New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-06
Though One Be Drawn by
T hem, 1t Need Not Be
Into Extravagance.

Now is tho time when the mind Of the
woman who looks forward to spending even
a small part of the summer in her own
country home turns irresistibly to thoughts
of curtains She knows her window cur
tsins will do moro than anything else TO
give the note Of individuality ono always
looks for in the abode, be It Of the humblest
or Of the most pretentious order. which is
intended for use during the season when
humanity escapes TO some extent from the
conventionalities Of life.
There are many inexpensive materials
which can and have been used for window
curtains by women Of original ideas with
surprising success. One practical house
keeper has recently had her large country
house hung in Scent cheesecloth trimmed
with narrow cotton fringe; another is using
cream colored seersucker also finished with
cotton fringe The advantages of the lat
ter material from the laundress' point OF
view are many. since they will never need
to be ironed. Such simple and unattrac-
tive sounding stuff as mbleached muslin
has numerous fascinating possibilities. and
IL is especially suitable for farmhouses,
bungalows and camps. II can be used either
IN color. One made over farmhouse which
was occupied last summer by party OF
college girls had in the rooms of the ground
floor sash curtains OF this muslin. Squares
Of Persian figured calico placed on them at
intervals made them most effective with the
old-fas hioned. small PANIED windows. For
blue dining room or one with the quaint
Dutch doors and windows unbleached mus
lin would be charming trimmed with red
and blue cotton fringe More difficult OF
achievement, but sure TO be stunning, would
Be a border of long stemmed tulips cut from
yellow linen and appliqued across the bot
tom.
Chambray-blue, pink and GREEN'S being
used for bedrooms by one house furnisher
who makes n speciality OF simple cottages.
The curtains arc OF the sash variety and
are hung with brass rings. A seashore
homo which has its downstairs rooms and
spacious verandas furnished with brown
wicker cushioned with tan linen is cur
tained with sail cloth. These unusual dra-
peries are tied back with the most naut-
cal looking rope.
Even for the one who has no inclination
toward anything the least bit freakish
there is endless variety in curtains. Hang
ings OF plain Oriental silks in rich. unfad-
able colors are always good, with soft
white or ecru muslin or scrim under cur
tains while hangings of lowered English
chintz or fine French cretonnes are still
popular for bedroom windows.
A well known firm of interior decorators
is showing a lovely lot Of fine cream colored
scrims, with a crossbar OF color TO match
the decorative note Of the room. Whole
rooms, windows, beds and dressing tables
are hung with these pretty materials.
Flowered lawns, too. are used in this way.
All are pleated, instead Of gathered at the
top. The owner of a Colonial house has
introduced into 81 quaint. old fashioned
curtains OF huted white starched muslin.
These arc TO be held back by oldtime cur
tain rosettes Of heirlooms, Of course.
For room with brown color scheme
the natural colored pongee makes salts
factory curtains. Dark blue is especially
restful TO the eyes so, II one can procure
a material not likely 10 fade, II Is admir-
able for the living or reading room. In
certain summer camp for girls the curtains
noticed last season were very attractive.
They were of dark blue wolfe, with a wide
hemsdtched border,
In the downstairs rooms OF many homes
curtains are to be dispensed with alto
gether. This IS made possible by the ar
rival of 8 novelty In the shape Of window
shades OF glazed. Powered chintz These
fascinating shades will not only do duty for
shutting out the view and glare, but Will
serve as D. decorative feature as well. They
are on sale already for use, or they can
be made to order from any pattern chosen
to match the color scheme OF the house or
room. For Frightening large living room,
with dark wall covering, one might Sc
lect window shades with gorgeous red
birds perched on greensh brown branches
or just large conventionalized red or null
berry flowers with ample foliage, For u
brown room window shades with long
sprays Of the rich yellow golden glow as a
decoration would be successful.
4 fascinating glazed chintz, imported for