In spite of all that one reads about the tablecloth's return fashion, little mats still seem flourish, and it seems will contin to do so. Most of us, so far, have been contented either with the square mat in ecru linen trimmed with hemstitching and embroidery, with its cousin the round mat in coloured linen or. lace. Now, however, there. has appeared a set made of natural shaped flowers, with the curved petals forming the edges' 15 a decorative idea that might well stand further development.
One set of these consisted of assorted. flowers, me eluding a poppy, marigold, pansy, fand primrose, with a centre-piece of shamrock green. Except by candlelight or in a rather dark ming-room such a mixture of reds oranges, and violets might look Tittle erade, bat the mats might also be made in one flower only or in series of two or three flowers a cording to taste, the original set being changed if it does not meet with approval. A set of blue flowers and primroses would look charming, and one would imagine would not be able to carry out the idea.
Apart from these, the most a(tactive mats that are now in favour have been of organdi, very inoly scalloped round the edge and ith the finest of fine monogram? in the centre, But they make one wonder whether the time and skit for such fairly-like stitches could ever be achieved. Organdi as medium, however, seems to sues! rear possibilities. A set of assorted colours rather on the lines of Tinen flower set, but more delicate might be delightful, only would very much more expensive, as one would have to buy a quarter of yard for each mat to get the width ard probably use less than half of A set all in lemon, with, in the centre, one of those cross-stitch Baskets of flowers of which the embellishing themselves and so turned to less legitimate mischief, hhow possibly some great events might have changed into other events, no less great, but quite different.
Now, nobody need fear to be with. lout means to attract. There is not much outstanding beauty, perhaps, (and heaven knows, if there that it stands out from the urs of modern dress with the hard sharpness of the winter moon), but there is more atten paid to a thousand little kinds of [good looks than ever there was be-Itore, and it's a pretty stupid woman who can't lay claim to her share—"Vogue." like fine pored the creamy: ross of the blue; the milkiness of white camellia; the starry" white the pure white of the fluted collar. The xosa petals; the white of ne ironically, the violet naively. Tulips, gardenias, narcissi irises, peonies, azaleas, each ong hi a special shade of its own, opaque for transparent, brilliant o pale. And each flower is possessed of the distinction, the imprint of ran the simple majesty that are natur% to white, There is, too, the charm of epintrast, as when a whole sheaf of gladioli springs from a black vase fon an ebony table. Or clear white petals may gain beauty when their green stems are seen through a clear glass vase, In_a beige room, the vase may be of white, cream, or beige pottery, and the white flowers have a striking decorative value. extraordinarily elegant, 5 The feeling behind this choice is istinetly modern. The sophisticated discretion, the stately simplicity_are typical of the spirit of to-day, which seeks beauty of line and material The mode of white flowers has bein the summer styles, while pleats have not been entirely neglected. come a matter of principle to many people of unerring taste. It is not anew idea, but it is one that: has ner eased greatly in its appeal during the last season, One finds it interpreted in many ways in the charming houses of charming people. A tall white hydro a simple pot may stand on column, before a mirror that hangy between two windows.
'A console table may hold a flat ow! from which rise stately white ilaclilies, "their green. Teaves American magazines supply transfers, ight look really Tovey, white [mogere, i, fealing accous border round the bottom on ereeeaetoeet may ie assies 'a green oblong set with a tiny her-aaa be most dainty and shares et witha white earanen. and tall white candles or by small pote,
20 less lovely on such a table are Unfortunately, like tasse, organdy white tle flower-pote holding small too thin to stand alone on cork hie. azalea-trees, with a. small fu the peticont line is required. The sculpture in white between them, rat will often serve as a slip farl wrong side of a slightly embroidered Tr coe "ie oe & gro rece" these, failing a mat of plain linen; im! the, dining-room. td Should one have nothing suitable to, achieved with white, sccenting end, a set of Chinese silk just, sloom of crystal and silver. A long, bound "with self material "oaks Tectaneulsr, mirrored holder fane suaraang andi wesss and al wales Zor: may be heaped with white violets looks ing on a Unveetiered strip of mirror rer, No ones as far as 1 Knot lor white lilacs, "White tulips oF ire [White irises in bowls—white, black, would be a real opportunity for vsing up that attractive but impractical eddoments that we bought at one time in the sales and have Kept tucked away in the "bit" diver ever since—P. G. or the palest. green—bring all: the freshness of the season into the room. Fruit-blossoms in the spring of the year, asters and chrysanthemums in the autumn, each will bring new inspiration to the hostess with good taste and an understand ting of the modern feeling in decora-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.