South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-06

Such a variety OF pretty lhingS as
the hostess had, out on her work
table, Always a busy-lOOking place
IL seemed unusually so that day and
her dainty handiwork had an espe-
cially festive air. on one corner lay
a small square. shallow box. gold ap-
parently, set with turqUoises and
bits Of pink coral AT a distance, IL
resembIed somewhat those attractive
bibelots one finds In Italy-Florence
particularly. Upon closer inspection
however. il was none Of those but
what was it.? That puzzled the visi-
ter. Then she picked up a slender
vase, In soft shades OF dull green,
branching out like a Gala lily at the
top. 1t looked like glass, but was it,
And there was "a cunning fat little
one, apparently made Of some sort Of
smooth pottery, in a most exquisite
shade Of purple, shading almost into
lavender at the top.
The caller sat down; before she
looked at another thing. she wanted
10 know the secret Of il. Her hostess
had no kiln. that she vas sure Of,
and there were no evidences Of her
dabbling in pottery or china painting
or enameling; her treasures did not
fall into any Of those divisions. But
what were they.
Did YOU ever try making anything
out Of sealing wax asked the word
er. as she took out tiny glass lamp
and lighted the wick. 40, the other
had not She knew children made
sealing wax heads for hatpins, and
that they were sometimes pretty. but
that was al. Surely. these lovely
things were not made OF sealing
wax? Bat they were, and the max
er OF them launched forth into eager
explanations.
Il began by making hat pins and
beads" she announced. and 1 found
il was possible 70 make beautiful
ones. with the many colOred vari-
elies OF sealing wax which one may
buy. / soon found, however, that al
though the necessary tools were few
| must have those few. / used TO
have a great deal of trouble getting
a respectable looking seal on my let
ters; the wax would get smoky and
streaked with black. Then L bought
this little alcohol lamp. With this
flame, 1 can melt up the wax with
out disfiguring il in any way. Just
watch, and I viii make a monogram
with my letter seal, on top of this
little p6steboard box"
The artist took a stick Of gold col
ored wax and held il TO the flame
until enough of the wax haC drip
ued upon the box below for her TO
impress the seal upon il. The result
was as clear and neat as one could
ask. The visitor resolved to equip
her desk with just such a little
glass lamp as that.
Now I am going TO show you
something ever SO much more inter-
ssting," the hostess continued. Here
is a china vase. which 1 cannot bear
TO look at in its present state. As
you see, it is cheap and exceeding
~ poor imitation of Copenhagen
pottery: the shape is good, but that
IS all that one can say in approba-
uon Of it. However, just watch
what happens 10 it,"
Selecting a stick OF deep orange
IN fact a sort OF burnt orange. wax
she held it in the flame. letting it
"Trip over the lower part Of the UNI
popular vase. which she revolved
slowly i'm the other hand Then she
.ook up a stick of a lighter shade
# the same coler and continued
with that Around the neck, she
Used "a still lighter orange, or yell
low All this wax Of course. as IL
hardened was in rough Jumps and
he different shades were put on
with apparent carelessness. so that
here was no effect OF stripes about
he vase. Then. laying aside the
sticks OF wax the lamp was held
over the vase. so that the wax be-
come liquid again and smOothed it.
self neatly over the surface of the
china The different shades melted
into each other and the effect was
most amazing. The ugly drabs had
disappeared and there stood a
graceful jar Of flaming orange. just
the right sort of a bit OF brightness
to tighten some dim corner. IL was
indeed a transformation
Next the pasteboard box. with the
monogram in gilt wax on the top,
was taken up. First more gold was
melted and dripped over the cover
around the lettering; then. here and
there. scattered over IL apparently
az random. were little drops of bright
colored wax. emerald green. purple.
Chinese pink. deep blue and dark,
dark crimson. A skillful prod here
and there. with "a crochet hook. help
ed shape them into the sem blance
OF tiney jewels. and an equally skill
ful application of heat from the little
lamp smoothed their surfaces. with
out permitting them 20 ooze out over