Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-22
sEAsHELLs NOW THE FAD.
Many odd Ways of Using Them to Decorate the Rooms In
 Summer.

No pearl-crowned mermaid of fairy tales ever delighted more in her shell treasures than the summer girl of to- day whose happy lot lands her at the Seashore.
 Each cob tide leaves new wonders in it's wake, and the decorative and useful possibilities of these kisses of the sea" as some one has called them, are almost startling when evolved from the clever brain of some original girl, says the Washington Star.
 One Of the oldest ideas is shell dado for the den in summer cottage. Putty will do as a foundation. One girl who had no chance of securing 1t simply used heavy coating of glue on burlap If a harmonious tint is chosen, the effect is good, although the glue is not so dur able as the putty. Picture molding will do as finish for top and bottom and also form a supporting frame for the putty After laying in surface of this to work on, add the shells the same as in mosaic designing. Clam and oyster shells will do for borders, and the more fancy varieties can be used in all kinds
  putty will harden readily, and the result is striking and picturesque, as well as permanent.
 To girl who has any taste for model ing, the same idea may be caGried out in vases. A shell-incrusted jardiniere makes unique ornament for 8 summer porch, and even cigar box may be transformed with thin coating of put ty and mingHng of small scalloped shells and periwinkies into anything from work box to a hairpin tray.
 The periwinkles make the prettiest chains and can be pierced with com mon needle for stringing. By alternat- ing the pink and white variety with the dark and only choosing the smallest ones, necklace can be made that would grace the throat of Lurline
 There is a small oval shell found along rocky coasts that is like crys- tallized rose leaf in thinness and color ing. 1t is as delicate and dainty as a baby's nail, and shades from deep pink toorange and a pale green.
 It can be used in all manner of ways where the heavier shells are imprac- ticable. One of the simplest uses is to string them for portienes, the same as bamboo curtains are made. One girl made belts of them for herseh and her friends by overlapping them like scales and using two rows for each belt. Worn with one of the popular linen suits, the effect was charming.
 The best shell souvenir to take home to father, brother or the beloved one is paper weight. After a heavy sea, fragments of green-stained rocks, with all shapes and sizes Of oysters fastened to them, are cast up from the oyster beds. If left in the sun the oysters dry out and the shells can be hand-painted, or left natural, as preferred. A good idea for a receptacle for stamps or loose pens is to drill holes in blue point shell and hinge the two parts together.
 Even If one has not the knack of con- struction there is still the shell cabinet which every seaside girl should possess, in which to exhibit her trophies when the days grow chill and summer birds fly home. A few small shelves, stained dark and hung or fastened in any cor ner, will do, with bunch of seaweed trailing down from the top and few crabs dangling off the edges. The fill- ing of the shelves should be matter of individual taste and selection.