The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-04

cost only a trine more than the others,
| and for the reason that the amask or
h~uokaback or crash represented has been
blcached by natural processes out OF doors
instead Of by chemicals in a factory. As
to materials the buck towel leads all the
rest. A few old fashioned people cling 10
a damask towel, hut the great majority
demand the buck, some designs OF winch,
by the way, show a damask border all
around the towel, or fancy dafnask figures
such as the fieur de lis, the clover leaf,
the chrysanthemum woven in.
These, however, are not nearly so ornate
as the varieties which introduce fancy
weaves. like birdseye, dice and others less
commonplace. and which. ike the regulation
weave, are either Handsomely embroidered
or have an elaborate border OF drawn work
or of medallions Of old Venetian or other
heavy lace at one end.
In fact the latest vogue in owelss shows
q demand for hand embroidery. Every
day towels even, or some housekeepers
can afford to use every day, show a row
Of embroidery OF irregular design Dack
of the hem ornamenting the plainest hucka-
back. This variety costs from sl2 TO $40
a dozen, according to size and quality,
some kinds bringing as much as $1,000 a
towel.
Huck towels with drawnwork borders
or trimmed with decorative laces cost from
s.. rs to Sl2. so each. On the other hand, a
I4x27 inch old bleach buck Btowel. hem
stitched, sells just now for as little as $3.50
a dozen, the 27x45 inch s,ze or heavy
2Ox4O inch damask towel Of beautiful quality
costs from IS to 81 so a dozen, larger sizes
ranging in price from sl2 to SIS.
1t is in table linen. though. hat the ad-
vance in quality and ornate features is most
noticeable.
THE finest damask money can buy
the merchant declared, lis zone too good
for the New York housekeepers and it has
come to pass that there are now about
500 different designs in damask tabiecloths
from which to%eleot.
we are cutting fewer round tablecloths
than formerly, even though the round table
continues to be fashionable, for the reason
that it is more difficult to launder smoothly
a round than a square tablecloth. All our
high grade cloths are imported square and
we afterward cut them round to order,
the pattern of the damask generally per-
hitting this. And il has been discovered
that dropping corners give a more grace
full effect to the table than does q circular
CLOTH"
or the 500 patterns in damask nov placed
at the disposal of the shopper the leaders
are undoubtedly the Empire, Louis XIV,
Louis XIV. and Louis XVI. and certain con-
ventional and geometrical designs which
suggest the classical.
Flowers are always in demand. but DIS
tinctively floral designs are more popular
in the lower than in the higher priced da-
masks. For instance there were seen a
beautiful Louis XVI. scroll in a damask
cloth almost as lustrous as satin, the scroll
covering a square centre and arranged IN a
fourteen inch wide border; an Empire
wreath design, the wreath ~festoOned grace
fully to form a deep border for a narrow,r
border and a centre of small ovals also
in wreath effect, and an Empire band pat
tern consisting of a succession oil leatlke
scrolls, which are identical only with the
finer grade tablecloths.
These cloths cost from 81 to $50. Napkins
to match cost from IS to SIS a dozen before
the monogram ia added, for which there ls
a charge of from so cents to s. each.
Plain satin damask without any pattern
at all is now much in demand for both
dinner and lunch cloths, this being deco
rated with lace and drawn work designs done
by hand.
AS a 0iide to the shopper who wants
the newest fashions in lace cloths, centre
pieces, tea cloths, doihes, &C., here in brief
era a few points:
sf.possible include a square or two Of
Nslian filet lace in tea tray or dinner cloth.
There may be differences of opinion as to
the beauty Of flet lace, but there is no
question that for the m being IL is one
of the most popular. Filet lace and broderie
anglaise In conjunction are at the top notch
OF style.
Forentine, byzantine, Burano and crepon
laces are also in high favor and less costly
as a general thing than duchess, point de
Venice, point ode Bruges and others. A
CrepOn trimmed Inner cloth, Tor m
ninety inches in diameter, showing elabor-
ate entre-deu1 Of the lace, may be bought
for SIS and a tea cloth Of the same design,
81 by 81 inches for $40.
Byzantine lace is lighter than cluny
and a dinner cloth deeply bordered with
il, a wide insertion trimming the centre,
will cost about 500 IL H~inety-nine inches in
diameter. More profusely trimmed the
price will be from double that sum up
to $500.
Burano is more in demand for centre
pieces and tea cloths than for dinner cloths.
Old Venetian lace il also high in favor for
plate doylies, Gel repieces, tea and luncheon
cloths; and Chinese hand embroidered
grass linen centrepieces are among the
inexpensive novelties, a SO inch diameter
size costing only So so. In these the dragon
design is the favorite.
The handsomer lace dinner and tea
cloths are draped preferably over pure
white silk or satin, and the same il true OF
the lace bedspreads and the lace cover for
the head ron, which on the fashionable
couch takes the place OF pillows during
the day.
The Marie Antoinette lace bed set in one
piece to cover the bed and the bolster roll
too, is undoubtedly the most liked. Its
price is for a double bed from S35 up.
Renaissance and Arabian lace sets, double
size, may be purchased from SIS up.
The Marseilles Counterpart, however
beautiful, has habits day and is no more
in the smart New York household. Its
place has been taken by the counterpane
of smooth satin finished cotton or linen
decorated with a raised or embossed floral
or conventional design, The effect is OF
brocaded sateen.