The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-31

"a New world women have not only
| taken the craze for things Oriental to
their hearts, but to their tables as we'll
and If 1t were the style to have a Ja-
panese doll at every plate, by way of a
favor, they would certainly have them.
As 1t is, they spread their mahogany
with Persian hand-worked lace, so diff
f1cult in manufacture that it takes
months to make piece of any size. A
single Persian harem is able to produce
in few months enough fine needle
work to clothe the household dinner
table for a whole season.
On the hens and narrow linen bands
OF the Persian table sets are small fig
ures embroidered in creamy white silk
OF the same tint as the linen. Even
the drawn-thread portions are adorned
with this embroidery.
In all the inodish table sets both
square and round pieces are to be had.
ana doilies always come in two sizes.
sometimes these have linen centers.
but just as often they are of solid lace.
There are no floral patterns in the
Persian and Armenian table pieces.
put flowers reign in q profusion of
beauty on Japanese and Chinese ia
BILE sets, and even dispute supremacy
with sacred dragons and highly orna-
mental fish that sport among embroid-
cred waves upon the shining surface.
heavier weave employed by japanese
workers.
1t may be because the Chinese
have so thorough comprehen-
sion of laundry requirements that
they construct their articles Of
materials and in style that
will launder WELL For this rea-
son the fiat but exquisite embroidery
done by the little Celestials in mer-
CqriZad roftOp and Imam fosa 20 y,,ora
popular than the superb pieces of
raised silk embroidery that are exc
cuted by the Japanese.
The work of the latter is, too, more
expensive, and the. petals of roses and
chrysanthemums, of size guaranteed
to take first prize in a flower show. are
over sixteenth of an inch thick
and made. of silk floss. that requires
much care in the cleansing.
Charming effects of aria-perspective
are produced in the Japanese table
pieces by drawn thread medallions,
about the size of a hand, in irregular
shapes back OF the raised embroidery.
Like everything else in the nature of
needlework. the Japanese do drawn
thread work with an exquisite even
ness and delicacy astonishing in peo-
pie to whom lace making Of this char
acter is a new art.
Many a woman with more time than
money should be able to prepare a
dainty set of Chinese table linen with
a little earnest work. To such an one
floral patterns would be easiest. and
the Oriental style of manufacture
might be initiated by working tiger
lilies. chrysanthemums and carnations
or roses upon the same piece.
First, the edge should be embroid-
cred in small points Of uneven sizes
and then Just few flowers sprinlzled
around the borders Of the piece. TAX
ing care not to make any two flowers
or leaves alike. Some limitations of
Chinese work have only a flower I'm
each corner, or, in the case of an oval
piece. one in each end and three on
each side. The Introduction of butter
flies and wreaths means, of course,
much more labor. but even these can
be given an Oriental cast by observe
ing that artistic nrinciple Of the dec
orative artist in the East-not to
place any two objects in the same
relative position.
When the home worker sets about
copying Japanese work, she may use
only one flower or figure in the nat
tern, and she has a task before her
usually too serious for Western Inn
patience to contemplate.
The American woman, on the whole.
will be better satisfied and accomplish
more by plunglng head first into her
scrap bag and dragging out bits OF
leftover and cast-on lace. Squares
and ovals may be laid out on paper
foundation, with radiating or letticed
pieces Of inserting OF different pat
terms, and the whole connected by
(Continued on PAGE Twenty-eight.)