Year: 1879

Women like to make pretty things.
They have kind of birthright to this,
as inalienablc rs their right to life, liber-
ty and the pursuit of Il career; and now
that women are coming to take hold of
household design, we shall have rooms
that mean something. It's not the cost,
but the taste that determines the results
A room may be made just as artistically
beautiful for 5000 as for 1900. The
same shades, designs and general har-
monies of effect can be observed, and
the room be as attractive as if in richer
material.


In papers now the Eastlake patterns
have the preference, as their somewhat
somber effect makes a rich, dark back
ground that throws out pictures well.
The dado is only suitable for dining
rooms and halls, and both this and the
border should repeat the colors of the
hangings in deeper shades. For draw
ing-rooms and library the ornamental
ton should always be at the top of the
room. The fringe should emphasize
the color and designs of the paper, and
richer elegance is added by velvet
edges of the prevailing tint of the room,
under which are the gilt rods for picture
hanging. One looks naturally at frieze
and ceiling, but an Introduction of color
or form on that part of the walls partly
concealed by furniture, makes a want of
harmony and fatigues the eye.


The carpet is prettiest chosen about
two-thirds the size of the room, leaving
the space to be completed by border
that repeats in deeper shades the colors
of the center. No glare of color Is taste
full. The most elegant carpets are in
the moss shades, as a ground of rich
brown with sprays of fern and here and
there a scarlet autumn leaf; or for a IL
brary there Is shown ground of moss
green with sprays of golden red and a
tint of cardinal here and there.


In hangings, for those who can not
afford to bar out Heavens sunlight at
rate of $3.50 per window in draperies of
silk and iute and Machrame lace, there
are other ways. The material is of lit
tie moment, the form is every thing.
Choose n plain color always, as figures
on drapery are, to say the least, fatigu-
ing. Any soft, all wool goods, that falls
in graceful lines, of color harmonious
with the general tone of the room, viii
give u tasteful effect in curtains. Let
them move freely by means of rings on a
rod at the cOrnice, as this will afford
means for good light on pictures. The
old fashion of fastening curtains at the
top and parting them in the middle Is rs
obsolete as the lost arts.


The Machrame lace is very pretty
when some solid color, as scarlet, old
gold or blue, is placed under the head
ing of the lace, especially on mantel:
and brackets. 4 'half-veiled glow o-
color is thus introduced. A lovely table
can be made of one of these little dol


ar tables by covering the top with :
piece of Kensington work, with Mach
rame lace over a heading of intens,
color around the edge.


Table-linen is now embroidered, bu
not elaborately. The ends only of tn,
table-cloth should be ornamented, a
any work in the center is quite out o
place when china, silver and crysta
ware are placed over it. Napkins ma,
have border all around, with some de
sign or with initials in the corners
AIonograms are obsolete Ctncip1lat
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