The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-14

There are always mothers who, like
love, can lind the way" 20 do what ought
to be done. And this is a way that one
mother found to furnish n nursery pref
tily and without n large outlay, but with
not a yard OF stuff In IL that could not
go to the laundry as often as necessary.
The first attention was given TO the
walls. 1t 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 wallpa 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 stufs that
make excellent wall coverings, all to be
had for few cents yard IL colored
wall IL desired, soft pink, or bun. or
blue chambray IN the thing. Unbleached
canvas is good; awning canvas and tick
ing are also good. II they have not too
pronounced stripe or too brilliant colors.
A damask In an unbleached linen shade,
with n twilied and a satin stripe alter
mating makes the prettiest kind OF wall
hanging.
In hanging the cloth II Is not advisable
to sew the stripes together. IL Is extreme
ly difficult TO hang the cloth smoothly II IL
Is In a very large piece. Better hang II
one strip at time, tacking II rather close
iy with brass headed tacks. Another way
Is TO bring the two edges together and
tack them with occasional small tacks
TO fasten them In place, then run strip
along the seam to conceal the selvedge.
better effect, though II may prove
somewhat more expensive. Is gained by
covering the strips with a half-inch wood
en- molding, which may be purchased at
any wallpaper shop at about four cents
foot. and painted to match the coloring
Of the cloth.
The decoration OF the wall covering
10 a fascinating task. II you can draw
the designs yourself, you can save the
small cost OF one. and moreover have
something individual. IL you cannot.
have a design made for a strip Of cloth
about eighteen inches deep by three feet
wide. Or IL you prefer, take one Of the
paper panels now 30 much used for
childrens' rooms, and trace OF the de-
sign on thin paper. The stiff outline In
all you need. Then retrace from this on
a heavy paper and with a manicure scis-
sors or a sharp knife cut II out for n
stencil. Be careful not 10 make the open
u
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 II to keep
in place while you work. and trace with
black paint the outline cut In the stencil.
Common house paint, thinned 10 the
proper consistency with turpentine. Is the
best 20 all In the outlines. using small
artists brush. This paint costs about
fifteen cents n can, and when thinned
properly Is trebed In quantity. An even
more artistic effect can be produced with
a wax crayon. Many OF these are war.
ranted TO wash, though 10 Is better 10
make sure by washing small sample
first.
Once the black outlines are on, the rest
Is child's work. Just oil In all the spaces
with fat color, now pink or blue for
chllds frock, now brown or black for
boys trousers. ft Is advisable TO leave
quite a little Of the white ground un-
touched. os for stockings, an occasional
dress, sunbonnets, sailor collars, etc