The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-05-14
PORTlERES UP TO DATE.
The "Passing of the Portiere" IL Only
From Inappropriate Use.

From Inappropriate Use.
There are rumors of the passing of
the pOrtiere. In fact, in many homes
ency on the part of people of artistic
tastes coupled with financial ability,
to gradual diSuse Of the much abused
pOrtiere. Wishing to know the truth OF
this from the standpoint of trade, in
tervieweu a leading decorator and re-
ceived a most emphatic and decided
reflltal Of such rumurs.
Wide arclWays cannot he effectively
treated without curtains. Whether
these shall he 81 arranged as to fullntSs
that they can be drawn and completely
close the aperture or simply line Of
dralelE i'll graceful folds drawn to
either side AMI serving merely to snfte:,
the ,-iI outlines of the door frame Of
arch depends upon individual tastes
and necessities.
The abuse of the pOrtiere consists in
its awkward and unnecessary use over
doors instead Of in arches or uOorWays
where doors have l'een removed and in
Wv
small room. tl,y>; imparting stuffinesS
rather than c,z:lr'ss. Badly chosen ma
terial, too, MAJ; he considered as an
abuse, for. whereas the p)rtiere should
lend elegance. in the case of inappro-
pirate fabrics it simply adds tawdri-
ness.
New Goods.
4 S0nlavhot now ~. A. ~ nxtro,OpIv
handsome and suitable for use with
plain walls. is the foliage tapestry
which lends itself to most color
schemes, coming. as it does. IN every
shade to which every variety Of foliage
is subject. from the first tender shoot
Of the apple OF willow to the hoar AMI
yellow leaf Of autumn. While not re-
versihie. the wrong side is of such 4
weave that n lining is necessary if the
adjoining room j. not in tones which
make it Impossible on this account.
Silk veIours L''!::S Il first place Where
richness and elegance are required.
Combined with quiet, tasteful. but not
costly furniture. it is not unsuitable III
the cottage home if plainly hemmed
and not adorned with applique of any
sort. Both this and the tapestry spoken
Of above are simply finished by having
the sclvage removed. and the cut edge
slightly rolled and Lemmed by hand
Tie richest treatment of this materia;
is straplike OF foliage effect of leath-
er or cloth appliQued.
Descending many grades in price.
there are plain reps and armureS and
brOcales of cOttons, either mercerizeu
or not. which sell from 81 to s. per
yard, and jute, plain and printed
which may We e!::Ac:!islled by /. h,co;!
down the front and across the bottom
Of tai estry which comes for the pur-
pose.
When. however, it comes to the mini
mum Of cost there is absolutely moth
ing so welt worth while as denim or
canvas. I;urlap has an undesirable
stiffness since the mission of the por-
there is to soften, although as to tone
and coloring it is often effective.
Colonial cottons, an inexpensive ma
terial, double width. come in small. |
two toned. scarcely discernible checks.
How to Hang Portieres.
The question is often asked, "Shal.
| bang my portiere with rings or by
throwing over the poles:''
If doorW2ys are low. not more than
six feet six inches or seven feet. sew
them to rings.
If the archway is high awkward!y |
SO, and you do not wish to lower it
with the also overworked grill"
throw the curtain over the pole ana |
let it break the long straight line on
the side of the most important room
by fall of two or more feet.
Curtains made from a number Of |
whole skins roughly laced together.
with slashed edges. are very handsome
for dens or smoking or billiard rooms.
Modern Priscilla.