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THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
pendicular lines between horizontal ones. Suggestions 
for these may often be found on Oriental china, where 
some rich-looking border proves on examination to 
be only a few long and short lines skilfully ar¬ 
ranged. 
Scroll borders also are often improved by a line on 
each side; it is not an unvarying necessity, but in many 
cases a great improvement. Sometimes the effect is 
obtained by the scroll or border being worked on a 
narrow piece of material, and then sewn on to some 
other stuff of a different shade: in this case, the enclos¬ 
ing lines are obtained by the limit of the material on 
which the border is worked. 
It is often necessary to enlarge flowers, such as the 
Daisy and Primrose, beyond their natural size ; this is 
no sin against truth or good taste, so long as regard is 
had to their proportion to each other when grouped. 
If the Sunflower is reduced to a size suitable for the 
space at command, it must not be associated with Daf¬ 
fodils enlarged to fit the same place; their relative pro¬ 
portions must be maintained, or an unnatural appear¬ 
ance is the result. 
Good conventional work is always truthful, and yet 
it ought always to maintain a certain reticence, which 
may occasionally amount to a severe reserve, by the 
expression only of the most general features. Reticence 
there should always be, allowing no extravaganco or 
waste, no useless or superfluous lines. 
Hitherto we have only spoken of flower-forms for 
embroidery, but there are other natural forms' which 
can be associated with them. Birds and butterflies are 
often most effective; they give animation to the design, 
and are useful aids in the general composition, as they 
may be placed where they are necessary for the balance 
of the design, or for relief in color, which it would ho 
difficult to obtain by other means. Butterflies are espec¬ 
ially appropriate, as from their variety of size and color, 
they can be made to harmonize with almost any group¬ 
ing of flowers. We should avoid mixing birds or butter¬ 
flies of one climate with flowers peculiar to another. 
Ribbon twisted or knotted round the stems of flowers, 
or tying up garlands, makes also a pleasant variety, but 
requires experience and judgment in its use. Care 
should be taken not to twist the ribbon into impossible 
bows, nor to allow it to hang in too wavy and slraggliug 
lines. 
Vases can also be occasionally introduced; they are best 
represented by some material laid on, or else worked in 
lines only, giving, the outline and the pattern on it, as 
in a pencil-drawing without shading. 
FICHUS. LACES, ETC. 
Neckerchiefs, so popular during the hot weather, 
for several seasons, are worn this summer: indeed, it is 
difficult to find anything as comfortable with which 
they can be replaced: they do not soil as soon as ruches, 
and are cooler even than linen collars; the newest in 
white mull are either finished with handsome Valen¬ 
ciennes lace, Irisli-point embroidery, or bordered with 
colored dots and the edge scalloped. Those of pale 
pink or bine organdy having delicate blossoms printed 
on them are simply hem-stitched. 
Lace frills and fichus are given a dash of color by 
having a number of loops of narrow satin ribbon less 
than one-half inch in width in some delicate shade, 
fastened at one side of the neck. Black Spanish guipure 
fichus are worn for the street, also those of Brussels 
net edged with Spanish lace and having some of the 
lace figures appliqued. 
Rather high linen collars have a narrow rolled-over 
piece at the top, embroidered in a vine pattern; inch¬ 
wide ottoman ribbon is placed around this collar and tied 
in front in a long-looped bow. 
Fine oriental lace is becomingly worn plaited full in 
the neck and sleeves, and has superseded the Spanish 
for this purpose. 
In black laces there seems to be a tendency toward 
those of a heavy appearance. The newest in Spanish is 
the Escurial, which has its figures outlined with a 
heavy thread, and the guipure laces are to be used 
again. 
Fans are desirable in colors to match the costume, but 
a handsomely painted black satin one is suitable with 
all colored toilets. Many ladies paint these themselves, 
and this should be done before mounting, but can be 
painted afterward if care is taken in fastening the 
opened fan to a flat surface where it can remain until 
thoroughly dried. 
In hosiery the most fashionable colors are black, 
bright red, navy-blue and tan color. Black is, however, 
the most popular, as they can be worn with dresses of 
any color; they are woven in parallel lines, having the 
soles of white, but the white part does not extend up 
on the foot enough to show when low shoes are worn. 
Newport ties, neatly fastened across the instep, are 
much used this season. The toes are not pointed, but 
medium round. White slippers for dress occasions 
have given place to those of fine black kid or satin, 
worn with black silk hosiery; other slippers for general 
wear have the sides extended to tie over the toe. 
THE CARE OF ROOMS. 
FOB YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS. 
Ijj attempting any kind of work the first requisites 
are good tools. It is true that there are a few favored 
persons who seem to have been created with a faculty 
for producing successful work under the most difficult 
circumstances—probably their ancestry might be traced 
back to those ancient people who “ made bricks without 
strawbut the majority of people will find it profit¬ 
able to provide themselves with the best of implements. 
