fie imJies’ Sterol fioEiiiei on3 Pietoriol Some fiomponioa. 
HOW TO ARRANGE AUTUMN LEAVES. 
Take a piece of bristol-board about 7 by 9 inches 
and arrange a group of leaves and ferns upon it ; sew 
them on, neatly covering all the stitches with the 
leaves, and finish at the bottom with a spray of tiny 
leaves; frame in a passe-partout, and you will find it 
as handsome as a painting. Another way is to take 
a sheet of bristol-board and cover with black vel¬ 
veteen, get a small brown or black straw basket, such 
as are used for wax fruit and flowers, cut into and 
glue one half on the velveteen, then fill with the 
brightest leaves, sumac and ferns, grasses and berries; 
get a few small vines, such as you will find in the 
woods, and preserve them, then twine them around 
the handle of the basket, and arrange others to slope 
gracefully over the sides; frame in a deep frame, and 
I assure you it will win admiration from all who see 
it. Another ornament that my 
friends admired last winter was a 
cross of black walnut, with carved 
base about fourteen inches high, 
twined with a -wreath of autumn 
leaves, berries and green moss, 
which you can procure at the 
florists. The cross you can get a 
carpenter to make for you. Then 
take your smallest leaves—I did 
not use any over an inch long— 
take a piece of green thread wire, 
about three quarters of a yard 
long, for the formation of the 
wreath, then take pieces of the 
wire about one and a half inches 
long, for stems to the leaves ; pre¬ 
pare them as already described. 
When ready, commence by fasten¬ 
ing a cluster of the moss on one 
end of the long wire, with a small 
piece, then arrange, the leaves on 
the long wire by twisting 
wire stems around the long wire, 
taking care to bring the leaf near 
enough to the foundation wire so 
that when the next is put on it 
will hide the stem of the first. 
Continue in this way, arranging 
the colors with care, and interspersing a little moss 
here and there to give a good effect. When done, 
fasten to the cross by means of small black pins, 
twining the wreath around the cross, and bending the 
leaves so they will look graceful. At the base of the 
cross arrange moss, berries and leaves; also fasten a 
spray of leaves and moss near the ends of the arms of 
the cross, so as to slope prettily, and the cross is 
finished, and I am sure any one will feel amply paid 
for their trouble if they follow these directions. 
E. 0. Halstat. 
GRECIAN PAINTING. 
Is it because chromos have become so common, and 
withal so cheap, that the delightful and satisfactory 
art of Grecian painting has become almost obsolete? 
And yet this appears to one who has enjoyed it, as 
I have, almost a matter of regret, inasmuch as by 
understanding the modus operandi of this art a very 
ordinary engraving may be changed into a painting 
scarcely distinguishable from one in oil. That this is 
a fact may be asserted from a little incident stated by 
our teacher, Professor Day. In speaking on this 
subject, in an art work published some years since, he 
says: “ This method of painting is more satisfactory 
to mediocre painters than any other style, as the 
difference between a good artist and an inferior one is 
not so readily distinguished. It admits of all classes 
of painters, from the beginner to the finished artist; 
the veriest tyro producing a pleasing picture, with a 
little care, at the same time advancing a step in the 
study of color. Many celebrated artists do not hesi¬ 
tate to avail themselves of the Grecian style, by com¬ 
mencing the picture (after being finished in this 
method) as if it were only in the dead color for a 
highly finished picture, shading and manipulating 
with the various tints in opaque color, glazing and 
painting, scumbling and painting again until the de¬ 
sired effect is obtained. When finished highly in this 
way it is very difficult to tell it from an exquisite 
picture on copper. I was introduced many years ago 
to a gentleman in Scotland, who prided himself upon 
owning a very valuable collection of ancient and 
modern paintings. After looking through several well 
painting, and he considered it invaluable ; but it was 
too late then for anything but regret, as the mischief 
was done and irremediable.” In the course of time 
chromos have arrived at such perfection of softness 
and coloring that they have, in a measure, superceded 
even oil paintings; but the real satisfaction one has 
in eschewing a really beautiful picture, by one’s own 
hand, is so great that I have been induced to thus 
speak of my favorite art. I do not doubt but that 
many readers of the Cabinet have practised in this 
department of it; but there may be some, perhaps, to 
whom it is comparatively novel from its very antiquity, 
and if any such desire to understand the process, and 
would be pleased to receive full directions for painting 
particular pieces, it will give me great pleasure to 
impart my knowledge of this art, and also that of 
Oriental painting, which has run a very even course 
with the Grecian, and died the same natural death. 
If our Editor would allow me space I would give such 
directions, as a commencement, for painting the pop¬ 
ular engravings Beatrice Cenci, Evangeline, Madonna 
Della Scala, and Jeannie de Arc, 
which are 16 by 22 inches, oval 
or square, costing seventy-five 
cents or a dollar each, and when 
finished, being so exquisitely beau¬ 
tiful as to be worth, ten years ago, 
from ten to twenty-five dollars. 
Those desiring paintings on their 
walls, as a variety, cannot do bet¬ 
ter than practise the Grecian style, 
which will afford them really de¬ 
sirable pictures at a nominally 
small cost. 
Monroe. ' C. S. J. 
A Hale-way Decorated with Ivy. 
stocked rooms he remarked that he owned one gem of 
untold value, which he had reserved for the last—an 
original by Raphael, a true portrait of La Forna- 
reina. I looked at and admired it; but as I gazed I 
felt confident, it was not the size of the original, 
although equally as beautiful—all the glowing tints 
of nature so carefully handled that not a brush mark 
was visible. After examining it closely for some 
time I remarked, I thought it might be a carefully 
painted engraving in the Grecian style; but the 
owner appeared very indignant at such a suggestion, 
and at my plebeian opinion of his choicest picture; and 
feeling convinced I was correct in my conjecture I asked 
[ to be allowed to remove it from the frame, explaining to 
my friend the modus operandi of the Grecian style, and 
then, with the point of my knife, raised up the corner 
j of the paper to satisfy him I was cofrect. Of course 
he was much astonished and chagrined, seeming 
; scarcely to thank me for thus detecting the cheat, and 
opening his eyes to the fact. The painting was beau¬ 
tifully done, and neatly pasted on canvas. After 
leaving the house I thought I had hardly done right 
in thus exposing his pet original, for it was a good 
Bleaching Ferns.— Gather 
them after the first frosts in Octo¬ 
ber has turned them brown or 
yellow. Then put them in a solu¬ 
tion of chloride of soda (not lime), 
one-third soda and two water, and 
let them stand in the sun until 
white; then rinse them in clear 
water; flatten them on a piece of 
glass; carefully wipe them with a 
soft cloth, and press them between 
blotting paper; when dry they 
are ready for use. 
M. J. Gormley. 
To Mend China-Ware.— Take a very thick solu¬ 
tion of gum-arabic, and stir into it plaster of Paris 
until the mixture is of a proper consistency. Apply 
it with a brush to the fractured edges of the china- 
ware, and stick them together. In a few days it will 
be impossible to break the article in the same place. 
The whiteness of the cement renders it doubly 
valuable. 
The Broken Lamp.— If the fountain (or the glass 
globe that holds the oil) has only come loose from the 
standard, it is very easily remedied • by the use of 
plaster of Paris. Mix a small quantity with water, 
making it as thick as cream, and fill it in between 
the glass of the fountain and the hollow in the 
top of the standard as quickly as possible. As it 
sets immediately, everything must be done with 
promptness. If the fountain is broken in pieces, 
and there is a whole bronze or brass standard re¬ 
maining, it will pay to purchase a new fountain 
and set it upon the old standard in the manner 
described above. The brass top can be fastened on 
in the same way. 
