i 89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
731 
CURTAINS AND SHADES. 
N OT because they have carefully con¬ 
sidered the matter, but from ac¬ 
quiescence in a long established custom, the 
majority of housewives renovate most 
thoroughly their houses and belongings in 
spring. But mud and dust and flies abound 
from spring until fall. No screens or 
Argus-eyed housekeepers can prevent the 
latter from gaining an entrance iDto the 
houses; and, once inside, they instinctively 
alight on the daintiest, neatest spot in the 
room. No right-minded home maker be¬ 
comes a monomaniac on the subject of 
cleanliness and ruins the happiness of her 
family by following them about with dust¬ 
brush and pan, or by continued scolding 
or nagging for their failure to adhere to her 
code of domestic laws. And so it is that 
when the short days and cold nights of 
autumn suggest thoughts of the long winter 
ahead, with its cold, inclement weather 
out-of-doors, and its cheerful fire and bright 
light within, the thrifty housewife deter¬ 
mines to “ put her home in order.” Next 
to the floor covering, the dressing of the 
windows either adds to or detracts from the 
beauty of a room. 
Oh, dear! Knowing the value of sun¬ 
shine, as did Mrs. A-, she could not keep 
the shutters closed and her rooms darkened 
as did little Mrs. B-, and now those soft- 
colored Madras curtains to obtain which 
she had economized in so many ways, are 
faded badly and the dainty lace ones are 
dropping in pieces where the sun shone 
fiercest on them. Never mind, perhaps 
that was the price paid for the good health 
of some member of the family. If so, a few 
pairs of curtains are of small account. If 
you had a pair at each window, and looped 
them back at the sides, the faded portion 
will now show less if turned to the outside 
of the window. After doing this, comfort 
yourself by thinking that no one else will 
notice it as much as you who know their 
defects. Lace curtains can often be so 
dextrously mended by taking the least pos¬ 
sible number of stitches, and those quite 
after the style of the curtain, instead of 
the regular fine darning stitch, being very 
careful not to draw the edges, that a casual 
observer would not detect that they had 
been repaired. 
There never was a style of hanging 
drapery curtains that combined so many 
good points as the present one of a rod 
suspended by brackets at the ends. Besides 
their gracefulness and beauty, any woman 
who can use a hammer and screw-driver 
can easily put them up; and the same effect 
is produced by a fixture costing only §1 a 
window as by one worth 10 times that 
amount. But, oh 1 ingenious woman, do 
not be tempted into manufacturing any 
out of broom handles ebonized with a de¬ 
coction of logwood and vinegar, as I re¬ 
cently saw recommended in one of our 
leading women’s magazines 1 The most 
cultured people, those who make a study of 
such things, long ago found out that ebony 
furniture harmonized with no other fur¬ 
nishings in an ordinary room, but was in¬ 
congruous and ugly. A handsome oak or 
ash pole can be had for eight or 10 cents a 
foot, while brackets and rings of the same 
woods are inexpensive, and harmonize 
beautifully with any room whose prevail¬ 
ing tints of decoration are light. For dark, 
richly furnished rooms use mahogany or 
black walnut. The latter wood is not in 
vogue just now, but it is always nice. 
When curtains are fine like Madras and 
other muslin, or even lace of a fine mesh, 
they look much neater shirred than plaited 
at the top. Measure them to reach to the 
floor; but not to lie on it; (allow for drap¬ 
ing) turn the extra length over on to the 
right side. One inch below the doubled 
edges make a shirr, with two others a quar¬ 
ter of an inch apart, below it. Draw them 
up evenly to fit the space required and 
fasten them to a tape or narrow strip of 
cloth. Insert the pins at equal distances 
and suspend from the rings. The turned- 
over portion can hang in a straight valance 
or be caught up eight or ten inches from 
the inside edge (of a pair) in fan shape. 
Heavy draperies are very cheap at present 
^lisifcUanwttSi §Mvcvti$ing. 
Always name The R. N.-Y. in writing to 
advertisers. 
hen Baby was sick, we gave her Castorla, 
When she was a Child, she cried tor Castorla, 
When she became Jllss, she clung to Castorla, 
When she had Children, she gave them Castorla. 
and the variety of materials out of which 
they are made ranges from brocade satin to 
blue denim (over-all goods), and they can be 
made as ornamental or as plain as one’s 
time, means or taste may dictate. But re¬ 
member always that no goods are handsome 
for this purpose that will not hang in soft 
folds. 
In what are known as sash-curtains, there 
are two distinct styles; namely, those 
which extend the entire length of a window 
and those which cover only the lower sash, 
or any desired part of it. The former are 
suspended from small rods fastened close to 
the top of the window casing, inside , (so 
that they will not show from the outside.) 
They should be made long enough to be 
looped back to each side, near the center, 
and then fall just to the window seat. 
Any ingenious woman can easily adjust 
the fixtures, if she is careful to get the 
exact measurements for the rods. The 
rods for the short ones can be attached in 
the same way to the side of the casing at 
any desired point, or they may be attached 
to the window sash by small metal 
brackets which come purposely for this 
use. This style can be raised or lowered 
with the sash. There may be a rod at both 
top and bottom, or only at the former 
place. The shirr many be simply a hem, 
or it may be a wide hem with a shirr run 
in at the lower edge, and a standing ruffle 
above. In the material used the range is 
from silk to cheese cloth. The effect which 
curtains of this kind produce in a room 
bears no comparison to that of long 
drapery curtains, but they are really orna¬ 
mental, and, very emphatically, useful. 
They may open at the center, or be whole ; 
be trimmed on the inner edges with a 
narrow fringe, or lace, or be left un¬ 
trimmed. An ingenious woman can con¬ 
trive a fringe which greatly resembles the 
one in ordinary use, by making small, full 
tassels of white cotlon and fastening them, 
about an inch and a-half apart, to novelty 
braid, as a heading. Crochetted or knitted 
lace is also pretty as a trimming for them. 
One often has an old dress of muslin, 
sateen or the like, which can be utilized to 
make pretty sash curtains for a chamber. 
A handsome chamber furnished in oak 
with pink as the prevailing color in the 
decorations, had sash curtains made of 
pink chambrey, which had done dnty as a 
dress for several seasons. Another room 
has sateen ones, which, though not so 
transparent, are yet very pretty indeed. 
Window shades are the especial delight 
of flies, and they make sad havoc with 
them. Holland shades can sometimes be 
cleaned with a damp cloth ; but when too 
much soiled for this purpose they may be 
removed from the roller, the trimmings 
taken off from the bottoms, the ends 
changed, and the trimmings added to what 
were formerly the tops. In a kitchen or 
chamber where constant ventilation is nec¬ 
essary, it is well to set the shade fixtures 
two or three inches below the window cas¬ 
ing at the top. For cream Holland shades, 
two full tassels made of cream linen thread 
and attached to a cord 24 inches long will 
be found very convenient for raising and 
lowering the shades. The cord maybe cro¬ 
chetted in chain stitch or else twisted out 
of several strands of the linen thread, and 
fastened to the bottom of a shade at the 
center, by a fancy-headed brass nail, driven 
through both shade and slat from the 
right side and clinched at the back. 
Lace, either knit or crochetted in a close, 
heavy pattern,is handsome for trimming the 
lower edge of Holland shades. Number 30 
cream or unbleached linen thread is com¬ 
monly used. The most effective design is 
one that admits of a fringe being tied 
through the bottom of-the lace. 
KATHERINE B. J. 
Advertisers treat all correspondents 
well if they mention The Rural New- 
Yorker. 
The Majority 
Of so-called cougli-cures cio little more than 
impair the digestive functions and create 
bile. Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, on the con¬ 
trary, while it cures the cough, does not in- 
tertere with the functions of either stomach 
or liver. No other medicine is so safe and 
efficacious in diseases of the throat and 
lungs. 
“Four years ago I took a severe cold, which 
was followed by a terrible cough. I was 
very sick, and confined to my bed about four 
months. I employed a physician most of 
the time, who finally said I was in consump¬ 
tion, and that he could not help me. One of 
my neighbors advised me to try Ayer’s 
Cherry Pectoral. I did so, and, before I had 
finished taking the first bottle was able to 
sit up all the time, and to go out. By the 
time I had finished the bottle I was well, and 
have remained so ever since.”—L. D. Bixby, 
Bartonsville, Yt. 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, 
PREPARED BY 
DR. J. C. AYER & CO., Dowell, Mass. 
Sold by all Druggists. Price $1; six bottles, $5. 
$20 IMPROVED HIGH ARM 
, PHILADELPHIA SINGER. 
’ 15 days’ trial. Warranted 5 
years. Self-setting needle, self- 
threading shuttle. Light-running 
and noiseless. All attachments. Send 
THE C. A. WOOD CO., forfree 
17 N. 10th St., Phila.,Pa. circular. 
To cure costiveness the medicine must be 
more than a purgative; it must contain 
tonic, alterative and cathartic properties. 
Tutf s Pills 
possess these qualities, and speedily re¬ 
store to the bowels their natural peristaltic 
motion, so essential to regularity. 
READ 
One Blue Stocking’s Husband 
- BY- 
99 
MARION HARLAND 
WHICH will begin in 
THE HOUSEWIFE 
‘‘ONE BLUE STOCKING’S HUSBAND” is the at¬ 
tractive title of the continued story which Marion Har- 
land will begin in our October number, which treats in an 
artistic manner, a popular theme. 
It will be followed by the second chapter of the story 
“WITHOUT A NAME,” by Mary Lowe Dickinson. 
There will also he a pathetic, short tale significantly 
entitled “A CHAPTER OF LIFE,” by Marietta F. 
Cloud ; and a story for the children 
In “ TRUTH AND TRASH IN DECORATION,” Emma 
Molfet Tyug will give an autumn review, fall of excellent 
suggestions tor the housewife who would make her home 
as pretty as possible 
Jenny June in "PRACTICAL DRESS” will consider 
“Color, and Its Development in Modern Dress: ” “Home- 
wear,” in which the adoption of a brighter and more at¬ 
tractive style of home dress is urged ; “New Wraps, Capes, 
and Tailor made Gowns,” and “ Household Linen.” 
In the floral department, George R. Knapp will talk 
about the “Chinese Lily,” “Culture of Freesias,” “Fuch- 
FOR OCTOBER. 
slas in Winter,” “Geraniums for Bedding,” and “Cycla¬ 
men for Pot Culture.” In “Flints for tue Month,” and 
“ Answers to Correspondence,” there will be as usual the 
helpful suggestions that make this department of so much 
practical benefit to our readers. 
That attractive feature, the “ CHAT-BOX,” will be as 
usual, of grest interest; as will also the “NEEDLE- 
WORKER.” which is always especially seasonable. 
Inthe“ MOTHER'S DEPARTMENT,” Clarissa Potter 
will describe "That Family Medicine Chest,” and Mary 
Frances Griffin will talk aoout “Helpful Children.” 
Sallie Joy White will give to the readers of the 
“KITCHEN” department practical advice in “Bits of 
Economy; ” and J uliet Corson will write about “Autumn 
Fare for Mother and Child.” 
Among the miscellaneous matter will be an article for 
“OUR GIRLS,” by Grace Blanchard, and one on 
“Home Eutertalnment,” by Carrie May Ashton, which, 
with several poems, will complete an unusually rich and 
varied number. 
Every article contributed expressly for The Housewife by the best talent obtainable. 
50 Cents a Year. 5 Cents a Copy. 
SPECIAL OFFER : To introduce it into thousands of new homes, we offer it four months for only 10 cents, if you mention 
The Rural New-Yorker. THE HOUSEW IFE on all news-stands, 5 cents a copy. 
If you mention The Rural New-Yorker, 
THE HOUSEWIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, NEW YORK. 
