The Household

Serviceable and very pretty coverings or the sofa pillow in the common siting room are made by nsing the plaid r striped Turkish towels which are so nexpensive and yet so pleasiug to the yeA handsome curtain or lanibrequin to e fastened to the bottom of the lowest tielf on a hanging ebony cabinet, is nade of olive satin. It is about ten nches deep; a vine is painted on it of jright but small flowers; the edge is rimmed with a vel vet band ;it is straight i uie lower euge, oui seauopea .ii me ipper. It should be run on at the botoni, then turneel and the scallopod part blind-stitched on. The seallops may bc ornamected by putting several rows of rellow silk around them. Catcli the ilk at short distances with black or carlet silk. Nurse's aprons, to be worn when vashing and dressing the baby, are made of soft flannel. Very pretty ones are made of white flannel, with a deep ïem, which may be fastenedwith er or cross stitch; but useful ones of drab flarmel are also much worn. These aprons should be made vcry long, so that if a door is suddenly opened in the nursery, the apron can be thrown lip over the baby. Aprons made of cantón lannel, with the soft for the right side, are inexpensive, and may be used in place of the flannel, although that is }referred if the expense is not too great. satin cushion can be trimmed. A palé alue satin plush band laid on diagonal[y and caught with fancy silks in some pretty embroidery stitch makcs a handsomo trimming, or a square of satin with daisies enbroidered on it is pretty, if put on in the center and fastened at the corners only. This square inay be of velvet, with a spray of flowers in ribbon or chenille ernbroidery. Another way is to embroider a spray of bachelorbuttons and a branch of golden rod in one corner of the cushion coverings; finish the edge with a cord of blue and yellow silk, and at each corner put a soft silk tassel; tie this to a gilt crescent with a small cord, and sevv that to the corner of the cushion. A convenient arrangement of shelves in one corner of your room is easily made. Have a carpentcr or some other competent person nail or screw cleats to thr wa.ll. nn whinh thf? t.hrfp-fnrnproil shelves may rest; have theiu fastened sesurely to it, and see that they are leve!. These shelves may be three in number, and it is a good plan to have the lowest one at about the height of an ordinary table - a trifle lower, perhaps; the reason for this is that it is more easily taken care of and kept free from dust than if it is so low as to oblige one to stoop or kneel down. These shelves may be made of common pine (well seasoned, of course), or of black walnut. They may be finished with narrow lambrequins, scalloped at the bottom; fringe is not desirable in a common room, as it catches dust. A shelf similar to one of these is especially convenient in the dining room. I saw one placed about as high as the top of a side table; it held a pretty tete-a-tete set, and was an ornament to the room. This was covered with cretonne, and had a band of the same for a lambrequin. "How can I whiten and sof ten my hands?" is a question that is asked by a correspondent. Doubtless one way to do this is to avoid doing the work which has made your hands rough and dark, but often this work may be done with snob oare thnt, the hands will not be ïured. If one is obliged to sweep her house, to empty the ashes from grato or stove, and to wash dishes, she cannot expect to keep her hands as white as idle hands are, but if she takes the precaution to put on a pair of old gloves or mittens, when she sweeps and is doing dusty work, one cause of rough skin will be removed. Tlien there are preparations which one may use; powdered borax is excellent to soften the skin. A mixture which is said to be a sure cure for undue perspiration of the hands is made of quarter of an ounce of powdered alum, the white of one egg, and enough bran to make a thick paste; after washing your hands apply this;let it remain on your hands for two or three minutes and then wipe off with a soft, dry towel. Luke-warm water is better than hot or cold if the skin is inclined to be tender or to chap. Gossip About Bric-a-Brac. One of th.e rarest specimens of fl:unbi porcelain in the city is a tiny vase the form and design of which are iilike unique. A beautiful group executed in bronze represents Hercules bearing Proserpina in his arms as he is conducted by Cerberus from the infernal regions. A novelty in Worcester ware is an apple dish, which consists of two oval plates, the edges riches gilt, and on either side a cream pitcher and a tiny sugar bowl. The best specimens of terra cotta ware come directly from Dieppe, and are carved by some of the ablest artists of the day. Scènes from the life of the fishintj population are realistically reproduced and the carving when completed is mounted in a deep border of rich velvet, either black or crirnson. A handsome card receiver is in the purest alabaster; in the center is a medallion of Leonardo da Venci surrounded by smaller ones of Raphiel Gallio, Ariosto and ïasso. A most perfect specimen of native Japanese art is seen in a pair of porcelaiu vases expressly made for the exhibition at Tokio. Buddah and the goddess Benton arerepresentedsurrounded by poets, philosophers and historians, a few uymphs attired in robes and mantles of gold and blue attending upon the deities. As usual in Japanese work of frVila Vinil ovnw iipfnil i i'nrrïoil fint. and, although the faces are small, each has perfect individuality of cxpression. Both Bnddah and his goddess aro surrounded by a nimbus. A sword which playcd its part in the Satsuniarebellion in Japan has a handle of cuiïously wrought ironwork. The hilt represents a dragon, the scabbard is of lacquered red wood, and upon the handle the sacred niountain Fusyama is carved in silyer. In a newly imported specimen of Eastern carved ivory a theatrical group is represented, consisting of actors and musicians. The face of the principal actor is covered by a mask surmounted by the mythical dragon. One musician j)lays a ilute, the other is energetically beating a drum, and the figures are all full of life and expression. Verv small sauare sandal wood boxes aro richly carved in representation of mythological scènes, and are finished off with a bordering half an inch in width in inlaid silver and ivory. Oíd Italian oak is of the darkest and richest brown, and is very rare. A masterpieee of antique carving in this material is conspicuous upon the lid of a coffer, which is supported upon the shoulders of grüfins with glaring eyes and fangs. Upon the front a sea piece, with Neptune riding his sea horses and triumphant over sea monsters is vonderfúlly reproduced in carving. A circular mirror from the Constantine Palace in Rome is framed in dark Italian oak, exquisitely carved. Figures of sporting cupids peep out from rich, full foliage, and in their midst Jupiter's hend appears as if crownod with the falling leaves. Japanese silver work is among tho most beautiful of all, not only for the minute attention paúl lo detail, but r:iusi' many metáis are often nsed in combination with great effect. A moonlighl scène, for example, is tlms represented, tlie effect of varying light alld shade npon lmnging blossoms upon a cherry tree being conveyed iu the varying tones of different metáis. The background of the scène is shibouitchi metal, the moon in gold, and the blossoms in a palor shaoe of the sanie precious metal. A vcry racy curio, made in bvonze, riehly worked and mounted on teakwood, is a Chinese incensé burner.Upon a cover of the same material a representation of the dog Foo is beautifully carved in ivory. Cabinets for bric-a-brac are found in every reception room, and can be very readily ornamcntcd at home. Very often they simply consist of frame-work and shelves of tlie most ordinary wood, simply carved in low relief and ebpnized at home. The bright yellow tint of many Japanese rases has never been successfully imitated by Europeas artiaans. lts populanty m Japan is no doubt owiug to the fact that, from time immcmorial, saffron tint has been consiilered lueky. The grotesque woulcl appear ahvays to go liandin hand with the beautiful, and so we íind sido by side with the most exquisite terra cotta csrvings a grinning skeleton carricd out in the same material. To add to the ghastly effect a sleeping infant is in its anus. A novelty in porcelain ïnk-stands takes the form of a shapely hand. The palm aftbrds a receptado for the bottle, while between the tlmmb and finger is an aperture for the pen-holder.