The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14

Certainly. Miss Smiths pattern Is
the Martha Washington or the rose
design" he answers very glibly and
straIshtway launches into a list OF ar
ticles thai have been ordered. At the
same time he shows a quaint loving
cup, a rare vase or a curious lamp
all on her Hst-and the first thing the
buyer knows or. rather. he don't know.
he is walking out feeling highly pleased
with his choice and all but shaking
hands with himself on account OF the
amount OF ingenuity displayed "She
certainly will not receive another like
that" he says, and OF truth she viii
rot, though he is in no wise responsible
for that fact.
The prettiest mirror, and an mex
pensive one by the way. IS heart
shaped and set in an exquisite frame
OF dull gray silver. A satin finished
heart. miniature Of course. is fashioned
for the monogram and the trinket IS
ready for use. And mirrors have two
advantages to recommend them. They
are not only an ornament but are de-
cIdedly useful as we'll, and they can
be both one and the other at the sans
time and not try very hard either.
Decanters and water bottles comS
under the head Of necessities, though.
to be sure, it is not absolutely essential
to have ones liquors poured from a
rose colored Jar heavily trimmed with
gold or silver. However, the effect Is
good and no one can gainsay the fact
that china makes or mars q dainty
table.
The newest decanters are beautiful.
almost too pretty TO be pressed into
actual service. but at the same time
there certainly is not much pleasure
in possessing things that are too fine
10 be used. China is newer than crys-
tai and the trimming is just about
what one fancies. Not that this now
city comes by the dozens or anything
like that, but because one may order
them and rest assured that they will
be turned out absolutely fit. Great red
and pink roses. with here and there a
few green leaves by way OF additional
cOlOring, are lovely, especially when
they are set on a background OF white
damask and touched up with glints OF
silver and sparkles OF crystal Great
sprawIy crysanthemums IN all the
shades of yellow are effective and the
off shades Of blue in strictly conven-
tional designs are not to be treated
lightly or with scorn.
In this age Of dens ones wedding
list is not complete unless it comprises
a horn smoking set, or at least a horn
writing outfit. The smoking set IS a
beauty and a bit Of furnishing that
hair, hnf hn oI -,
any den. no matter how unique or how
elaborate it's settings may be. There
are two glasses. a tray, a match safe,
a place for pipes and a small alcohol
lamp that burns along steadily and
laughs in it's sleeve at the cigars and
cigarettes that forget TO smoke up
and consequently go out The horn is
twisted in such a fashion that IT forms
a brace for the gold trimmings which
complete the outfit and at the same
time it adds it's touch Of swelldom and
makes the set the smartest OF the
smart.
Unique vases always gladden. the
heart OF any homebody, for nothing
dresses up a room so much as a few
handsome articles. They need not be
gay in tone, exceptional in size or rare
IN ware, DQL dS lOnB d5 luey are BOOQ
|. in design and in color they hl a niche
in their own comforting fashion.
New wares are continually flooding
the markets and each and every one OF
~ them are pretty. but they are not al
&ways serviceable, which Is more to the
&pOint. Even in the best OF regulated
%families accidents are bound to occur
occasionally, and 1t seems such a pity
Xto throw a hundred dollars down and
<fOut Of existence at the same time. Yet
Xthis is just what happens every time
!, ga fragile vase is thrown from It's ped
! %estal Most beautiful ones are fashioned
Xfrom all metals, and the daintiest lg-
,%ures that serve as a trimming make
Xthem little short OF works OF art. Then,
Xtoo. they are not nearly as perishable.
(which is a big item in their favor.
IS OF course. gifts Of every nature
&should be acceptable and should al
&ways please. but 1t is a risky piece OF
: %business to buy a picture or anything
: Bin the furniture line. for what pleases
Zone TO a 7 is regarded by another as
J Xsimply atrocious. But just as long as
Xfads are in style IL viii be safe to buy
Xnovelties. for IL they are not appre-
&ciated from the artistic standpoint they
/, &will be from the stylish end, and, after
%an, what's the odds just as long as
Fthey please?