New-York tribune., 1912-04-30
NOT AS THEY ONCE WERE
CretonneS Have Become Soft,
PIiabIe and Artistic.

Cretonnes are not as they once were
with a coarse, stiff background and monde
script flowers in gaudy colors stamped
blatantly thereon. Now. they have be-
come soft. pliable fabric. the ground
work in delicate neutral tints over which
are splashed all the coors OF sunset ana
dawn.
There are cretonnes with birds and but
terfies, and for the nursery q whole me-
nagerie of beasts and queer quadrupeds,
with an array OF cunning Kate Greenaway
children that make one forget to be dis
gruntled with the world. The English
glazed cretonne. with its solid, massive
flowers. gnarled brown boughs and gor-
geous tropical birds that seem poised for
flight. is suggestive OF faraway forests
and use In huge rooms with massive furnit-
ure There are still other English designs
with hawthorn effects which suggest the
typical country cottage OF our English
cousins, with old-fashioned flower beds In
geometrcal designs behind the sweet
scented hedges.
French cretonne represents whole faml-
lies resting out under the trees OF Fontaine-
bleau. There are bits OF pastoral scenery
and broad expanses that certainly suggest
Fontainebleau. The French cretonne Is ex-
uuisite in both coloring and texture ana
owing to its lack of undue dressing II
drapes beautifully.
Japan contributes some fanciful Oriental
effects. One shows Jet black background
which throws into bsss-relief strange how-
ers Of Cherry Blossom Land. These are IN
vivid reds and yellows. yes. and even pnr-
pies while little Kiku San, and Mufne can
are seated in jinrinkishss, splendid In thelr
wonderful iris and chrysanthemum XII
monos Another design is or weird Dragons
shouting fire, with here and there hsuro
strangely like a sunburst. These are espe-
cially good for the den and smoking room'
though they can be used quite as effective
" for a more feminine sanctum.
As vet the domestice cretonnes do not
equal the imported ones. The latter are
not only more decorative than the former
but they wear and keep their color better.
For the summer home cretonne may De
used in many ways to change ana freshen
a room For curtains the double iaceu
material Is often chosen, but II IL II
thought that this will exclude too much air
white scrtm with q deep hem of cretonne'
caught back with a rosette or band OF tiie
same. may be substituted.
AS a bed covering cretonne has many au-
vantaees over the white spread ut sea-
son when the vigilance OF the housekeeper
,s relaxed. as is likely to be the case III
summer. 1t shows no soil and 1t wears IKE
iron. and It also relieves the plainness OF
an unpretentious rural bedroom The COW
ertne may either take the form or n
straight breadth OF cretonne, to De ao-
tusted each time It is put on. or IT may
be ftted with a box pleated or shirred
founce.
Linen combines charmingly with cretohne
for cushion covers, as the cream tint or the
latter brings out the pastel shades OF the
cretonne flowers One way to use the hheh
Is Of feather stitch narrow strips OF IL 10
wider strips Of cretonne. or vice versa ana
hands Of plain color may be used IN the
same way.
Table covers that 1T over the top OF
tahIe ars more satisfactory than the sort
that can be blown on when doors anu
windows are open. These have DON
frin around the edge. which is really not
:, ,r,u q, all but a fitted extension. A pain