Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20

There are always mothers. who, Ike
love-. can find the way" to do what ought
to be done And this Is a way that one
mother found to furnish a nursery pret-
tily and without a large outlay, but with
not yard of stuff in 1t that could not
go to the laundry as often as necessary.
The first attention was given to the
wallis II was imagined that when pic
ture papers were produced, the question
of nursery walls was answered. But the
doctors declared this paper was Injurious
on account OF the large quantity of ar
senic used In the colors, and that the pa
per poisoned the air of the nursery. So
the wallpaper was entirely done away
WITH and the unbleached muslin hung In
Its place.
This muslin makes perhaps the cheap
est covering of any, but there are great
number of washable cotton stuffs that
make excellent wall coverings, all to be
had for Il few cents u yard. III coored
wall is desired, a soft pink. or buff, or
blue chambray is the thing Unbieached
canvas is good; awning canvas and tick
ing are also good. II they have not too
pronounced a stripe or too brilliant colors.
A damask In an unbleached linen shade,
with twilled and satin stripe alter
mating makes the prettiest kind of wall
hanging.
In hanging the cloth 1t Is not advisable
to sew the stripes together. 1t is extreme
ly difficult to hang the cloth smoothly II 1t
Is In a very large piece Better hang It
one strip at time, tacking 1t rather close
ly with brass headed tacks. Another way
is to bring the two edges together and
tack them with occasional small tacks
to fastcn them in place. then run strip
nj ha N COppaal the SalVp1Ra
A better effect, though 1t may prove
somewhat more expensive, is gained by
covering the strips with half-inch wood
en- moldlng, which may be purchased at
any wallpaper shop at about four cents a
foot, aud painted to match the coloring
of the cloth.
The decoration of the wall covering
is fascinating task. II you can draw
the designs yourself, you can save the
small cost of one, and moreover have
something Individual. If you cannot.
have a design made for a strip of cloth
about eighteen inches deep by three feet
wide.N Or II you prefer. take one Of the
paper panels now 90 much used for
childrens' rooms and trace of the de-
sign on thin paper. The stiff outline is
all you need. Then retrace from this on
a heavy paper and with manicure scis-
sors or sharp knife cut 1t out for
stencil. be cAfeIul nOt To ulhhe tuc Opcu-
ing more than a scant eighth Of an
inch, SO that no more than the outline
of the figures is transferred.
No matter what material was used for
the main part of the wall. the unbleached
muslin is the best for the border. Lay
the stencil In the strip, pinning 1t to keep
in place while you work. and trace with
black paint the outline cut in the stencil
Common house paint thinned to the
proper consistency with turpentine, is the
best to ALI in the outlines, using small
artists brush. This paint costs about
fifteen cents a can, and when thinned
properly is trebled In quantity. An even
more artistic effect can be produced with
a wax crayon. Many Of these are war
ranted to wash, though 1t is better 10
make sure By washing a small sample
frst
Once the black outlines are on. the rest
Is child's work. Just I'LL In all the spaces
with fiat color, now pink or blue for a
child's frock. now brown or black for a
boys trousers 1t is advisable to leave
quite little OF the white ground un-
touched, as for stockings, an occasional
dress. sunbonnets. sailor collars, etc.