Evening star., 1905-11-11
Brought DownFrom Obscurity
and Used Once More.
AGAIN BEAU TIF q L
EFFECTS CAME, THOUGH, AFTER
HARD WORK.
Two Bright Young Women Found New
ht Way to Clean Old
rA~
Mahogany.
Written for The Star.


day-flled with commonplace modern FUR
niture, comfortable. but with nothing that
= appeals to an artistic taste and UP in the
attic of the same house We're all sorts OF
delightful bits of furniture, but all in a
state of "innocuous deseutude'' on account
OF shabbiness.
There was a high mahogany secretary
with book case above the desk part; there
was a table also of the same wood. win
quite elaborate base but shining marole
top to spoil 1t. And there was pretty
sewing table with Empire base, two
drawers and two drop leaves at the side.
For years this had occupied an ignoble po-
sition in a bath hall and had been used 10
hold bird cage when It's little occupant
was having his bath. large armed rock
ing chair there was also, besides several
small ones of Empire design.
-tf For years these had been discarded and
tnondescripts used intheir stead. An inspira-
ton day seized the younger members
of the family and 1t was decided to re-
habilitate the old mahogany and bring II
from its obscurity into prominent posi-
. tion in the household once more
To do meant that the wood must De
treated so that it's beauties would be
brought out. And that, as a person with
even small experience knows. means much
expense If reliable cabinetmaker is en-
ployed.
- Thought and Action.
After some suggestive reading, accidental
ly stumbled upon and little practical ad-
vice from a friend the two young women
decided TO undertake the work, and the
result delighted themselves and astonshed
the more conservative members of the fam
lily by it's success.
q 1t was a revelation to them how compare
lively easy the task was when they began
in earnest to work. There was the big attic
in the first place, where was plenty of room
and no clearing up necessary until all was
completed
Instead too, of laboriousIy scraping ali
the surface, to get off the scratched and
shabby finish, one of the modern varnlsh
removers was used and easily and quickly
the wood was ready for its new treatment.
First raw linseed oil was rubbed in Well,
and then the article was allowed to stand
three days before 1t was touched, after
which a hard oil finish was applied and al
lowed to dry.
Real Work Now.
Next came the rubbing with pumice stone
and water or rotten stone and linseed oil.
the latter being chosen as giving a richer
tone to the mahogany, and with this final
step the fine old pieces came to their own
and were fit once more for polite society.
An ingenious invention or adaptation of
one of the girls dealt with the usual
condition of old furniture; bits of veneer
are invariably lacking and must be supplied
before anything like perfection or complete
ness is attained.
To do this in technical way is impossible
e to amateur, but a substitute was thought
of and sfully applied.
A crack filler made from -four was used
e to fill these little spaces until they were
ssof an even surface with the rest. After
~ this a mahogany varnish was used and the
insertions could not be detected from the
real wood adjoining them.
The marble top to the table was not liked
at all so it was discarded. a round wooden
top put on. and with it pretty spread was
d. used.
The floor. which had been entirely covered
with carpet. was unfinished and as
rug was to be used instead, a brown paint
i, was applied after filling the cracks
Chairs and Pictures.
q The old chairs were recovered with
harmonious fabric, All the former pictures
were discarded. and fine old engravings col
: lected from various parts OF the house
hung in their places, a green paper making
:. an excellent background for them.
=. For ornaments were some lovely old cut
glass lamps with small wicks and no Chin
neys. also found in the attic, and foruse
g as well as ornament. four very handsome
tall silver candlesticks, two pairs. one very
heavily decorated with the old-time favor
fte grapevine pattern.
,7 Once more the shelves OF the secretary
were filled with books, partly concealed by
the delicate lines of wood forming a pat
tern like loaded glass.
- 7IEe room, when completed, was charming
as well as comfortable. and a fine tribute
g to the discrimination and taste of the young
people who had seen the possibilities in the
p contents of the old attic.
= Simplified Greatly.
" When to scrape mahogany was deemed
necessary to it's refnishing it seemed a task
indeed. but now that this is 50 simplified by
modern inventions and processes, il means
that many home might be beautfied by
unskilled fingers If the will and a little
q perseverance are present
Even If mahogany Is lacking there will
often be old pieces of furniture about a
house that If put in good order might by
the shape be pleasing additions to the lv-
Ing rooms.
IN the memory of man. been used for moth
ing, but holding unused garments-hannels
In summer and muslins in winter-but on
day II occurred to the mistress of the house
that II might be made decorative as we'll
as useful
1t was painted red originally but years
and usage had marred and worn 1t: now
II was taken in hand and painted soft
sage green. Two old ladder ba cked slat-
seated chairs We're treated likewise and in
a wide corridor they are placed. the chairs
each side of the chest formal 1rea tment
which relieves the long stretch of hall and
gives quaint charm TO that portion of it
aaa A Shirt Waist Box.
{ from obscurity is a little old trunk. hand
tanade by a youth more than sixty years ago
with long black hinges reaching nearly
across the top. complicated lock to
fasten it. and the wood stained lightly with
black, just enough to bring out the decided
grain
1t has never been changed and the origi-
nal lining of newspapers is intact.
IS Now. however, covetous eyes have beer
cast upon it, and the hinges are to be re.
backed, a fresh lowered chintz lining is L
- be put in. little more stain applied to the
wood, and decidedly effective and move
shirt waist box is to be the outcome-sh shirt
waist box so called, but which, standing ir
q bed room filled with old-fashloned furni-
ture may be put TO any ole of several uses
and be pleasing thing to look upon al
nSsell
sA" Tried to Bribe Him.
From the Kansas City Independent
The first box of cigars l ever received