The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-01
Fashion Letter
Written for The
Topeka State Journal
BY
NIARGARET ROHE
MARGARET RoHE

New York, Nov. This is NOV
ing tale. Not the narrowing or the
cinema variety but simply an echo of
October 1. Goodness knows the crash
of my shattered furniture and mirrors
was enough to leave an echo
1t was the old cabinet maker whom
1 called in to give first aid to the
wreckage, who gave me the facts
Apropos of my battered household
treasures with vivid and minute detail
he described the ageing rooms In the
antique furniture factories that every
well regulated metropolis cherishes in
its bosom. 1t seems that the toftures
inflicted on perfectly new squai four
posters, solid substantial secretaries
and stately highboys in these fell
chambers are equal almost to the hor-
rors of the Inquisition. Burly work
men maui and buffet them Huge
iron chains are dragged across their
! immaculate surfaces end last and
crowning injury, they are shot full of
'-wormholes" with birdshot.
Just think of hiring men for such
job when the movers revel in doing it
for the mere joy of the thing. When
these professional wreckers Il am re-
ferring now to the antique factory
hands, not the movers) get thru with
a brand new shiny piece of perfectly
good Grand Rapids furniture. even an
! expert would swear G. Washington
his 81 varieties of headquarters.
j Now just think of the possibilities
open to you! Women's magazines and
Sunday papers tell you how to make
dressing tables out of packing boxes,
work tables out of cheese boxes and
portieres out of old tin cans But
here's a prize household hint exposing
| to you how you may age your own
antique furniture right in the family
flat.
Almost every well regulated Ameri-
can family has two three willing
| little workers right at the home and
fireside. OF course you may have in
! tended to make a premiere danseuse
out of little Dorothea and a second
/ Mischa Elman out of Percival Harold.
Still it We're much better to, let them
| follow their true and natural inst .incts
/ and develop into star performers in
, the ageing room of some antique fur
nitdre factory and in their embryo
stage let them prepare for their voca-
| tional future by turning them loose
doing piece work on the family stuff.
You will be amazed what satisfac-
| tory results will be obtained in a re-
n1arlably short time. Visiting friends
viewing the battle SCARED fronts of
i what a short space agone was a 1919
suite from McBeerys department
store will murmur ecstatically, Where
| ever did you pick up such wonder
full old pieces, my dear?" I'm sure if
it wasn't for the child labor laws an
| tique furniture makers would hire
nothing but ordinary boys among
their high boys and their low boys in
| the ageing rooms.
Just outside of New York the other
day was an auction sale of a defunct
maiden aunt whose Nattics disgorged
wonderful old handwoven linen sheets
quilts, rare china, Paisley shawls
spinning wheels, fourposters, fiddle
backed chairs and all the wonderful
antiques that make modern matron's
mouth water.-~Follzs flocked for mile:
around to the sale and great were the
returns therefrom.
Alas sales like this are getting rarel
and rarer. Real antique pieces are
/, | becoming fewer and fewer. Still tht
demand increases in direct ratio with
, the diminishing supply. Hence the
, antique factories are booming and
| their prices with them. If you are
wise you will act Immediately upor
the timely little household hint have
given you.
The only main essential is Have
you a little furniture ager in youl
| home ~