Evening star., 1901-11-16
PIANO DRAPERIEs
COVERS AND OTHER USEFUL DECO
RATIoNs.
Elaborate Studies From Legends Of
Paint or Needlework,
Written for The Evening Star

Written for The Evening Star.
Bare and awe-inspiring the piano looks.
with its polished wood exposed to every ray
of light that penetrates the parlor. AS the
instrument costs SO much, it seems the part
of economy to protect It from dust and
scratches. The fact is that the protec-
ton or decoration of the piano is seldom
given a thought. Too much drapery about
an instrument Is a mistake of course 1t
deadens the sound. Acoustics teach US
that the best musical effects are obtained
in apartments with very few hangings, but
judicious use of embroideries will greatly
enhance the beauty of any instrument
Every one is nowadays sufficiently intel
ligent to keep the back of the piano away
from the wall in order that the best tonal
effects may be obtained Often the piano
is so situated that a small alcove may
be formed by placing 1t across the wall in
the neighborhood of a corner.
Sometimes the rough back may be hid
screens are in high favor, and a great
many very pretty and appropriate designs
can be purchased in the shops
Any one with skill in tapestry work man
fashion a beautiful screen for use in the
| music room Qf a single apartment is set
aside for that purpese) or for service in
d1stracting attention from the back of the
piano. Instead of tapestry sheets of white
water-color paper may be utilized for pam
els. The designs should be roughly painted
upon them, with no attempt at finish in de-
tail. Touches Of gold paint win brighten
the design when brilliant effect is aimed
at.
List of Subjects.
Subjects for music screen decorations are
numerous. A screen of three sections NAV
be adorned with pictured representations of
Euterpe, the songstress; Terpsichore, of
choral and dancing harmonies; Poly
hymnia, the muse Of sacred lyrics If an
extra panel Is desired for the SCREEN Cal
Hope, considered the muse Of patriotic mu-
sic. may be added. little study of the
classical dictionary will suggest character
istic poses in which to sketch the muses.
Euterpe with her flute Terpschore crowned
with flowers and dancing to the music of
her Tyre, Polyhymnia with her Tyre beside
her, medtating the composition of hymn
and Calliope, with flag, helmet, shield and
spear at her feet, In the act of composing
a war song.
If more elaborate studies are desired. the
various scenes In the legends of the nine
muses. may be depicted. For instance, their
bath in the Hippocrene, the dance about
the altar on Mount Helicon the disciplin-
Ing of the ambitious sirens the transforma-
ton of the daughters of Pireus into birds,
the punishment of the bard Thamyris Eu-
terpe'S invention of the flute and Poly-
hymnia's invention of the Tyre are all sub
jects worthy of brush or needle
Scenes from the legends of Orpheus and
ApoIo VIII make appropriate art studies
for screen panels
Simplest Kind.
A simple decoration for the piano back
consists of a fiat drapery. The cloth may
be Of any quality from denim to velvet or
satin. If the fabric harmonizes with the
wood of the instrument an artistic effect
will be attained. A rosewood piano should
never be hung with a blue background
A simple banner screen to hang upon the
piano may be made of Roman satin, of
moire velours or of plain silk. White or a
warm cream is desirable color. The SIM
pie design shown in the illustration may
be applied to the fabric with soft pen
Gil and then outlined with soft tinted French
galloons in ribbon embroidered with Japan
colors, such as rose with pink pale green
with white, is recommended. The flowers
should be-embroidered with floss silk and
show touches of chenille in centers, stems
and foliage. The scroH Border is put on
with a soft yellow, almost buff, silk sup
plemented by gold thread. When mounted,
the embroidered section may be beautified
by framing it with a dark velvet or cloth,
much of which should show above the
Sa tin.
For the Stool.
To protect the music stool, which is apt
to lose it's polish or it's upholstering with
USE seat cover is convenient. hand
some bit of embroidered linen will do, but
the richer the cover the more it will be
admired. Cream linen, art silk or satin will
serve as the foundation for handsome cover
displaying a bold and effective design in
cCnventionalized flowers The pattern is
done in appliqued cream, green or tan silk,
with scrolled lines radiating from the CEN
ter of the cover to each of three border
flowers around the outside. The outlines
and centers Of the conventionalized flowers
should be in black
A cover for a grand piano may be de-
signed by needewoman of ordinary skill.
If other decorative accessories are made
for the instrument they should all be of
the same material and general pattern.
Cucumber green or crushed strawberry art
linen or flame colored silk may be used for
the cover, the border being embroidered on
the linen with white flax thread in satin
stitch or upon the flame colored silk with