New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-06
DOOMED TO DARK
BY FASHIONS LAW.
HEAVY CURTAINS SHUT
OUT LIGHT.
Use and abuse of Windo5o Ora
perieS = NeighbOrs Shocked
When None Are Hang.

BY NJ. w Mount
Curtains have served an infinite variety of
purposes ever since the earliest ages. Shielded
by their beniicent folds people have INDUCED
their curiosity, made love. plotted treason,
escaped death and committed murder
No one dispute the useful properties of
the curtain. whether it he made of skins to
shelter hunters from the north winds or of
plated planta:n leaves to protect savages from
tropic rains
In ordinary life the curtain fills many Of
fees. II furnishes a decorative note TO room,
supplies a certain required color shade of
color, modifies heightens the effect of OBJ
jects TO which # forms background excludes
subdues light, conceals unloveliness. pre-
vents the entrance Of chill airs from without
and acts as a harmonious link TO connect diff
ferent parts of a residence. Medical men af
firm that curtains collect and disseminate dust
and microbes. and housekeepers insist that cur
tains catch dust which would otherwise pene-
trate to every part Of house. and that these
draperies may be removed and clea&ed fire.
quently.
II is the American housewife who haunts the
red rag-in this case a curtain-nost energet-
scaIly in the face of the man Of science. She
often hangs at her windows fewer than seven
thicknesses Of materials and is deferred from
putting up more only by the absence Of some
thing from which to suspend them.
It Is said that the old fashion OF building case
1nents with shutters is responsible for an Amer
ican fad for giving shutter treatment to win
dows by covering them with what is termed a
glass curtain, invariably Of lace, but sometimes
of silk and lace which extends only TO the sill
Inside that hang full lace curtains. and over
these the usual heavy drapertes which form
part of the decorative scheme of the room
and which are considered Indispensable TO
well clothed window. When these draperies hall
hide a deep embrasure costly fitted with seats
what place they form for coQuetry or it may
be- even more interesting episodes Of sent1-
mental character
INSIDE DRAPERIES.
This American treatment OF a easement
usually includes window shade as well as the
curtains. and. as the heavy hangings consist Of
from three TO four layers Of materials no fewer
than six or seven thicknesses Of various fabrics
often cover the window. If shutter and glass
too are considered this number would be in
creased TO nine.
The architecture Of rooms and of window
easements suggests the kinds Of lace and ORA
peries required for at the windows. for these
are planned upon the scheme Of the wall deco
rations SO exacting are American demands TOT
curtain motifs of certain kinds that in Europe
lacoTnaklIg
country are engaged in making point de Ffan-
dres. point de venise, Cluny and Arabian motifs
One family Will make only kind of motif
and SO on while the decorations will be as
sembIed in curtain form elsewhere The Amer
tear trade is more rapidly supplied by this
method Of specialization Heavy inside dra-
peries are now lined with satin. finely finished
sateens Or silk made especially for this purpose
in place Of the rep which was formerly so much
used. An interlining OF double faced Canton
flannel IS inserted not only to insure q good
set and effective folds in the curtain, but to
make it wear we'll Such interlining more
than doubles the life Of curtain.
There is general tendency to exclude light
in the draping Of window hangings. for lace is
usually disposed so as merely 10 afford frothy
touch to an otherwise heavy arrangement Many
persons who like to have light filter through
something more opaque than lace a heavy
quality Of silk for this purpose. In libraries
we follow British custom and easement
cloth, a sort Of English serge. which is Of
woollen texture, withstands the better and
is not so rough as silk Where big window
Is TO be covered and it is necessary to exclude
the light two thicknesses of double faced cot
ton flannel are employed as interlining for fine
classes Of hangings. For such a window a
lambreouin across the top is more effective than
overdraperies and the same treatment is often
most suggestive OF style when is dealing
with English and Flemish rooms, although lam
breQuins and overdraperies frequently COM
bined TO make a very elaborate and rich dec
Grafton The latter style Of finish to a case
nent belongs TO the period Of Louis XIV, while
the former distinctive Of that of Louis XVI.
Harmonious completeness is often added by the
use Of continuances with lambrequins which
carry out both the decorative and color scheme
down the lintels Of doors.
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