| Show at R mape AT la not original 1 you CUPID dont bellove it look over the valentines displayed in the chops and you will ee the same hearts and darts that have floured on cupida cupids missives since the bood st valentine set the fashion 0 celebrating the festival the same lace trimmed and glided that were the delight of our are supplied for tho small after the day Is over seems rather absurd fortunately into the celebration of st valentines festival la creeping a little ot the common sense that characterized the shrewd old man who inaugurated augu rated the festival to draw the minds ot the faithful away from tha fascinations ot a forbidden heathen celebration instead oi fancy cards many persona exchange gilts ot candy and covers boy ano has an infant sweetheart the handsomely embossed cards that came with a later generation hold their own and a clever new manufacturer la this season giving some artistic varla tlona to the card designs for instance handsome faces such aa those found in the pictures of sir joshua reynolds of gainsborough or of greuze are framed ln heart shaped borders of flowers the smartest valentines are costly affairs ranging in price up to 50 to pay that sum tor a piece of lace and satin that can have no special significance st valentines day la no longer dedicated to the exchange of tokens solely by plighted pr would be plighted lovers indeed no sentimental significance at all now attaches to a valentines day gift it Is simply another excuse for the lavish giving that has come to be regarded as a national characteristic valentine novelties shown in the shops are football golf or baseball figures cut out of pasteboard with the limbs so adjusted that a silken string hidden behind will twist them into all sorts of grotesque attitudes any one who can use water colors can make these figures fine wire being ed for the tiny rivets that secure the joints in the factory made figures poster valentines are inexpensive and amusing and quite decorative when pinned upon the wall therefore poster valentines have many admirers are painted on heavy cartridge paper or on sheets of gray cardboard in designs which are burlesques of the past times fads or characteristics 0 the person to whom they are to be sent the fun Is good natured and in that they datter from the colored monstrosities sold as penny comics since flowers are so much liked as valentine day remembrances every woman should know that the costly boxes covered with water color paper and suitable for decorating with flowers birds or mottoes can be easily made at home an ordinary cardboard candy box may be made a thing of beauty by covering it with white pale pink pale blue or lavender satin A special white glue and a scrupulously clean brush should be used the rough satin edges should be turned under at the corners A bow of satin ribbon may be stitched to the lid of the box or a spray of flowers painted upon it in bright colors fancy sachets in boxes make dainty and suitable valentines the prettiest of these are cut out of silk or satin to represent hearts or flowers hows of panales ranged on bands of narrow satin ribbon make a charming appearance the panales are fashioned of violet and orange satin the shading being applied in water colors only it oil paints which are better tor the purpose are not obtainable the pieces of satin are cut over n pattern in the shape of petals stitched together on the wrong side with silk of the same color as the fabric and then carefully turned over the heart shaped ornaments may be made entirely of silk or satin decorah de corat ed with lace and painted designs or they may be combined with celluloid the required flatness of surface Is obtained by stitching a layer of wadding between the front and back one of the prettiest of these Is a double heart made of pale pink silk and velvet the velvet Is glued over a heart shaped piece of white cardboard and the edges are cut with a pinking instrument and roughly splashed with gold paint the second heart Is of china silk a shade lighter A layer of pink wadding supplies the body tor this and sachet powder gives it a dainty scent sprays of flowers are on the silk and smaller hearts fashioned of silk and filled with powder ornament the center and the border of the large silk heart this pretty trifle Is supplied with a ribbon by means of which it may be suspended from the wall A more easily made souvenir la a circular handkerchief or veil case the foundation Is cut from two pieces of cardboard each side of each piece beine wadded a layer of cotton sprinkled with sachet powder and covered with silk or satin pine silk corda extending around the edges of the circles should be stitched together along tho lower A decalcomania alc plc ture of flowers birds or butterflies may be attached to the outside or better etall a suitable design may be painted or embroidered there fancy pillows or pillow covers decorated with appropriate patterns hatpin holders shaped like stars and made of decorated silk or satin suitably framed fancy pictures and dainty booklets may any of atheni be fashioned at home by clever fingers and will be dou bly acceptable on that account valentine luncheons are given year after year with trifling alterations in regard to detail the tables ore always heart shaped and covered with lace trimmed claths cloths laid over tinted foundations ot silk or sateen the flow era should suggest the coming springtime and crocuses or daffodils are appropriate prop each guest receives a gift and the menu Is prepared in accordance with the traditions of tho day one clever girl who gave a valentine luncheon presented to each guest a arrau photograph of some I 1 painting representing a pretty cupid jr a picture ot venus these were prettily mounted on the lids ot heart shaped boxes of bonbonis bonbons bon bons A musician gave as souvenirs representations of musical instruments made ol 01 pasteboard and silk or satin decorated with sketches 0 flowers these were lined to afford suitable receptacles for bonbonis bonbons bon bons violins mandolins guitars harps drums trumpets and bithers zithers were all suitably reproduced each instrument ment had a line from some old lovo song applied to it in gold paint candle are of course still made in heart shapes and decorated with appropriate mottoes for children no gift Is more acceptable than a box 0 these motto sweets pretty souvenirs for a childrens val day party are candy hearts which any confectioner will mold and which may be decorated at home with lace paper and vegetable colors beet juice makes a nice pink and spinach juice squeezed from the raw leaves a good dark green while light green may be had from the leaves of lettuce chocolate will supply shades of brown according to the strength of the solution any of these juices mixed with a little confectionery confectioners ers sugar will supply a thin paste which may be applied ta the sur face of the heart to form flowers the hearts may be made at home in shaped cake pans the candy being made of a solution of white sugar brought to the boiling point and then poured into tha molds to harden heart shaped cakes decorated with colored sugars make appropriate prop souvenirs ETHEL KNOX |
