Summer Hints For Tasteful People

The summer is really upon us, with all its treasures of leaves and flowers, and already inany of the readers of the Bazar are enjoying the quiet retreats of the country, or else are busier that ever amidst the gayeties of the sea-side or some other fashionable resort. But even in the constant changes of einployment usual in such circles there will come days when a quiet ramble in the woods or a stroll by soine retired streamlet ■will be a welcome episode te vary the daily mouotony of drfss and dances. Especially to those who possess a love of ture, and can find beautiea by the wayside and in the depths of the forest, will a few hints be of use in directing attention to things obscure in themselves, y et full of capabilities for future applieation. Now, in the earlier part of aumnier, let me advise them to gather the green fern leaves in their perfection, and presa them in large books for winter bouquets. They will fonn the loveliest decorations for the walls, around pictures, and for vases and hanging baskets. Gather a good supply, and then some will always be in reserve to replaco those that will have curled up and withered, as they will certainly do in course of time. Some of the coarser ferns which grow in damp places have brown feathery blossoins, bright and beautiful, of the abade known as " Bismarck," and these should be taken at their prime, and pre6sed in books. They will be available in several ways, as I shall show : first, they will be valuable acquisitiona to winter bouquets of grasses and ferns ; and trien they will prove -very ornamental in decorating the mats or inner parts of frames for engravings and photographs. The much-admired walnut veneers that are now so popular as material for these margina of pictures are not 80 pretty as those I am about to describe. For the purpose we should recommend a foundation of woud or book-board, ths squaroor oval opening being properly cut and adapted for the picture. By far the easieat plan will te to get one from a manuíactory all ready to hand. Cover this with some light shade of buff or fawn-color ; paper will answer if velvet or plush cannot be had, or some of the furzy producís of the woods will have the same effect. Next lay around the corners theso feathery bloasoms of brown fern, gome being darker than others, which will increase the tine effect. Arrange theru as tastefully as possible, avoiding stiffness. The contrast between the various shades of color will be very pleasing and they will need only a slight touch of gum-arabic to keep thera quite firtn and in place undor the glass, and with a gilt or walnut frame outside of it will be a very ornamental novelty for tho parlor. The same idea niay be applito other things. A cross or wreath can be composed of tho same material and framed with one of these borders to match ; ingonuity will suggest the rest to a person of taste and skill. - Ilarper's Bazar,