DRAPERIES FOR THE BED.

Western Star, Issue 1244, 21 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRAPERIES FOR THE BED.

Bed; draperies have lately become fashionable.t The fashion is a pretty one, and in the struggle for prettiness the healthfulness of it is lost sight of. To be sure,?: the bed draperies of the present day are very little like the bed curtains of our grandmothers. Still, everything that serves as a harbour for dust and is suggestive of stuffiness is undesirable in; a bedroom. They are generally of light material —those of delicately coloured,' soft India silk are the daintiest—and are nothing more than a 1 canopy extending no further forward than ‘the pillows. That they add to the appearance of the bed and its surroundings cannot be denied, but they must be dainty to look well, and must be well cared for in order not to become a source of positive discomfort.

With this fancy for colour, the white spread and pillow-shams have also disappeared, and in their; places are seen elaborate, spreads, which not only cover the bed proper but conceal the pillows as well They are made of cretonne, silk, damask, embroidered linen, and many other fabrics. I£or the plain house and “every day ” beds those of cretonne, coloured or damask linen are useful They are edged with heavy antique lace, and of course are not tucked in, but hang nearly to the floor on each side. Other simple spreads, are of dotted muslin, lined with silesia and' edged with laCe. Madras and the cheaper Mikado cloth are also used for this purpose. These sre trimmed with a narrow tasselled fringe. Handsome spreads are made of silk or satin, embroidered and heavily fringed Others are made of butchers’ linen, embellished with drawn work at the edges, through which coloured ribbons are run and tied in bows at each corner. They are still farther adorned with embroidery, generally a powdering of some simple design, executed in outline stitch with filofloss, which will not fade in washing. This is a new fashion, and prevails among people who are always ready to adopt any new thing; but there are plenty of old-fashioned and substantial folks who cling to the pure white bed fittings. And surely nothing is half so pretty or suitable.