The Washington times., 1906-04-08
WOMEN DESPERATE
ART IN HOUSEHOLD
Fancy Decorative Tastes
Have Bad Influence.
CHOICE OF JEWElRY WORSE
Lady Somerse. Says Dogs and Birds
in Diamonds Show Lack of
Imagination.
CHOICE OF JEWELRY WORSE
By LADY HENRY SOMERSET.

artisH on being asked what was wo-
mans influence on art, replied that she
had none. and on being pressed TO define
he answered that women artists had
only learned from men. and had never
influenced men in their turn.
Woman has nodded the taste OF her
day for the domestic arts. such as metal
work. pottery. the textile fabrics, deco
rations. have all been Influenced by her
taste, and, therefore. il is futile to say
that woman has no influence on art. The
question is. Has it been a good in
fiuence?
In our day il has not No one can
20 into the average home and see the
hesped I'D bric-a-brac. useless orna-
ments. the detestable hangings and bows.
draperies. cushions. and the inappro-
pirate use of things such as church
vestments for screens and foot stools
without realizing that. unfortunately.
woman has not Yet learned the secret
and beauty of simplicity
Again, in the matter of jewelry. what
can be more atrocious than the idea of
having every conceivable animal set in
diamonds. su';h as pigs and horses, birds
and flies? The want of a sense OF fit
ness shown b. this personal adornment
is really lamentable. / remember see
inz woman with a diamond fox and a
whole pack of hounds pinned around the
edge OF her evening gown, and Il always
seemed to me that lack of imagination
could go no farther.
One Of the most eminent decorators
and architects of our time has implored
women TO consider their rooms as their
backgrounds. and certainly nothing
could be more disturbing and hideous
than the mass Of photographs, screens.
china. and bric-a-brac which is the de-
light OF the feminine heart. II is be-
cause woman has had an artistic in
hnence that she has a responsibility
which she cannot and dare not shirk
Queen Condemns Feathers.
The Queen OF England has realized
this She has condemned the wearing
or the osprey plume. For some time an
agitation has been set on foot to pre
serve these beautiful birds. and to pre-
vent the horrible cruelty which is per-
petrated for the sake of robbing them
OF that exquisite feather which only
adorns the bird at breeding time. MANY
OF the rarest and most beautiful birds
viii soon cease to exist. Florida has aI-
herons, and in Mincing Lane. at the
last feather sale, 527 packets of OSPREY
feathers were sold, and S,50S bird of
paradise skins
A league has been formed here bv
which a certain number of women.
headed by well known names such as
the Duchess OF Portland. the Duchess
OF Somerset and the Marchioness Of
lpppd2ip hrx- r,Ta
wear no other feathers save those or
birds killed for food and the pIunnaeA
OF the ostrich The efforts of these la
dies have had, however but very lin
tied success. and they appealed to
Queen Alexandra to use her great in
huence IN the matter The following
letter was received at the annual meet
ing last week, and read TO the assem-
bly,:
The Queen desires me 10 saw in an
swer to your letter. that she gives you
as president, full permission to use her
name in any way you think best to con-
duee to the protection of birds. You
know well how kind and humane the
Queen is TO all living creatures and T
am desired to add that her majesty
never wears osprey feathers herself.
and VIII certainly do all in her power 10
discourage the cruelty practiced on
these beautiful birds.
Lady Servants Beauty.
The lady servant is having an unpleas-
ant time. First Of all, the etiquette as IA
how she is to be addressed has caused
much heartburning and controversy II
Is usual in England for mistresses IN
address their servants BY their sur-
name without a prefix, custom. and
now that ladies have taken the Office of
domestic servants (some are the daueb-
ters of officers. others of cIergynen.
and are often on a social equoIity with
their mistresses), it is painful TO them
TO be addressed in this way.
The Arachne Club has been opened i'm
order 10 settle such nice points among
those who are thus domestically en-
ployed- One decision from which they
are immovable is that they will not dc
rough work. They draw the line at pol
ishing boots or securing the doorstep,
bat the feminine mind is ever ready to
Jealously guard its charms and the
Aracflne Club has been discussing how
woman can do the ordinary domestic
work and yet maintain her beauty. save
her complexion from the scorching heat
VI thf hitNith aiAts lltI ildlI from INT
dust which arises when she sweeps anC
her hands from the rough work which
she may be called 10 undertake
The lady servant is advised 10 occup,
an hour over her toilet every night. anC
the following schedule has been giver
TO her as TO the necessary process IN
order to protect her charms:
Deep breathing to free the
lungs OF dust. > minutes
Hair brushing and hair
brush washing ---..--.-..... L. minutes
Manicure ......-....-......... ) minute.
Face massage ....-.-........ 10 minute:
Physical culture for the
household stoop ..-.--..-.-. 10 minute.
Reading Plato CDR. Reich's
edltlon( ---------------.-...... 70 minute,
We can only hope that the advent o
the gentleman chauffeur may be hasten
ed. in order that so much pains ma,
not be wasted
Parsons Discuss .Theater.
An animated discussion has been 60
ing on in the press as to the advisa