LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS. HOW TO MAKE A HOME COMFORTABLE. CHAPTER XII. SENTIMENT

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

HOW TO MAKE A HOME COMFORTABLE.

CHAPTER XII.

SENTIMENT

Fourteen months had elapsed since the master of Deeping' Hurst was laid in his grave; and one bright, sunshiny morning Lady Jthysworth took her book and called to the nurse to bring little Kathleen to her favourite nook under a noble cedar. The Squire very often came over to see his daughter and to smoke his cigar under the cedar boughs, while Dolores read the news paper to him and his little grand-daughter played at his knees; but on that morniug it was Lola de Ferras who had ridden ovep*. She had not slept well, she sakl, and fancied that the air of Deeping- Hurst would do her good.

On this fair morning Lola had looked more thoughtful and watched Dolores with more keenness than usual.

'How beautiful the shade of this old "cedar is,' she said. 'Your ornamental trees are twice as large as ours, just as everything here is twice as beautifnl as in any other place. You will be sorry to leave it?'

'Yes,' answered Dolores. 'And from all that 1 can hear, I have not much longer to remain. Lord Ehysworth is expected home at the end of "this year.' 'I wonder,' said Lola, 'how- yoii can mention the man's name. Were I in your place I could not.'

'Why not?' asked Dolores, smiling. She was growing more accustomed to Lola's flights of fancy. 'Think of all he will take from you Dolores!'

'It never was mine, and it is by right his own. Why should that annoy me?'

'I know it would anger me.' rejoined Lola. 'I should do one of two things—either hate him or marry him.'

'It is not easy to marry a man,' said Dolores.

The words were simple enough, and had no particular meaning, but Lola's face flushed crimson as she heard them. She knew it was not easy to marry whom she would. She changed the subject.

You are still very young, Dolores.' 'I am but too cognisant of the fact; why do you remind, me of it?'

'Because, if v the new Lord Rhysworth should marry, you will be the Dowager Lady Rhysworth. I call that nothing short of a calamity.' "It. would not disturb me; besides he may aiot marry, 1 returned Dolores' 'Rely upon it that he will. I am quite sure that Lady Fielden intends him for her eldest, daughter—she speaks of him in such tones of approbation.' *

'It would be an exceller.t match' said Lady Rhysworth. M should like him to marry some nice girl from the neighbourhood. It would be the best thing he could do.'

"Would you not feel jealous of another Lady Rhysworth? I should' 'Xo. I should feel terribly jealous if any one could 'take even one thought of mine from my baby but of Deeping Hurst I could'neve/ be envious.'

(To be Continued.)

Minister: 'I hope that you fully appreciate the fact that when you arts married it is for. life, and that" the obligations you assume are most solemn ?'

Bride: (Yes, we know all about it for I ye been married three times before and him twice, and we know- the ropes pretty well by this time. Go ahead.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

This pretty model has been helpful to many mothers. This frock isi gatu ered, or pleated, into a well flttin; 'saddle' or yoke, as shown in the: illustration. There is little or no fittinfc required in the making-, except just on the top of the shoulders; therefore it will be seen how extremely simple is the pattern. The sleeves here shown are in bishop shape, but COUICI be made the leg-of-mutton shape, or

a sleeve with a pretty puff at the top, if desired. This overall can be made of any of the new-coloured linens, of white pique, duck or drill, or any of the pretty sprigged or striped cambrics, or again, of muslin, soft.silk, or of such thick materials as serge, if occasion demands. The pattern is suitable for girls of any age from three to fifteen years.

My second sketch, shows the very latest mode of cutting- a, fashionable dress skirt. The apron, or close-fit-ting1 upper part, is finished with a piping- of the same or of a different material, and below the new and becoming- flounce is set on fairly full, and arranged considerably hig-her at the back of the skirt than in the front. If a lig-ht colour is used for fashioning a skirt of this kind, a pretty fashion is that of making- the piping- which joins the plain and the full parts to-g-ether, of a contrasting- colour, such as a black piping- on a grey frock,

or a. brightly coloui*ed piping' on a black skirt. Skirts of this kind are inwardly lined throughout, and further trimming- of narrow braid, ribbon, or even silk passementerie may be added either round the plain apron front, or, if prefei*red, all the Way round the flounce. Such trirnniing, "however, should be kept as near the foot hem as possible, and graduated bands will be found to lock very much smarter than if each row of trimming' were the same width. Bright red foulards are very fashionable, and on© figured in black is trimmed with ecru lace and yoke of black velvet ribbon. A mauve and white foulard had rows of black Chantilly insertion, givingl a princess effect, as they come from the back to the edge of the skirt. The one sketch-

Ed is composed of figured red and black foulard for the lower part of the bodice, and th e upper part of the skirt, and the sleeves. The chemisette and shoulders are of red silk under black lace, the flounces round the skirt being of the same. A nar< •ow fold of black velvet unites the wo materials, and a wider band of civet, with red silk sash ends, forma lie belt. The whole is extremely effective.

EOSELLE. /

RENOVATING- FURNITURE.

Before, the winter comes on, just about the annual 'autumn cleaning,'

how often We find that Some of our

furniture wants renovating-. Now, to have this done at an upholsterer's is often a very expensive matter, but with a few hints I think you will find

that you can do it quite well yourself.

I dare say many of you have two or three large wicker lounging chairs which have cushioned seats and backs, and the coverings of these have become much faded by the summer sun. Let me tell you how to cover these so as to make them look like new. Takes out the cushions and undo the buttons which catch the buttons down. Cretonne is the best to cover with, and I should advise you to get a cretonne in a neutral tint, or some dark colour. Lay your cushions on the cretonne and cut out the cover about six inches bigger aIL round than the cushion. ■Then cove* all the buttons by cutting out with rounds of cretonne, running a cotton all round, lay the button face downwards on the round, and draw, the cotton up tightly and fasten oft" securely. Then run a piece of strong, fine string through the back of each button, measuring about 4in in length. Next sew the covers on your cushions, pulling them farily tight, and sewing securely. When the covers are on the next thing (and the most tiresome) is to put the buttons on. Get a packing needle, put one end of tha string to which the button is attached* through the eye of the needle, thett run it through the cushion in the same! • place where a. button was before. Then draw your needie out and thread ifl to the other end of the string and. pull it through the cushion. Unthread' your needle and tie the two ends of \ the string very tightly together. Pull the string till the cotton is imbedded in the cushion. Do all the buttons tha same.

Those buttons which are round the edg«s of the cushion, should have larger pieces of string1 to them, be* cause they must be passed, through the wicker of the chair to fasten the cushions in their places. If yovt wans your chair to look quite like new^ before you put back your cushions, well, dust the wicker and put on a coat of varnish.

If your 'dining-room furniture i 3 shabby, you can easily re-cover it yourself. I did a whole suite a little time ag"°) and covered it with art serge. I cut the serg-e the same shapa as the seats of the chairs, and with

small furniture n^Us nailed it on, and

then made all neat with g-imp. "' Bamboo furniture can be made like new by well rubbfrrgi*with linseed oil ?.; and turpentine mixed.

If your carpets are shabby and dull looki scatter them with salt and leave it for a night. When it is brushed off the colours will have come up wonderfully.