Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-08-20
HOMMAKMS COLUMN.
oorrespondsnse on topics Of interest 70 che adie.
IL solicited. Address: Editor H0nlAAxHng
CoLuKH. oxford Democrat. South Paris. Ne
A suburbanlte's Substitute.

A Suburbanlte's Substitute.
In these days when 90 much thought
10 given to the matter Of floral decora-
ton, In the home, We Americans are
copying, more and more, the artistic
ways Of our dainty and fascinating
japanese brethren. The art aot the
arrangement Of flowers In low fat dishes
10 becoming 20 popular % to amount to
Q fad.
Our japanese neighbors have taught
us that the use of some sort OF holder,
placed In the center of the fat dish, Is
indispensable a. Q means whereby the
most natural, % we'll % the most unique,
effects Of flower. arranging can be at
tanned. For instance, how much more
artistic, because natural, the effect of On
iris blossom or two with few OF the
sword like leaves, when stuck into the
small holes of some unobtrusive holder
In the bottom of the low bowl, than
when placed, however gracefully, In the
most beautiful or In the most simple Of
vases, where the flowers and leaves de-
pend upon the sides of the vase itself
for the support necessary. l have seen
even the most ordinary handful Of
grasses so placed, and 80 manipulated
By the deft hand of q gifted Japanese
butler, as to convey the idea of wind
blowing gently across them; and this In
hot, sultry, summer weather, when no
breeze was stirring through the open
windows. l. was refreshing ss simple
center-piece at Q neutrality-suspicious.
dinner table, and was accomplished by
means OF the inexpensive, and almost
invisible, metal holder consisting Of
nothing more than cluster OF holes, as
it were, with, Of course, the artistic
sense and skill Of the Japanese himself.
Upon the occasion Of shopping trip
from my suburban home to the metropo-
lis, one day, had made up my mind to
take back with me Q fower-holder, but
I forgot the flower-holder until was
we'll on tho homeward way.
Nasturtiums were In blossom, and We
bad hosts of them. was arranging
some for the luncheon table the next
day, and trying not to regret the holder
had not thought to buy. had dark
blue bowl, and was trying not to make
Just huddled up mass OF blossoms boil
out over it's edges, when q sudden idea
came to me. I thought I could give
each flower room to show itself In en-.
tirety, ut least. l took piece Of white
typewriter paper and the shears; cut .
circle from the paper exactly the sizs to
slip inside easily; then with a punch, I
began to make holes In the paper, first
folding the paper so that one grip OF the
punch made q number OF holes. Then,
opening my punched circle, I slipped 1t
inside Of the bowl, the water being be-
low the paper, and 1t was an easy matter
to stick the nasturtiums into the holes
of the circle In such . way that, instead
of disorderly mass Of flowers, l had
each blossom standing out by itself with
plenty of elbow.room. When filled, the
paper circle was hidden from sight, and
my guests wondered how had arranged
the blossoms so az to make them stand
out so beautifully.
Encouraged by the success Of my
nasturtium holder, I ventured on an
attempt at d,wer holder for q beauti-
full, low dish, given me for q present
receptly-the dish for which the flower
holder l had forgotten to buy would
nave O6ou tuo worry euiuS. SooA . euioh
piece of cardboard-so thick that the
hand punch would make no Impression
and With hammer and workman's punch,
made holes in the cardboard. Ny strip
was narrow, and when I bad bent each
end down for 1t to stand upon-like q
| toy bench-it was about four and . hall
inches long. A stone In the middle OF
1t kept 1t stationary in the water, and
into the holes stuck my flowers-s few
sprays OF pink snapdragon. Ny card.
board being dark OF color, was incon.
spicuous, and tough, was not soaked to
pieces BY the water during the hours fol
which l wished the special flower.
arrangement. 1t was "a successful %
my paper nasturtium-holder bad been
My admiring guests praised my substi
tute for the real article, but when my
next shopping trip is due, the first item
on the list this time will be the genuine
holder, one of which useful things
think should be in every family.
Whoever cannot get such conven
fence for wer-arranging readily, how
ever. may be glad to profit by my owr
experience. An ingenious mind will be
able to improve upon the home made
device -R w