also. Following the English fashion,
the goods is made up In the form or slip
covers for chairs and couch, SO that they
can be easily laundered and used season
after season. only as first said. our Amer
lean love of change will have something
different after awhile anyway. Some dec
orators advocate having the wall paper and
hangings alike or similar In design, but 1t Is
found to be more satisfactory usually to
have a plain or nearly so paper with
f1owered cretonne, and plain furnishings
with fowered paper.
OId-Tfme Charms.
A charming guest room has just been fit
ted UP by an enterprising young matron
who secured some old furniture which had
been in her fathers family and had drifted
away through lack Of interest some years
aeone. She heard Of it, hunted 1t up and
bought it back, and has had 1t beautifully
repolished and put in perfect order. 1t ts
of that quaint style, mahogany, combined
with curly maple, and needs special treat
ment in it's surroundings, which she has
skillfully applied. The wall paper Is striped,
a br DAD band Of soft yellow in watered
ribbon effect altarnates with narrower
white stripe, and at intervals on the yellow
appear large punches Of purple violets, with
much green foliage surrounding them. The
woodwork of the room is painted white, the
floor is of oak in the natural color and an
artistic finish is given by having curtains
and chair covers of yellow denim In the
same SOFT shade as the paper, which is
most harmonious with the yellow maple in
the furniture.
Few Pictures Needed.
The paper Is so decorative that only few
pictures are needed, and the small embroid-
cries, covers and such things are happy
mixture Of the green, yellow and violet
shades, all looking equally well in the room.
1t is all both striking and pleasing and very
unusual, and a timid soul would never have
dared to use SO much of color and design
both; but nothing succeeds like success and
1t may we'll be with a satisfied mind that
the young house mistress in question views
her latest efforts.
Sizing Her Up.
From Harper's Bazaar.
Mrs. Witherby-"Do YOU know. John.