Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
1u7sim thu Windows @Nhdlnma39q uf7 Stores.

has proven correct, and il is because
never attempt any such effect unless l
have seen 1t in a sunrise or somewhere
in nature. More than once / have taken
a bright scarlet and insistent purple and
evolved them into a sort of French color
scheme of hat and gown that made wom-
en- gasp with surprised delight. l could
dare because. on a water trip, those
identical shades had splashed across the
sky at daybreak. I always rise early
when on a boat and watch, if the weather
is clear. for the magnificent lessons in
blending that it is impossible to see on
land
During the past autumn this young
man went into the woodS-with the two
boys already newfoundland selected
numerous wagon loads of old stumps.
These were brought to the store sub
sequently, and the trio wore out many
whisk brooms and much patience clean
ing them of superfuous dirt. Then they
were cut and filed until the grain show
ed and on to this were put quantities of
real gold paint The result was most I'M
common and pleasing. All about the
windows were placed these novel bits of
decorative art, and everybody who saw
them paused to admire and comment-and
that is what the window decorator strives
to obtain.
Il
At Christmas these same windows were
OHc may COlI d "OTu-
with cedars. Somehow they looked SUI
perior to the usual cedars. They were.
Three months and half of evening
work were represented in their manu-
facture, for each needle had been tied on.
So much for the simple effects. This
dresser has also used the most costly ac-
cessories for his achievements. Notable
among these was $3.50 curtain that
supplied just the desired note of elegance
necessary for correctly displaying a SUI
perb collection of gowns and hats and
wraps and costly incidentals meant to
tempt milady into purchasing.
The next window dresser interviewed
began as a boy, learned the routine end
of his art, which is all of it that can be
taught, proved he possessed the talent
that comes from within and-''by close
application and constant attention to bust
ness as the commercial circulars read
passed on to where he had windows put
into his charge; then more windows, and
finally to where he now is, in command
of store that is said to have more win
dow space than any other in town. He
also disclaimed any training other than
that obtained by watching the methods of
the man who was head window dresser
when he Started as a juvenile.
1T takes only few weeks to deter
mine whether a boy can be fitted for such
a position" he explained. Some Of them
have all the ambition imaginables and
do their best, but If they lack an eye Tor
color-and l mean a correct eye for color
it is useless. Draping is a difficult prop
osition, too. Handling bolts Of materials
gracefully-in a way to drape a window
without giving an impression of riot and
confusion or rigid stiffness-may seem
easy, but 1t is difficult job. A boy is
told to stand and watch He Is asked for
the various things the decorator needs
and becomes used to knowing just what
will be required for a certain sort Of win
dow.
Some people think he dresses a sec
ton at a time until he learns. But the
result would never please an artistic Gus
belief that every Shopper who looks into
chosen scheme Of decoration and will be
offended by clumsy budding together of
objects which have no reason for being
near each other. That Is my chief aim
in window dressng-never to get too
much into a window 1t Is very easy to
make that mistake. 1t only confuses the
mind until a person. having looked in.
turns away with only vague memory or
it all.
ct is impossible for any one to lay
down a system for his helpers to fol-
low" he continued. Each one must
figure it out for himself AS well try
to tell an artist how to paint picture!
And not the least Of my trials Is en-
deavoring to train boys for window
dressers who just think they would
lilo 81 and have not the slightest tall