THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2706, 10 January 1910, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT FURNISHING.

To give as much floor space as possible is the latest, idea in furnishings, and, with a view in that direction, the newest flitting-} for bed or reception rooms are so designed that there should he an open space in the centre of the apartment. In a description recently given of a bedroom arranged on the newest lines as much of the walls as possible were used as cupboard accommodation, and the mantelpieces wore so fitted with tiny folding tables that they fell out at a touch when needed for morning tea or for the other thousand-and-one uses small stands can v be put to. Rooms are no longer crowded with bric-a-brac, and wall brackets (except for express use) are “out,” and not a single "occasional” table is to bo seen. What are known as “nests” of tables—that is, each fitted to the other—are brought out at tea-time, hut, when not in service. are put out of sight. Everything tends towards the simplicity which nowadays—paradoxial as it sounds —is the cult of the luxurious. i

Furnishing fallacies die hard, especially the one that persists in regarding anything dingy or dull as “serviceable” and “suitable'’ for houses where economy has to reign. As a matter of fact, in such houses brightness and freshness are the qualities to work for, because much of that is only make-shift or entirely lacking can be condoned and even pardoned when the general appear, since is attractive. But there are certain temptations that assail the economical furnisher, and these ought to be sternly resisted. To begin with, selfcolored carpets show spots and fading far more than patterned ones, and the beauty of light-colored cretonne covers and brise-bise or short curtains, with pleated flouncings, is apt to depart with their first visit to the laundry. On the other hand, the so-called “serviceable” things are just os much out of place in the -would-be dainty home as these unpractical items. Because a whitegrounded cretonne is inadvisable, there is no need to choose a bold red, or blue, or brown one, with an imitation tapestry pattern, nor need one, after turning reluctantly away from the selfcolored Axininster carpet, go to the. other extreme and choose a ehopped-up pattern of many hues. Then, in the matter of paint for wood work, many people have the dullest ideas. They choose lifeless greens or heavy terra cottas, and so on, without realising that ugliness is dear at any price. After all white paint does not make much extra work. Naturally it has to he dusted, but so has all colored woodwork, and cream or white enamel paint goes a long way to brightening a dull room. Certainly it does not fade or change color. Cretonne covers need not be rejected as long as the back-ground is considered carefully, and some with dull green, smoky blue, or soft biscuit shades show up the gay pnnting just as well as white or cream. Besides, there is the recommendation that such colors wear excellently.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. In working an oblong eyelet, if the work is done first and around a. drawing, and cut when finished rather than before working, tlie result will be much more satisfactory. Place clothes in two piles when ironing to avoid assorting them later. Those which need mending may be put in one lot, and those which are whole in another. While ironing it is easy to notice a torn place or where a button is missing. ... An emergency purse kept in a'shop-ping-bag, containing pins of various sizes, safety-pins, court plaster, stamps, string, rubber bands, a pencil and pen: knife, will be found invaluable on many, occasions. An easy way to fill preserve-jars is to use a gravy-boat. The handle makes it easv to dip into the boiling kettle of fruit, and the long neck fits into either quart or pint jars and prevents any spilling of the iuico. An old-fashioned rule for. testing jelly, to see if it has cooked sufficiently. is to try it with a spoon. If it runs off the spoon in one straight stream it has not cooked long enough; but if it runs off in two drops, side by side, it may safely be taken off the fire.