Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
Pretty Effects That May Be
srsEvolved.
WHATTBNE WOMAN DID
CHANGING THE AVERAGE RENT
ED ROOM FOR TIE BETTER.
Personal land Homelike Touches
Given at Slight Ex-
pense


To some people environment is a matter
| OF indifference: they can be comfortable
and serene in surroundings which would
| jar so upon another temperament as 10
bring positive unhappiness. There are per-
sons who rise above the material part of
everyday life and find their pleasure in
matters which are not affected by unto
| ward conditions of existence.
Most of us, however, are strongly cog
| infant of the s.little foxes who spoil the
vines and endeavor as best we may 20
have our home Surroundings such as will
conduce to harmonious living In having The
sense of sight gratified as we'll as feeling
Even temporary abodes are of such i'm
portance to some people that they cannot
endure a disagreeahle appearance if they
are in a situation to better it by some little
expenditure of time or money or both.
A case in illustration is of young lady
who for a single winter was boarding, and
had large room which had some good
points. but on the whole looked rather
bare. The bed was quaint single one OF
cherry and as 1t stood rather high 1t was
awkward looking. with only. the narrow
thin white spread provided by the land
lady.
On examination it was found that rod
for valance was already attached TO the
bedstead. so that it was an easy matter to
make hanging that would much improve
the looks of the entire room.
As it was only. to be the matter OF one
winter and the young ladys means did not
justify much outlay in the matter, she
undertook to find something that would an
swer the purpose, but not be even as eX-
pensive as the ordinary cretonne for l272 or
10 cents yard.
She Got Bargain.
Going to a department store where rem
nants of various cotton goods were sold,
she got several short lengths of creepy
surfaced fabric, for which she paid only
61a cents per yard.
The ground was gray, and in pretty,
very scattering design were good-sized
flowers of two or three shades of pink,
with dull green leaves and stems connect
ing them. .s.r
The patterns and. colering were really as
good as in much, Autographed fabrics, and
she was dGits pleased to get something SO
attractive ~ every way
sbshez Knew How.
The short lengths were indeed no detri- \
ment. as she was able to use them to quite
as good advantage as If all in one piece.
She cut tie goods lengthwise for the va
lance, which was eighteen inches deep, a.
haif-inch hem heing on the bottom As the
crepe or thin c9etonne was twenty seven
inches wide, that left a strip, which was
cut into narrowi ruffies TO edge the coun-
terpane. - 12l -.
This latter was made of three widths.
those on each side having seven-inch strip
taken off, which was cut in half for ruff
fling like fT1at-left from the valance.
A long scarf edged with the same narrow
raIffie was made ttp cover the pillows, and
an interesting and attractive piece of fur
nshing was evolved from what had been
rather ssieIFish i'm the room.
The CARPET was QUIET in tone and small of
figure, SO the cretorfrle had good setting,
and white muslin curtains were at the win
dows, and the, subdued gayety of the bed
adornfnents gave a cheerfulnesS which was
exactly what the room had lacked and
homelikeness was diffused at once as the
result. n
The Finishing Touch.
A rocking chair in the room with a tap
estry cover, FLASHED with the new Gre
| tonne, and slip cover of it was made, with
a ruffled valance. which completed the
transformation of the room.
The work was quickly and easily done by
machine the bed coverings being simplicity
itself and the chair cover only trifle more
complcate ted Even IL it had all been much
more troublesome the increased pleasure or
the occupant of tire room would have more
than repaid her for the work and slight ex-
pense, only about S1.25 for all material
used.
MANY times rife in some respects is only
an endurance. when by some such slight
change or renovation at once all is har-
monious and attractive, and well worth
while.
Long outer curtains of the same cretonne
would cost only a few dollars more and
would add greatly to the comfortable and
pretty appearance of room in ones own
| home, but hardly seems necessary In a
boarding house, IL there are curtains pro-
vided of a presentable appearance
Extra Furnishings.
If one needs more table room than is pro-
vided in boarding, by looking about among
the antique or even second hand shops one
may often be found. Just recently pretty
little round bedside or candle stand was
gotten for a dollar and a quarter, which
would be an ornament in any room. IT is
of rosewood, with standard base. the
lines of the similar ones of mahogany, with
three spreading feet,-and is in good enough
condition TO use it is, though the beauty
of the wood could be much better brought
out If il were scraped and polished.
Old Mahogany.
Scraping small pieces of old mahogany or
rosewood is coming to be something of a
Iady-like employment. and is not at all diff
cult. I am told, needing a light, deft touch
and patience.
The tools are easily procurable believe.
and have read of several methods of pro-
cedure none of which sounded difficult or
complicated and most satisfactory results
were foretplds IL directions were followed
as given. a.
The polishing lis, equally easy, according to
| tbs writersoI Ipention. ard it would indeed
be a triurnah, to see pretty bit of furni-
ture in beautiEHl condition and know the
/ nerfectjon OF finish TO be the result of ones