Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10

tan, having four shelves. are so shaped as
to fit into corners. Indeed, everything to
add to ones comfort has apparently been
provided in the up-to-date furnishing out of
doors
Sewing Carpet Rags-The rag carpet sew
ing bees that were one of the most popular
diversions last summer at the various wat
ering places have commenced again this
season with even renewed vigor. Almost
any morning any one peeping behind the
vne-covered porch Will find bevy of wom-
en- young and old. sewing industriously on
strips of all sorts of textures and eoiors
afterward winding them into large hard
cannon-like balls. Even the children are
pressed into service to keep the ball a-grow-
ing All sorts of materials go into the max
ing of these popular rugs. Deaim, ginghaI,
cretonne, flannel, corduroy. awning cloth
anything and everything The material is
cIt or torn into STRIPS about three-quarters
of an inch wide, then the pieces Tapped and
tackled together. AS soon as several yards
are sewn together the strips are rolled.
When enough balls are prepared they are
sent to the weaver. whose usual price for
weaving is about 30 cents a square yard.
Two pounds of material are required Tor
one square yard of carpeting. So COM
pletely have these rugs of grandmother's
day captured the fancy of the public that
they are seen at all the art stores, along
with mission furniture, rUsh-seated chairs
and old hand-woven counterpanes- NOT
only is this carpetng used in strips for sum-
mer cottages and out-of-door furnishing,
but 1t is largely used for stairs and hall
ways in we'll appointed city houses all the
year round.
Braided Rugs.-Along with the revival of
the old rag-woven rugs comes that of the
braided rug, such as may still be seen in
OLD New England farm houses. In making
these, wooden rags used. listing that
may be procured from the tailor shops be-
ing especially effective These rags may be
sewed hit or miss in continuous bands
OF similar color, as preferred. When three
llr hal He lfar fnr
one black and one hit or miss, the three
strands are braided together to make one
braid, which must be smooth and even.
When number of yards of this braid Is
ready the rug maker threads long stout
needle with carpet thread and begins to
sew the rug into shape, coiling the strand
round and round upon itself like the con-
volutions of snail Sometimes these rugs
a-e made circular and sometimes oval, but
care must be taken that they are sewed so
that they will lie fiat on the floor They
may be as large desired and have a de-
lightful old-timey look when spread in front
of the beds fireplace.
A Bit of Contrast-With every
thing so ''spick and spandy' in the Ameri-
can house after the spring cleaning, 1t Is
interesting to read American woman's
description of the methods prevailing in
French grand danes home. beautiful old
cha teau dating back to the time of Louis
XVI
And the way they wash, or rather don't
wasn't she says. We are eating on the
tablecloth that's been ten days on the ta-
BILE now. True, it is not very dirty, not at
all spotted, only looks dingy, my sheets.
Il have had them on my bed only two
weeks, can't hope for others for at least
a week longer And all the fine wall hang
ings are deep in dust that would wiring your
heart. 1t makes me creepy when / think
of what may or might be behind them, and
if l do stay much longer, think I'll bor-
row a broom and step ladder and sweep
down the walls of my room at least. I'll
show them how to clean house for once.
There's nothing like knowing how to do
thing your very own self"
Over the beautiful grounds and gardens
she wakes enthusiastic. The vegetable gar
den especially she calls love and would
commend its arrangement to all of her
home sisters who have facilities for main
tanning one. "A high wall, she says, pro
tects it on the north and east. Against
this pear trees are trained, while apple trees
are only allowed to reach two feet from
the ground, then are spread out in two
directions and made to grow on a trellis
like vine, parallel to the ground and at
a uniform dstince about two feet above.
Flowers border all the vegetable beds.
There are quantities of Strawberries, goose
berries raspberries, a few currants. We
are having asparagus every day now. There
are artichokes, spinach in quantities, cauli-
flower ad libitum and peas (to be- galore,
as well as beans. Melons are now being
matured under large glass bells.
Boil together until thickened, but no
longer, one-half cup of water, one-Quarter
cake of chocolate and the yolk of one egg.
Flavor with half teaspoonfu Of vanilla,
then cool. Make batter of one cup of
sugar, one-half cup water or milk one and
one-half cups of flour sifted with one even
teaspoonful of baking soda, one-haIf tea
spoonful of soda dissolved in q tiny bit of
boiling water. one-half teaspoonful of
vanilla and the thickened chocolate. Beat
the white of one egg to a stiff froth and
add last. Bake in shallow bread tins or IN
layers with boiled frosting and chopped
nuts and cut in triangles, diamonds or
small squares when cold