New-York tribune., 1912-02-25

One hundred or two hundred years old or
more are the various Chinese embrOiderles
that are being picked up by the venture
some women who have stayed In China
through these last parlous times, some Of
them through necessity and the others
through bravado and the love OF advent
ure that makes all spolls seem sweeter.
Among the pieces so bought for song are
the skirts worn by Nautch girls in which
blue and black is the predominating effect.
with a little white and touch OF gold.
These, when ripped apart. make fascinat-
ing furniture coverings or wall panels
Mandarin coats quaint and gorgeous fam
ily crests, sashes, scarfs and priests vest
ments are one and ali eagerly bought, and,
strangely enough are being quite freely
offered for sale, and will greatly help along
the craze for Chinese hangnss and wall
coverings
Such q timc will never come again in
China. the collectors feel. as this IS the
FIRST break in that wonderful barrier be-
tween the civilization OF the ancents arc
modern civilization. and the true value Oh
their old and wonderful possessions has not
been realized by those 10 whom these
things have always belonged.
Women that live on their country places
the year round save for a month in town in
the depth of winter, say that the few weeks
after the holidays Is the crucial period be-
low stairs and determines whether the SER
wants Will stay out the season. 1t is never
question OF jest one departure. IL the
migratory fever takes any one II takes the
whole flock. The servants are very happy,
contented and Industrious, the country
housewives have found. as long as there is
round OF gayety In which their mstresses
HVal each other in the elaborateness of
their entertainments and dress. From
house 10 house the story of each party
goes. and the way in which ours" out
shone the one under discussion Is pointed
out with great enthusiasm. AS wealthy
neighbors move into town, however, or de-
part for warmer climes. this source of ex-
element is eliminated. and there is time for
reflection below stairs. Then some one re-
calls that all the months of the winter ex-
cept February have thirty days that are
bound 10 be cold that soon the paths TO
the kitchen doors Of the houses still open
will be snowbound and that the worst
storms are likely TO occur on nights out,
lust ono dscOntented soul will st9rt the
IN rolling. and with scarcely any warn
hnS the nous ~ left serva0tless.
IT'S bet'"r have a name nobody can
SPELL sa.d ne woman who had such
one. than a name that belongs 10 halt
dozen families in the same neighbor-
hood II is not only that mail. telephones
and express packages go to the wrong
house, but there always comes a fatal day
when the dinners for both houses go 10
one. and it's sure TO be the day when the
other is having company. Even that mis-
fortune is as nothing, however, compareu
to the recent dilemma OF Mrs. Smith
II don't care II they do get my peer
steaks, she told me dolefully. but ara"
the line at my made-to-order corsets golhs
there when | am waiting for them WIN
my dressmaker in the house. Her waist
IL four times the size OF mine, but she III,
sisted they were hers and that she couio
not try them on until night
My own chief trouble conciuaeo 'l'