Life — December 20, 1883 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ment for one or two evenings, and the skates when finished will not have cost you over $26. Next, we will consider a “TIDY” FOR PAPA, There is no gift which will be so soul-satisfying or so acceptable to papa as a “tidy.” In order to make one, procure a roll or two of handsome ribbon, some embroidery silk, four papers of pins, a bunch of lead pencils, half an ounce of beeswax and several yards of Swiss muslin, Canton flannel, or Farmer's satin. You won't need half of this, but a yard or two will probably be ruined inexperimenting. Next, cut out your “tidy,” overlap the edges and work them with a neat herring- bone orcat-stitch, bind it neatly with ribbon, and add a flounce of any antique point lace that you may hap- pen to have in the house. Embroider a Kate Green- away girl or other design near the centre, and—if the “tidy” is intended for his office—‘ No bills paid on Saturday” might be appropriately worked in as a motto. These materials will not cost over $18. Here we have A PRETTY PAPER-WEIGHT, Take a good-sized lump of Mexican onyx, malachite, cold muffin, or a copy of the Matron and have it cut into the shape desired. If the paper-weight is intended for mama, paint her initials neatly on it, and decorate it with decalcomanies or painted forget-me-nots. A sun- flower makes a quaint and rather unusual design ; or if she is fond of the sea a crab would be very effective. It can be made for almost nothing, and is fully worth it when completed. Many girls would like to know what is a NICE PRESENT FOR A SMOKER, so here is a suggestion for one. of black satin. Embroider on this a water-lily or a bunch of violets. Next, make a band of black velvet, and sew it firmly to the first piece. Then run ina shirring string, button-hole it all around the edge, and line it with pale blue silk. Finally, sew a tassel to the middle of the top. You will now have an article which Cut out a round piece is a cross between a tobacco-pouch and a work-basket, and which he can use as a sponge-bag if it is too small for a smoking-cap. This is the kind of present that makes Christmas merry and contributes to the happiness of the home. If aman on one and the same Christ- mas should get one of these things, a pair of worsted slippers and an embroidered Bible text, although he might not in every case be driven to drink, he would certainly be made to believe that women ought to vote and go to college, wear trousers, or do anything else that would divert them from making fancy-work. This merely describes a few of the hundred and one things that can be easily and expensively made at home. The giver will gain much pleasure and some experi- ence in their manufactnre and the receiver will * * * throw them out. H.L. S. IN CURLING SMOKE. RONDEAU. [ carling smoke of cigarette My fancy weaves its fondest net— A fairy vision greets mine eyes ; No net e’er held so dainty prize, Though drawn with peari-gulf’s waters wet. Two laughing eyes my dream abet Of color sapphire-blue—not jet, As other bards may see arise In curling smoke. Great eyes with truthful depths—and yet The world says, she 's a sad coquette ; “ Thouyh this be true,” my heart replies, “* Why waste away'in fruitless sighs ? Let Fancy fairer dreams beget n curling smoke!” Ceci. Harcourt. Mrs.Creesus (thoughtfully): “Let 's see,—what 's the name of that fellow that wrote Tannhauser and Lohen- grin?” Mr.O’Suoppy (thinking he's on safe ground): “ Lem- me see; Shakespeare, was n't it?” comicbooks.com