Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-27
A W0MAN'S STUDY
Of the Homely and Artistic Treasures
Of the Big Fair.
LIKE BRAIDED and HOOKED RUGS
Unbleached Muslin Hangings and
Other Old Timers.
BEAUTIFUL MODERN WEAR

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
BUFFALO, N. Y, July "a, 1901.
The great Pan-American exposition may
or may not be the gigantic success pre-
dicted but it is worth a number of visits
before it's interests are exhausted, and by
night it is one of the sights of the century.
Every taste finds it's own special gratifica-
ton somewhere on the grounds, and each
culls from the great conglomeration which
1t will best assimilate. 1 spent "a day there
this week with a friend whose present
interest is her new house in a northern
small city, and whose inclination is toward
the antique and odd in selecting the fur
nishings for it. Everywhere We went the
things and places which most attracted
her were those which in some way were
suggestive in one direction or another of
the subjects nearest her heart. The New
England building held her longest, for its
several rooms have been furnished-some-
what scantily 1t Is true-with antiques
each state taking room, with the name
over the door. and making of 1t a more or
less attractive department The wall pa
pers are some of them reproductions of
old designs, while others are modern, but
not obtrusively so, and with coloring that
harmonizes with mahogany, old mirrors
and dull-toned rugs.
Old Braided Rugs.
One big room has its stained bare floor
well covered with small, homemade mats,
some woven like rag carpeting, some
hooked, presenting a soft. thick, many-col-
ored surface, and others are braided In
long strands and then sewed round and
round until large oval rug is formed
These are all pleasing In color and many
elderly women in country districts still
know how to make these rugs, but do not
know where to find a market for them,
while admirers. who are numerous, wish
they could buy similar ones, but cannot
reach the makers. There is one kind lack
ing, apparently, which / have seen in New
England and that is the rug made of a
foundation of heavy cloth. generally of
oval shape, thickly covered with round
bits of cloth, dark and bright together,
usually three layers deep. each circle
smaller than the underlying one, forming
a thick rug, quaint in appearance and
pretty with old-time furniture. The cur
tains at the windows of the state rooms
are a special feature. and my friend i'm
pressed them upon me unusual, either
in texture or arrangement.
Good Designs and Co1ors.
For instance, one set is of dark brown
armure. A silk and cotton mixture, which,
as most people know, is something that
has good designs and colors and looks nicer
long and plain and are bordered with white
wool hercules braid dress trimming
which / have never seen adapted to house
hold gear before. but which is suitable and
decorative. in this instance the ivory tint
blending most agreeably with the bright,
dark brown. AT the windows of another
room the treatment is quite different; a
1ambrequin, rather shallow, with the lower
edge slightly curved. is of stringcolored
burlap. This is also edged with hercules
6y.QiH hon fhn CO.. yl,l6 h q nj haf
an inch and a quarter, and dark green in
color. There are no plaits in the burlap;
1t is perfectly fiat, and below hang curtains
of the modern linen taffeta, which in color
ing resembles much the Powered wool sat
ines / have seen in some old houses. The
foundation shades Of the linen is the same
as the burlap, and lengthwise stripe Of
this shows, alternating with broad band
the light show their deep shades like STAIN
ed glass the fullness being rather scant
the better to show the pattern.
Harmonious blending.
This is very effective arrangement and
combines well with the Turkey rug used on
the floor of this room which is a corner
one, and has four large windows. A cor
ner cabinet Of mahogany is filled with
collection which Is for sale, and my friend
secured unique old snuff box of wood of
handsome grain, with painted lid to add
to her collection of porcelain and jeweled
ones.
For China Hunters.
There Is good deal of old china also In
the cabinet some very pretty pieces among
them still unsold.
A cabinet in another room has a very In
teresting collection of the shaded brown
ware in curious shapes, made between 1S4s
and 1858, in Bennington, VT. Useful and
ornamental articles are there, both pretty
md crofoc in nd far
collection is a rarity and worth inspecting
as SUCH probably valuable, too for the
same reason. To return to our curtains
unbleached muslin as thin and ecru in tint
possible, for the very pretty draring Of
the windows in still another room One
scarcely recognizes at first the plebian or
igin of the hangings which fall in such
creamy folds. softening the light without
colonial house are rather broad for their
height. and the curtains meet in the middle
at the top, then part and are tied back
below.
The Simple Arrangement.
Full frills, five riches wide, of the same
material, with a half-inch heading, edse
the curtains, and a similar frill not set
on. band, but merely stayed back of the
heading by tape, is used to hold the
curtains back where they part and A small
brass ring sets each end, the rufIls.
plated to narrow ii for convenience, caught
to a hook in the wood work, is the simple
contrivance arranged. These curtains do
not touch the floor, hanging not much be-
low the sash, in fact, the frills extending
across the bottom, and at the top are
slipped on a small rod, set close to the
windows, with RULED heading as a finish
One must see unbleached muslin arranged
I'm this way to realize how very pretty it
looks and for country house is specially
suitable. The room where 1t is used at
the exposition is large, with several win
dows, the effect is similar to living or
dining room in ordinary house.
Contrasts From Afar.
Among the exhibits from the Philippines
in the government building are the ex-
quiste embroideries in white on muslin,
pima cloth and other delicate fabrics. The
work is like the fine embroideries from st.
Call, and is on handkerchiefs and gar
ments mostly. Shirts for men are made of
soft, thin material with a box pleat down
the front, on which, or at the side of which
are sprigs or vines arranged in most
decorative way. These can be SO easily
adapted for ladies' shirt waists that dare
say they will presently be imported for
such, rivaling those which now come from
Paris at fabulous prices.
The Gay Effects.