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DETROIT, DEC. 24, 1892.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

CHRIST YIAS B ELLS.

 

Dear are the sounds of the Christmas chimes
In the land of the ivied towers.
And they welcome the dearest of festival times;
In this Western world of ours!
Bright on the holly and mistletoe bough
The English firelight falls,
And bright are the wresthed evergreens now
That gladden our own home walls.
And hark ! the first sweet note that tells
The welcome of the Christmas belle.

They are ringing to-night through the Norway
firs,
And across the Swedish fells.
And the Cuban palm tree dreamily stirs
To the sound of those Christmas bells I
They ring where the Indian Ganges rolls
its flood through the rice-fields wide;
They swell the far hymns of the Laps and Poles.
To the praise of the Crucified.
Sweeter than tones of the ocean’s shells,
Mingle the chimes of the Christmas bells.

The years come not back that have circled away
With the past of the Eastern land.
When He plucked the corn on the Sabbath day.
And healed the withered hand ;
But the bells shall join in a joyous chime
For the One who walked the sea,
And ring again for the better time
For the Christ that is to be:
The 11 ring l for the earth’s best promise dwells
In ye. 0 joyous prophet bells.

 

CHRISTMAS.

All the world over people will be keep-
ing Christmas to-morrow. Some where
the snow flies and the bells jingle, and
great fires roar up the chimney, and
holly and mistletoe hang on the walls;
and some ’where soft southern zephyrs
blow through opened windows and rose
wreaths and jasmine breathe their per-
fume, and people lie in hammocks and
lazily fan themselves. How strange
would seem a Christmas without naked
woods and barren fields and nipping
winds. to us of Northern birth!

But why Christmas, and why is the
twenty-fifth of December set apart as the
anniversary of the birth of Christ? So
little heed was taken by the early
Christians that the chronology of per-
sonal events in the history of their great
leader is involved in obscurity. Christ-
mas, Good Friday, Easter, Whit-Sun-
day. are commemorative days indeed,
but not anniversaries in the true sense
of the word. The early Church cele-
brated noue of them. Probably the be-
lievers of those days had their hands
full keeping out of the way of the R0-
man tyrants whose favorite amusement
was to see them torn in pieces by wild

easts in the arena. Pope Telesphorus,
who died A. D. 138, instituted the ob-
servance of Christmas, but it was cele-
brated sometimes in J anuary, and some-
times in April and May. It was not
until the fourth century that Pope J 111.
ius I. appointed the twenty-fifth day of
December as Christmas day, making it
coincide with the paganjeast of Saturn,
or Saturnalia, a time of Wild revelry
and reckless orgies among the Romans.
Hence it is no great wonder that many
of our Christmas Observances are of
heathen origin. and trace their signi-
ficance back to the days of the worship
of the sun, Jupiter and Saturn, and all
the other gods and goddesses of pagan
Rome, and even to the Scandinavian
myths of Oden and Thor. Richard A.
Proctor, the talented young astronomer
whose premature death a few years ago
was so universally regretted, finds in
the story of the Star in the East which
St. Matthew describes as leading the
Magi to the humble cradle of the infant
J esus—the Star of Bethlehem which is
“discovered” every few years and in.
variably proves to be Venus at the times
of her greatest brilliancy,when she may
be seen by daylight—a remnant of the
Observances of sun-worship by an astro-
nomical and astrological priesthood, who
measured days and seasons by the stars.
Each portion of the day was measured
from the dayspring or dawning of one
day to the dawn of the next; and in like
manner each portion of the year marked
by the sun’s approach to or recession
from the equator was determined by
what was called the heliacal rising of a
certain star; that is, its rising at such a
time that it was just visible before the
approach of the sun to the horizon oblit-
erated all fainter lights. Long after
more exact methods of measuring the
sun’s annual movements and determin-
1 ug the seasons had become known, and
after sun-worship was no longer prac-
ticed,astrologers and astronomers clung
to the old Ways. The winter solstice,
when the days grew shorter and the sun
seemed to go further and further away,
was to the ignorant a time of doubt and
anxietygthey feared the genial orb might
never return. And when the priests of
the sun saw the heliacal star rise in the
east, iust before the stars vanished at
sunrise, they knew the apparent reces-
sion of the sun had ceased and that he
l would begin to return. and proclaimed

 

 

I

the joyful news to the people. And Mr.
Proctor traces a allegorical significance

between the story of St. Matthew me

this old custom,whereby the new rising
star came and stood over the place
where the sun god of the new year/that
was to bring light and brightness and
beauty to the world, was born, and the
angels or messenger of the Magi an.
nounced the great event, while the wise
men themselves offered up the myrrh
and frankincense and gold,a11 mystical-
ly consecrated to the worship of the
sun.

Early history, as we have seen, in-
forms us that certain of our Christmas
Observances are of heathen origin. The
question may naturally arise, how came
they eugrafted upon aChristian festival.
There is little doubt that the religion
of the early church, embraced at the.
peril of life and prooerty, fostered an
asceticism and sternness which made it
repellant to the pleasure-loving Romans
who delighted in feasts and revels.
And the heathen Observances were ad.
opted by the leaders of the church ts
strengthen and hold the new converts
to Christianity and to make others, just
as when St. Augustine carried the
gospel into Great Britain some of the
rites and myths of the Druids were
adopted or amalgamated with it. Thus
the Romans decked the temple of Sat‘
urn with evergreen wreaths as we do
our churches,though we have Old Testa-
ment sanction in bringing the box and
the nine to glorify the Lord’s house and
make it beautiful; and in Germany and
Scandinavia the holly’s glossy leaves
and bright berries were similarly used
in their religious decorations. The
mistletoe, a branch of which Norse
mythology made the arrow that, sped
from the bow of the blind Loki, prince
of darkness, killed the fair Bilder, the
god of Light,became at last the property
of Freya, goddess of Love, and so we
hang it over door ways and on the chan-
deliers, and the unwary maid caught
beneath it may be lawfully kissed by
any youth brave enough to venture. In
early times in England, the mistletoe
was a sacred plant in Druidic mysteries;
the first of each year,in long white robes
and armed with golden knives, the
priests marched in solemn procession to
their sacred groves and cut off the plant,
dividing it among the people as a New
Year’s gilt of magic power to keep away

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The Household.

 

evil spirits, and a sprig of it was hung
above the doorway as a shelter for the
rylvan deities. Its waxen white berries.
emblem of puril y, were associated with
the marriage rites of the ancient Bri-
tons, but the mistletoe is never used in
church decorations.

Among the Observances peculiar to
early Christmas was the ceremony of
bringing in the yule Log, long prac-
tised in England. The log was cut and
drawn to the house with great mirth
and jollity; it was kindled from the
brand remaining from the previous
Christmas. In its flames, all grievances
and strifes were burnt out, and good
fellowship and friendship were nurtured
by its genial warmth. The Lord of
Misrule presided over the revels of the
Christmas season and gave his sanction
toall' sorts of pranks and plays; the

last appointment to this office was made

in 16.7. In Scotland. the Abbot of Un-
reason held a similar position until a
disapproving Parliament abolished the
office in 1555, the preachers having had
occasion to complain that quite too
much attention was paid to the frolics
and not enough to the religious part.
Sir Roger de Coverley, as long ago as
1712, kept open house at Christmas, ac-
cording to the Spectator. He made his
small beer double strength, and it was
iree to whoever asked for it; so was
mince pie and roast beef ; and to his ten—
ants he sent spare-ribs and puddings
and playing cards, says the old chronic~
ler, that they might have a “Merry

English Christmas.” In strong contrast ‘

to this is the story we have of the first
Christmas after the Puritans landed at
Plymouth Rock. Governor Bradford
called the members of the little colony
out to work as usual, but many of them,
accustomed to regard the day as one of
recreation, declined the customary
tasks. The stern old governor, in his
contempt for what he styles “the day
called Christmas Day,” led away his
little band. but when he returned at
noon and found the others engaged in
the ungodly games of pitching the bar,
foot-ball, and the like-—games in which
English yeomen delighted—he ordered
the players into their houses and confis-
cated their implements, telling them
there should be “no revelry in the
streets.” Indeed, so determined were
the Pilgrim Fathers to root out every
observance hitherto sacred to the day,
and allow “no mummery” in the new
world they proposed to model after their
own ways, that it was forbidden to eat
mince pie upon “ye day called Christ-
mas,” and, incidentally, it was made a
misdemeanor for a woman to kiss her
child on Sunday!

We are indebted to Germany for our
Christmas tree, which was almost un—
known both in England and the United
States until Prince Albert made it pop-
ular. To Germany also we owe our
Santa Claus, the American version of
Knecht Rupert, whose mission it 18 to
reward the good children and provide

 

whips for the chastisement of the bad.
The origin of the Christmas tree is
traced back to a festival observed for
Perchta, the goddess of Spring, in its
adaptation the evergreen tree becoming
a symbol of eternal spring, thecandles
typifying Christ, the light of the world,
the presents reminding us cf the great
gift of God to man in giving His Son for
our redemption.

Charles Dickens may be said to have
revived the observance of Christmas day
through his descriptions of English
country homes at the holiday season.
“Tiny Tim’s” Christmas dinner was
straightway duplicated in thousands of
homes. But they say the custom is
dying out again, though the throngs of
holiday shoppers and the trains crowd-
ed with people “going home,” all beam-
ing, all bundle-laden, don’t look much
like it. There is perhaps less indiscrim-
minate giving of gifts; the deluge of
Christmas cards has ceased, and one is
not expected to remember relatives un-
to the third and fourth generation and
also a large calling acquaintance. but
Christmas is essentially a family holi-
day, and if we make it a day of reunion
and exchange of remembrances, and re-
member to help brighten the day for"
some one not so favored as we,and make
the children glad, we shall find that
though it is not now as when Scott said

"A Christmas gambwl oft would cheer
A poor man's heart through half the year.“

it is after all a holiday to be anticipated
with delight and recalled with pleasure.

And so, to all the large and interest-
ing HOUSEHOLD family the Editor
wishes a

flirtsg @igsieistss.

A LITTLE LECTURE TO THE YOUNG I
PEOPLE. -

 

 

I am going to write a few lines upon
the need of good-sized looking-glasses
in every home. I have intended to do
this for two or more years; and when I
saw Beatrix’s reference to them in a
letter not very long ago it brought the
thought back with renewed force. Per-
haps what she said covered the whole
subject sufficiently well, but I know
people are so apt to forget if they chance
not to be in the right mood to absorb
and assimilate; so a renewal of the sub—
ject may not be out of order and also
may aid somebody’s memory.

Go where you will, where there are a
number of people together, and notice
the ungraceful attitudes and the dis-
figured forms, all caused simply by not
knowing how we look. Robert Burns
said:

“Oh wad the power some giftie gie us,
To see oursels as others see ns.”|

He forgot that large looking-glasses
would do that in a measure, or he would
have advised their more extensive use.
I do not expect that five people past

 

twenty-five years old will think they
have any time or need for “all this non-

sense,” but if you will keep your eyes
open and your thought on this subject
the next time you go into a company of
any kind or even at church, you
will see what a benefit it would be to
the most of the men and women present
if they w0uld stand up as they should.
Then ask yourself, Do I look that way?
Fearing there will no one else hear you,
and make reply, I will answer now,
Yes; that is just the way you stand and
the way you look to others; if you do not
believe it, just put yourself in front of a
looking-glass that is large enough so
you can see two-thirds of your body at
once, and you will, by turning one side
then the other, form quite a correct
idea of how you look to others.

But the young people are the ones .[
most wish and expect to benefit, for
they are at the age when they most
wish to please others by making them-
selves look as well as they can. The
next time you are out, just observe how
many stand with head and shoulders
bent forward, and the back-bone round-
ed out in the opposite direction and the
lower stomach protruding in an un-
pleasant manner. If you turn the con~
versation upon that subject how many
will tell you they are troubled with a
weak stomach and they can’t help it;
others will tell you they have weak
backs and they cannot stand straight
because it is painful; I say it is nothing
but a confirmed habit; one that any one
can remedy if she will only try perse-
veringly. But if the older ones will not
try to make themselves more agreeable
to look at, they can and should provide
large looking-glasses in their homes so
the young and growing members of the
family can see themselves in their dif-
ferent poses, and have the largest and
best glass where they can step before it
any time. I am sure it will do more
good than acres of written words; only
remind them to use the glass if they ap—
pear too indifferent.

I am often so astonished and, well,not
disgusted but have such a sorry feeling
when I see a young miss or lady dressed
in a dress of nice material and made
more beautiful with lace and ribbons
added, but which seems to accentuate
her bad form; a sunken breast and
stomach; the head. long neck and
shoulders thrust forward,the neck look-
ing so much longer than it would if the
head and shoulders were in their pro-
per positiou. No dress can look pretty
hung on a stick; it is in a large degree
the form the dress rests upon as well as
the fit which gives it its chief beauty
and its “style.” So my dear young
friends, pose before the glass until you
can assume a graceful attitude; then
practice it until it becomes natural and
easy; let no one laugh you out of your
efforts at improving your figure, your
manners or your language.

Because I did not say boys in the be-
ginning I did not mean that they were
excluded from the use of looking-glasses
for the same purpose. There are man

    

 

-—w.w..... , Awm_____‘_,

    
  

     


 

 

 

 

The Household. 8

 

boys and young men who need the same
training.

I have a friend who has (in my esti-
mation) a mind above the average of his
age, but the way he carries himself and
walks is perfectly awful. (Just stop and
consider the meaning of those two words
and try to decipher what they actually
mean.) I mean he is very ungraceful and
he has the habit strongly formed. ‘ ‘Well”
I said to him, “of course you want to
change very much.” He said: “I don’t
want to, but I’ll show you I can change
and not want to.” I laughed and said,
"All right,I’ll not ask any more.” How
long he will try to change without want-
ing to remains to be seen, but I must
say hold yourselves proudly erect; every
one will love and respect you the more.
To the tall young people I say, do not
stoop or crouch down to make yourself
shorter for you cannot know the pos-
sibilities of beauty in tall people or you
would not wish to be short; you can not
imagine how much short people envy
tall people, and truly the most graceful,
elegant ladies,and gentlemen also. that
I know, are above the average height.
30 be proud to carry those few extra
inches, and do not forget to pose before
the looking-glass. Neither you or your
parents need be afraid of its making you
vain. When you begin to study your-
self you will find all the faults that are

necessary to keep you modest.
ALBION. M. E. H.

..——..9————

A CONFIDENTIAL CHAT.

“ Do you suppose I would polish my

husband’s shoes, clean his rubbers,
brush his clothes, lay them out for him,
do everything but put them on for him?
Not much ; if he married me to‘, be his
servant. he will get sadly left ; I do not
believe in humoring a man in this style,
and he will not care two cents more for
you.” .
This subject was brought up by a
small company of young house-wives
who were having a confidential chat
relative to the duties of a wife. The
conversation had about reached its cli-
max when a young wife who had thus
far kept silent, evidently thought it
her time to speak.

“Girls,” she said, “would you think
any less of me should I tell you that I
have done these very things you think
degrading for a wife to do ever since I
have been married? And I believe I
am happier for doing them. My hus-
band is driven with work, and as I have
scarcely anything to do. I take both
pleasure and pride in keeping his ward-

robe in ‘apple-pie’ order; thus you see

the time he would spend in giving a
‘shine’ is devoted to me. His counte-
nance always speaks of his appreciation
of my thoughtfulness, when he hastily
dons his ‘best suit’ and finds everything
in readiness; and oftimes this appre-
ciation is made doubly secure by seal-
ing it with a kiss. You can’t make me
believe our husbands won’t care two

 

cents more for us, for I know better’
they will often care a pound of cream
candies more for us.

“How much better it would be to
have your husband leave with a smile,
while I think I am safe in saying yours
oftimes leaves you with a frown when
he finds things all confusion, and is in
a hurry to go somewhere.”

“Now, Little Nan, let’s here from
you.”

“Well, I believe what A— has said
to be worthy of notice, and it might be
well to practice it a little; but I shall
draw aline when it comes to keeping
all the foot-wear in order. For instance,
my husband, at my request, put up a
shelf in the wood-shed for articles fre-
quently in use. He worked at it about
half an hour and then popped his head
in the door and said, ‘Nan, your shelf is
up !’ Afteralittle I went out to ar-
range things, and lo I he had monopol-
ized that shelf (except a spot large
enough for my clothes-pin basket) for
for his own benefit with a row of boots,
shoes and rubbers its whole length. I
did have to smile, but it did not take
long to hurl them all into a large paper
sack, and stand it in the corner.

“ But as days went by the very same
articles began to accumulate. It seems
he would bring things from his
father’s house just across the road
which had not been brought over
since our marriage. I live in
hopes that there won't be a row
around the kitchen, but some days it
looks like a pretty fair beginning
Whenever a new pair of rubbers are
needed I object seriously as the old ones
are sure to remain (for dry weather),
and only add another number to the
file. Pray what would you do in a case
like this? Would you keep them all
spotless ‘9 I have tried, and husband
would smile audibly {and he was not
the Only one) when he saw them ar-
ranged on a white shelf-paper. I final—
ly became discouraged, and I now only
keep his best Ones shiny."

Have any of the HOUSEHOLD readers a
husband who seems to have a mania for
foot wear ? If so, What do you do with
him (or rather the article in question)?

I will be one to answer Theopolus (in
HOUSEHOLD of Dec. 10) by saying I be
lieve it to be a husband’s business, these
cold winter mornings, to build the
fires, should it come natural for him
to do so; if not, let the wife do it. I
always build the fires, for this reason:
The wood-shed is littered with shav-
ings and kindlings, the ashes usually
66%} the hearth and many times the
floor, and from three to six parlor
matches are used to light the fire ; now,
I think I save both labor, money and
patience in performing this task myself,
and husband says it comes so perfectly
natural for me, so I am endeavoring to
cultivate this special talent, though
sometimes it needs a little kerosene to

produce a flame.

MT. CLEMENS. LITTLE NAN .

 

RECEIVED.

“A Child of the Precinct,” by Sarah
D0udney,is a story for‘young girls,pleas-
antly enough told, not more improbable
in its incidents than thousands of its
kin, yet after all a contribution to a
class of characterless literature of which
we already have too much. But at least
if it does no great good It can do no
harm, and is more healthy in tone than
much of the reading matter which this
era of cheap books puts in the way of
our girls. Young readers will enjoy it,
and we must have “milk for babies.”
Cloth covers, $1.50. A. D. G. Randolph,
New York City ; Hunt at Eaton,
Detroit.

 

“The Las' Dav,” by Imogen Clark, is
the pretty, pathetic, simply told story
of how “Dave Tucker" and his wife
“Marthy” drifted apart through those
little misunderstandings which grow
into unbearable differences in the end
and separate two once truly wedded,and
finally came together and “made up” on
“the las’ day,” when they meant to
separate forever, the barriers of pride
broken down by the shadowy wraith of
the dead Babe. There are many who
might see the sorrow of their own lives
written in this simple little tale, affect-
ing through its very simplicity; and,
perhaps, learn a lesson from “Dave
and Marthy.” Cloth : sixty cents.
Hunt& Eaton. 189 Woodward Ave,
Detroit.

“Our Elder Brother,“ by Sarah S.
Baker, is described in its sub-title,
“Thoughts for every Sunday in the
year,from the Life and Words of Jesus of
Nazareth.” The moral reflections group-
ed in essays under the above heading
are well-written; there is a sermon for
every Sunday, void of theological con-
troversy. Bits of the texts describing
the incidents in the life of Christ are
chosen,about which to weave something
comforting and interesting to his fol-
lowers. Cloth, $l.50. Hunt stEaton,

Detroit.
'3

 

THE New OUTFIT FOR Blunt—The
new outfit for “the baldheaded tyrant
01 No—Man’s Land” consists first of a
garment like a long-sleeved nightdress,
of silk flannel, of which a yard costing
$1 will make two. The next is a skirt
of Lonsdale muslin with low waist ‘and
sleeveless, then the dress, made in the
usual style, a long skirt gathered to a
little yoke. All these garments open
in the back. When used, the three are
slipped together, one over the other,
then all over the baby’s head, the flabby
little arms are poked into the comfort-
able sleeves, the little fellow laid on his
face a moment while the clothes are
fastened, and “there you are,” quick,
easy, not tiring either child or nurse.
The flannel band once indispensable is
worn but for three or four weeks.

 


 

4

    

The Household.

 

 

WINTER CARE OF POULTRY.

It is dangerous to give your address
in the HOUSEHOLD as I can prove by
the number of letters that have come to
me from readers of that excellent little
paper who are interested in “ Poultry
for Profit,” and chanced to read my let-
ter on the subject in the HOUSEHOLD
of December 3rd. I have answered by
letter all who sent stamps for replv, but
some did not, and as all asked about the
same questions, if the Editor will grant
me room I will try to tell those inter-
ested how to care for their flocks so as
to have eggs in winter.

To begin with, you must make the
hen-house warm enough so the hens
will be comfortable; have good clean
straw for nests, and plenty of chaff to
keep the hens at work. Give warm
food in the morning. I give mine
small potatoes boiled and thickened
with bran, with a teaspoonful of cay-
enne pepper added for every fifty hens.
Boiled turnips, beets, beans and peas
mixed with bran are also good for a
change. Give warm milk, either sweet
or sour, also warm water. Milk in the
morning, and water twice or better still
three times a day. Green food such as
cabbage, carrots, turnips, apples,with a
little wheat or buckwheat scattered in
the chaff will keep the hens lively
through the day. For supper give them
hot corn; this can be heated in an old
nan in the oven ; stir occasionally;
when it can be held tightly in the hand
without burning, it is ]USB right. Hens
should have their supper as early as
four o’clock in winter. Do not keep
food before the hens continually; give
them only what they will eat up clean
each time. If you have or can get fresh
meat give it to them; if not, plenty of
milk will largely replace it. Keep the
hens sheltered 0n damp and rainy days,
and let them out for exercise in dry
weather. Variety in food is neces-
sary.

The most profitable egg-producers
are early hatched spring chickens
which begin to lay in the fall. Hens a
year or two old make more reliable set-
ters and mothers ; keep a few old hens
for this reason. A few hens well cared
for are more profitable than a large
number neglected.

An old pan With a flat stone or a brick
in the bottom, to keep the hens from
tipping it over, makes a good drinking
dish. A few spoonfuls of kerosene oil
in the water in damp weather will pre-
vent roup. Never put soft food 0n the
ground ; use a pan or trough.

A load of sand and gravel three or
four times a year will improve the
places around the drinking vessels,
and the walk through the yard to the
house. Hens should also have sharp
cutting material, such as broken china,
fiint and earthen ware.

To those wishing a poultry paper I
would say that there are so many good
ones it is hard for me to say which

 

 

would suit you best. It is a poor paper
that we cannot learn something from.
I am glad to see so many interested
in the care of poultry. It is a pleasant
and profitable employment for farmers’
wives and daughters, and one that gives
them healthy exercise in the open
air. “ 89. ’7

 

HOME-MADE GIF’I—‘S.

 

The following article, prepared for
last week’s HOUSEHOLD, was accidental-
ly overlooked. Though late, we give it
place, because the time of giving gifts
is not confined to Christmas.

Beautiful veil cases are made of cellu-
loid, two long narrow pieces tied toge-
ther with narrow ribbons and decorated
with sprays of sweet peas or wild roses
painted in natural hues. A lovely one
made by an artistic young lady was de-
corated by a floating figure wrapped in
a misty veil and circlei by a crescent. In
the folds of the veil which floated from
the figure, was lettered. “Filmy veils
for thy fair face.” All the girls. said it
was “just too sweet for anything.”

You may make a twine work basket,
ora scrap-basket. or a basket for almost
any purpose, in this fashion: Select a
dish, bowl, granite kettle, anything
whose bottom and sides will give you
the form you desire. Of fine twine or
coarse cotton yarn crochet a cover,
shaping it to fit your model. Crochet
in close stitch, such as is used for table
mats. When you have made it the size
you desire. make a row of open work
through which to run a ribbon, ',by put-
ting the thread over the hook three or
four times, working ofi’. the stitches and
missing three stitches in the solid work;
finish with a scalloped edge. Dip the
work in very thick starch, draw it over
the dish and when thoroughly drv,
varnish it. Or use glue instead of
starch. which makes it stiffer. Run a
ribbon through the open work space,”
line with silk of the same color, and
you have a pretty and serviceable
basket

The 0. J. erwmr gives these direc~
tions for making a portfolio:

“Cut two pieces of pasteboard 10 by 12
inches and two of factory 12 by 21 inches.
Paste the factory on the pasteboard,
one piece on each side,1eaving the extra
inch of cloth in the middle that the port-
folio may fold over. For inside out a
piece of green cambric, red calico, or
whatever may be preferred about 12 by
20 inches. Cut pasteboard 9 by 10 inches
and cover one side with this. letting the
extra project on one side and the ends
and turning over on the other side.
Paste fancy paper or cloth on the other
side of this pasteboard and on the right
inside of the portfolio, make a two-inch
fold, such as one finds in pocket-books,
of the extra cloth at the ends. and put
the fold between the cover and extra
pasteboard; lap the other two inches at
each end over on the right side and
paste down firmly. Sew or paste the
extending cloth along the middle of
portfolio; this gives a large pocket for
paper. Cut lining for other side 12 by
15 inches. Stitch two pockets on this
lining with bright colored silks. made

 

six-inches deep,five inches wide,with an
inch fold at each side. to hold envelopes
and postals. Place two narrow pockets at
one end for pencil and penholder. Hem
this pocket along the upper edge with
bright silk, and stitch the loweredge
to the lining. Above these pockets
stitch a shallow one for stamps. Now
paste this lining on the inside of the
other cover, lapping the ends and upper
side over on the outside, and pasting
them down. For the outside, velvet,
plush, silk or leather paper may be
used, cutting it large enough to lap a
little on the inside. Make a band of
elastic to hold it together.”

Blue denim, which now comes in soft,
pliable weaves, is suitable for book-case
curtains, says Homer’s Bazwr. A novel
and expeditious way of decorating it is
to cut leaves or geometric forms from
velvet or plush and apply as a border or
an all over design. Paste them on, and
when dry buttonhole round them.
Dark red velvet goes well with the blue
of the denim, and the figures may be
outlined with gold thread if preferred.
Portieres of the denim, made double or
lined, are very pretty as well as inex-
pensive made in this way. Or curtains.
may be made of the heavy French rep
cretonnes, elaborating tnem by out-
lining the fiowers and leaves by button-v
holing round them with silk. But these
cretonnes are at the outset so hand-
some that the additional labor is really
a work of supererogation. A chamois
handkerchief case is something
even a man can appreciate, because it
is not so dainty he is afraid to touch it.
Line a strip of chamois fifteen inches
long and nine inches wide with pale
blue or Nile green China silk.placing a
layer of sheet wadding sprinkled with
sachet powder between the two. Dec-
orate the outside by painting a spray
of flowers and “handkerchiefs” in fancy
letters, or the word alone in gold paint.
Or you may embroider the design.

A pincushion which is an ornament
to any dressing bureau is made in this
fashion: Prepare a square form and
fill it solidly with bran. When you
have put in every bit you can, put in
some more. Measure the cushion
around (over the top andlunder the bot-
tom, not from corner to corner), cut a
square of Cnina silk with the sides of
the length found by measuring the
cushion. Place the cushion square on
the silk, bring the middle of each side
of the silk to the middle of the top of the
cushion, drawing tight to make it
smooth; fasten it. Then, leaving the
corners loose, smooth and draw the silk
up towards the top of the cushion, so
that it fits perfectly; tack it smooth
about the bottom of the corners. Then
take the four corners and bring them to
the middle or close to the middle, and
spread them into a pretty puff on each
corner. Buy one of the embroidered
squares which come for the purpose, or
make a sheer linen doily and place on
cornerwise, letting the corners of the
doily come at the sides of the cushion,
and the corner puff of the cushion at the
sides of the daily.