The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-20
MABEpS CHITCHAT
Artistic Possibilities of the lap
anese Blue and White Towel.
AN UNUSUAL COUNTERPART.

A Popular NovsIist's Characterization
Of Man Who Always Made Himself
a Nuisance by Persistently Trying to
Be Funny.
Dear Elsa-Don't you just love the
little blue and white towels that come
from the mikado's land? And the
fascinating things that can be made
with them? Why, whole volume
could be written about their posi-
bilities.
The majority Of us know the little
blue and white towels of the japanese
peasant only as bit Of two toned
decoration. One there is, clever
woman, here in this town, who has
discovered several rather unusual uses
to which they can be put.
She works up into her schemes the
towels that are thirteen inches wide
and decorated with bamboo and chrys-
anthemum designs that are about a
yard long.
The first thing this clever woman
made was an awfully good looking
workbag. One towel was long enough
for both sides. The design fortunately
was one that was not ruined by being
cut In half As the cotton was sleaZy
she lined the bag with thin muslin.
Two pieces of cotton served as draw
strings, and few points Of anatolian
lace, or fringe made a charming finish
across the bottom.
This bag was such success that
TO do up her room in blue and white
using nothing but the japanese towels
for furnishings. The bureau and table
scarfs We're made OF them, Joined to-
gether with fagoting stitch. and both
were trimmed about the edges with the
anatolian lace.
: The counterpart, made of white mus
lin and cut long enough TO cover the
bolster. was bordered with toweling,
and extremely pretty 1t was. this blue
and white spread. The short window
curtains were trimmed across the bot
tom with bands OF japanese toweling
The couch cushions were all covered
with t0weling in as great variety OF
designs as possible or course the rug
was blue and white, and the wall paper
matched.
Another experiment was made that
turned out equally as well as the Jap
anese room treatment. A perfectly
plain white frock was bought. II was
made OF the rough material that looks
as II you had cut up your bath sheet to
save expense. The skirt was faced on
the right side with border OF towel
ing, belt and sash were made of the
same fabric, and part OF the blue de
sign was ingeniously worked into the
collar and cuffs. 1t was a stunning
frock and one quite worth while keep
ing In mind as a suggestion for next
summers wardrobe.
/ reckon. Elsa. we have all suffered
from the righteousness OF the would
be funny man. and the other day l
read a perfectly lovely description OF
his like in story by Mary Stewart
Cutting Here are few specimens
OF his wit that l am sure you will
enjoy:
"Mr. Brentwood was well born, well
educated and successful In affairs. He
had in the eyes OF his family only one
fault-he had masculine sense of hui
NOR of n homely rural type. at which
his family WINGED uncontrollably. Mrs.
Brentwood. even from the earliest days
OF her marriage. had been wont to i'm
plore her Theodore when they were
expecting company not TO be funny
Certain jokes or mannerisms OF his
at table were Of daily occurrence. He
always said. People come for miles
around TO hear us drink SOUP He jovi
ally inquired II he might borrow the
butter or II Ellen, the waitress, could
spare him another piece OF bread He
made puns on the vegetables, and he had
habit of looking with sudden suspi-
cion at any dish handed to him, no mat
ter how familiar, and asking disgust
eddy, What is this anyway Strangers
always inspired him particularly TO
their entertainment. Certain ancient
anecdotes could be endured by his wife
with a certain calm, but there was a
bathtub story (Mr. Brentwood had In
his early boyhood migrated with his
parents to what was then the edge Of
the prairie) beginning mendaciously.
You know, we never took baths when
was boy that, though il was anus
Ing, nearly went beyond the pale OF re
flnement If people laughed at his sto-
ries Mr.. Brentwood became almost I'M
trammeled.
Another common table remark by
Mr. Brentwood was that he never had
any use for potato salad because cold
potatoes reminded him Of cold feet IL
was also his habit TO admonish people
TO eat slowly and distinctly"
Haven't you suffered from the effects
OF Mr. Brentwood's wit? IL has been
the fate OF yours devotedly,
MABEL.