Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05

cts. In anticipation OF The usual demand
| the shop windows are now filled with their
annual tempting display-of snowy table
| linen. hemstitched and embroidered bed
linens. and fine towelingJ to say nothing of
all the ornamental accessories to the buffet
and lunch table.
For the outer covering of beds there are
all sorts of pretty and novel things in white
and colors Possibly the handsomest are
those of heavy lneny embroidered in
white by hand. Some oftthe more elaborate
have the whole center embroidered broad
embroidered torder outlined with drawn
work and wide hem finished with a row of
drawn work at the head. On brass beds
these quilts take the place of the valence.
hanging down on all sides. The monogram
frequently appears at one side of the en-
broidered center. The durable Marseilles
quilts come both plain woven and embroid-
| ered in white or in colors.
The fancy for embroidery also extends to
| the finish Of sheets and pillow cases.
''Shams" are still much used though many
housekeepers prefer cases. into which the
| pillows are buttoned. These are large and
square. They are laid aside at night. how
ever, in favor Of smaller pillows with palmer
| covers. Monograms or initials for sheets
are two or three inches high and worked
| In the center just about the HEM For pill
Sheets for double beds should be three
| yards long before hemming This allows
| for a three-inch hem at the ton one-half
the width at the bottom, and leaves the
| sheet little more than two and three
quarters yards long after shrinkage in
washing. A sheet Cargo enough to tuck
under and stay where it is put is the only
KIND sure to be comfort to the user The
| thrifty English fashion of covering the ends
of comfortables with a width of thin mus
Lin or cheese cloth which can be removed
and washed whenever soiled Is one that
ccmmends itself to all housekeepers The
| untoward tendency of light-colored COM
| forts to show soiling where they are tucked
under the neck of the sleeper is in this
way obviated.
In purchasing table linen the cream weave
Will be found more durable than the white
or half bleached. While pattern table
cloths are more desirable for best" than
those cut from the web the latter will be
found much cheaper for everyday use
Cheap, sleezy damask is never advisable
the loose weave rendering it a poor invest
ment, in point of service. The medium
grades of either Scotch or Irish make will
be found unequaled for satisfactory wear
Ing qualities. Before hemming a table
cloth see that 1t is cut by the pattern. The
thread makes the pattern and if one follows
the pattern it takes less time than pulling
the thread While hemstitching makes
pretty finish, 1t cannot endure hard usage,
and is therefore Inappropriate for cloths
that have to be frequently laundered The
best way to hem everyday linen is to
turn and haste narrow hem, then folding
the hem back again on the right side of
In an over-ahd-over seam. Then fatten and
press the hem in place. The monogram
or initial of the house mistress
should be wrought diagonally in one corner
In white linen outline silk.
A new wrinkle in luncheon cloths is
to have them woven in two tints yellow
and white. pink and white or green and
white. With gold-banded china the yell
low and white combination is remarkably
effective. Nothing. however. is In better
taste than the rich, thick solid linen which
Is usually handsomely, decorated by hand
embroidery Of border sprays and a center
garland large enough to surround a vase of
flowers or fruit piece. The pure white af-
fords capital background for crystal and
silver as well as fancy -doilies and pretty
dishes.
Quantities of doilies are now sold. so
many people using them without a table
cloth for breakfast and luncheon or Sunday
night tea. Those of heavy linen with solid
white embroidery are most durable and ex-
ceedingy popular. Very effective also are
the Japanese grass linen sets, which come
in both white and colored embroidery with
japanese floral designs.
In a talk before the New York House.
hold Economic Association, Mrs. S. S. Wool
man gave number Of practical sugges-
tions in regard to buying silks. For beauty,
durability and warmth, she said, silk is a
good thing to purchase. AS for the cost
If it is pure and has been through the requi-
sitevnumber of processes to- make it what
1t should be. 1t is worth more than it's
weight in silver. If any one thinks they
are getting good silk for SO cents yard
they will find 1t almost all cotton. There is
no silk obtainable at that price but the
japanese. Others, however we'll they may
authorizations used now in the r,anufac-
ture Of silk to give 1t the required gloss,
"scroop' 0he crisp rustle) and body, ere
the use Of the rough floss silk for the wool
~,
cial silk made Of cellulose and treated with
chemicals; the introduction of Sea Island
cotton, which looks almost the same as
silk, but will not wear as long, and the use
parent effect, and is excellent cotton,
but not as silk. Pressing is also resorted to
in some brands Of silk which increases the
weight at the sacrifice Of strength. Still
another adulteration is in the weighing Of
silk by metallic salts placed In the dye
watts. This makes the silk 400 per cent
heavier, but Injuries its wearing quality.
Among the tests given for determining
what one is buying in silk are, first, the
microscope. Pure silk should give the APP
pearance OF fine, smooth tubes. Second,
by burning Pure silk burns slowly, with
a slight odor. Cotton flares up quickly,
and wool has decided odor. Again. taste.
If a silk has been weighted by metallic
tain the price If silk is so cents yard,
you know enough about 1t. Black silk at
81 or $1.25 yard is strong looking, but
will not give satisfaction. Avoid crackly,
stiff silk, with heavy cords at inexpensive
prices.
Pure silk is twice as strong hemp and
three times as strong fax. 1t is equal to
strong wire of the same dimensions. 1t is
good for Undertaking because 1t absorbs
water readily, therefore keeps the body |
dry, and is not good conductor of heat.
Leather chairs can be cleansed with hot |
milk Then polish with beeswax and tur-
pentine melted to the consistency of thin |
cream.
White stains on furniture may be removed |
by hot milk and turpentine, oil and turpen- |
tine, CT even kerosene.
A new departure at a Boston cooking |
school is the substitution Of a piece of |
heavy sail cloth for the old-time molding |
board. This contrivance, known to the pu- |
pills as the magic cloth,' is about yard |
and a half square, and may be laid fiat |
upon any table. strip of thick. seamless |
white webbing is also slipped over the roll |
ing pin, and both pin and cloth are rubbed |
well with flour. Those who have tried it |
give unqualified approval to the invention, |
declaring that the cloth holds all the flour
needed to keep moist dough from sticking |