Evening star., 1903-11-07
BOXES OF UTILITY
FOR EVERY ROOM IN
THE HOUSE.
The Inventor of the First One
Deserves a Gold
Medal

She was a clever woman who designed a
utility box. Having a home where space
was limited. and closets few, she set about
to find some cosy fitment for her extra be-
longings
At first box presented itself to her mind
where her dressy waist could be laid out
full length without being rumpled. 1t must
be strong and durable of make. So a shoe
box occurred to her as just the thing. But
it must be covered in an attractive and
pleasing manner. and made to suit the pre-
vailing scheme of her dainty bed room. She
found one to her liking had a carpenter
plane off all the rough places tighten the
nails that held the boards together, and fit
the cover with hinges, so that after the box
was finished they could be easily screened
up.
To preserve the outside as well as the
inside, and give a smooth foundation to the
box, she tackled a gray wool wadding over
the whole. For the inside a simple sateen
of a solid color in a warm gray was chosen.
1t was smoothly put on, care being taken
that the corners were closely tackled. The
selection for the outside a heavy rib
bed English chintz in a decidedly fowery
pattern of leaves and pink roses on a rich
cream background. These gay colors suit
ed her pink and white bed room. After the
outside was made fast to the wood by some
pretty gilt nails. closely grouped together,
the sides were finished with handsome gilt
handles and the cover screwed firmly on.
AS a home makers first attempt, it was
a charming success. and served an excellent
purpose for the disposal OF dress waists
light weight wraps or articles OF a nature
needing special care.
For All Uses.
Utility boxes have now made Stand for
themselves and are looked upon as being
useful as dressing glasses and bureaus.
,rt, eli of leather and
have something of the appearance of an
old-time chest. Others are made of suede
in tones of any dark rich color, and are
covered inside with suitable cotton textures
II is only when employing a thinner fabric
that they should be padded, because the
rough places in the box are sure to injure
and cut away the cloth.
An artistic utility box is made of suede
leather firmly tackled on all sides with small
oxidized nails. The top cover of the box
has an extra layer of padding to give it a
round appearance, and is decorated by the
pyro pen with an etching of corn ears and
leaves Tire inside is lined with soft
brown canton flannel smoothly laid on and
tackled securely at each corner. AS use
full adornment each side has oxidized
handles, while at all four corners at the
bottom of the box fitted Lsflers, making
it easily movable. This box is used for the
holding of photographs, special papers and
manuscripts, and any paraphernaha that
d
The utility box for the nursery is on
much larger scale, and rule 1T is made
| in the form of a couch It is long and
roomy, giving extra emergency bed, and
| is therefore furnished with a first class
mattress The whole is first covered with
| a strong interlinng of canvas and then fin
ished with an outside covering of veiveteen
| velour If preferred a jute or even Gre
tonne can be used provided the material is
| of the best quality. Usually the top is fin
| ished with deep ruffie which, when lifted
| up. displays a generous amount of room
| for childrens dresses. suits of clothes. un"
derwear or any articles that require a
! stowaway place.
l. Tasteful Color.
| The box should match the prevailing
! scheme of the room. or be in some well
| chosen complimentary tone. To make 1t a
restful and charming appointment, pillows
| and cushions can be distributed piled up
| here and there. making cosy couch by day
| as well as comfortable bed by night
! For bed rooms there are other smaller
boxes in square oblong forms which can be
| tucked away IN some retired corner, and
| are handy places for belongings necessary
| for making a toilet Evening dresses rib
| bon stocks and other dainty dressings can
| there find place. Many of these boxes are
| divided into compartments, one of which is
| large enough for handkerchiefs and col
] lars another for belts and fans.
1 Some utility boxes form a pretty window
seat. on which pillows are grouped In
| exceedingly decorative. IT, the colorings are
l we'll selected