The Bystander, December 13, 1905 Exhibition of Antiques AT MESSRS. DEBENHAM AND FREEBODY'S Now that we are in the midst of that painful period when "Christmas novelties" flood the shops, it is no small pleasure to be able to turn from these ephemeral vanities to the agreeable galleries in Wigmore Street, where collection of old English and foreign embroideries, brocades, and damasks is to be seen side by side with many charming examples of old paste, Sheffield plate, silver, Battersea enamels, Chelsea china, and some excellent antique furniture. are now amusing by reason of their priggishness. One little girl has been made Example of Start Embroidery framed as . The domestic applied arts, up to the end of the eighteenth century or a little later, are always interesting and generally beautiful. If one is looking for a gift for a friend of cultured taste, there is no better field to explore than that which holds the curios and arts of the past. her sampler : to sew on Young ladies fair whose gentle minds incline To all thats curious innocent and fine With admiration in your works are read The various textures of the Twining Thread Then let your learning with unrivalled skill Exalt the needle and grace the noble quill. But, no doubt, she did so with mental reservations. The other antiques in this exhibition will interest for an hour or two, and provide many more excellent presents than the modest giver would care to buy. It is a commercial age, so one word in the ear of the would-be buyer: if you purchase a good example of antique work, whether it be embroidery, Battersea, or silver, it will increase in value as the years go by. E. M. Winter Season on the Engadine Special arrangements are being made this year for the comfort and convenience of those wishing to travel to the Engadine. A new train de luxe service, composed exclusively of dining and sleeping cars, will run from Calais direct to the Engadine without change of carriage every Tuesday and Friday in December, January, and February. This train will run in connection with the Turbine Steamer Service (trains leaving Victoria and Holborn Stations at II a.m.), and the Channel passage between Dover and Calais will be made in about sixty minutes. Only first-class passengers, paying a supplementary fare of 29s. 7d., will be taken by this train. which will arrive at Davos Platz in 24 hours and at St. Moritz in 26 hours from London. Eighteenth-century Embroidery picture. "Moses in the Bulrushes " century, when the simple and graceful domesticity of the period is shown in these at one time forgotten examples of our great-grandmothers' skill. The second picture may not immediately suggest Moses in the bulrushes, but such is the subject; a generation that had only just got over playing the part of Ophelia in powder and a hoop found little difficulty with the costume of Pharaoh's daughter. From embroideries to samplers is an easy step, and here is a fine collection from the early seventeenth century until about the time of Waterloo, when the fashion no doubt died. Early in the nineteenth century the young were held firmly in hand, and the tendency of the time towards moral restraint is displayed in these works of good little girls. Some of the admirable sentiments that have been worked Crowded London The Parliamentary crisis, the Cattle Show, and Christmas shopping-to these three causes must be attributed the enormous inflow of people to London. All the leading hotels are packed with visitors, and the restaurants are nightly crowded with gay dinner parties. Dining in the Savoy Restaurant the Sunday before last were seen: The Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, the Duke of Manchester, the Earl and Countess of Clonmel, Lora Clifford, Lord Cork, Countess de Reney, Lord Athlumney, Bar Rienwienwitz, Sir Charles Hartopp, Hon A. Coventry, Ho Cecil Brownlow, Hon. F. Thelluson, and Sir Thomas Dewar Mrs. Ronalds was entertaining a large party, including the Marchioness of Blandford, Lord and Lady Saltoun, Baron Harol de Bildt, Captain Arthur Somerset, and Mr. McCormick (the American Am assador to Paris). One of the most graceful dancers on the lyric stage. Miss Hart-Dyke is at present appearing in the Catch of the Season, at the Vaudeville Theatre The Editor is always pleased to receive contributions from readers, but all such must be accompanied by the necessary stamps for return. if unsuitable, and all MSS., photographs, and drawings must bear the name and address of the sender. If stamps are not enclosed they will be destroyed. Liberal payment is made on publication for all accepted matter. Short satirical and witty sketches, not exceeding 1,000 words, will be considered, but no fiction unless it can be included in our "Worldly" Series, and readers are, therefore. begged to study these stories before submitting MSS. Articles (with photographs) of events on the Continent and in the Colonies are immediately considered. The Editor is always pleased to receive suggestions and ideas from his readers. All letters, etc., should be addressed to the Editor, THE BYSTANDER, Tallis Street, Whitefriars, E.C. The Telephone No. is 471 Holborn. Although every effort is made to deal with contributions promptly, it must be understood that the Editor cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited contributions. Random Jottings Do Cabinet Ministers read the personal sketches of themselves that enrich the papers as soon as their appointments are made out? I suppose that, being human, they do. It must be nice to know that one has an eagle nose and firm, tense lips, and is a kind father and dresses well; and that-so far as may be judged from these data-foreign or financial or legal affairs are safe in one's hands. In one way, of course, the Cabinet Minister has known long since about these things. The shape of his nose must have struck him many a time-for instance, when shaving. But, if he had not been invited to join the Cabinet, it might never have been an eagle nose. It might have ben merely a big nose, with a curve in it. Quite a good nose perhaps, but not eagle. A solemn thought like this must interest even a Cabinet Minister. valuable time in arriving at some point with which they have been familiar from their infancy. A critic of my acquaintance is so obsessed by the idea that nothing readable ends in any other way that he has begun a book to prove that Shakespeare's plays were really written to advertise a cure for indigestion. He hopes to find the key to these Elizabethan pills in the rhymed couplets with which Shakespeare was in the habit of ending off his scenes. Slowly the Japanese influence is making itself felt in this country, and we welcome Mr. Yoshio Markino's criticism of Englishwomen's method of walking. "The English girl," says Mr. Markino, "walks along with her head in the air, so haughty. Our women go always with eyes cast to the ground. They do not care to be masculines." Mr. Markino is right. If Englishwomen would only walk with their eyes cast to the ground, it would be an excellent thing. People who walk in this way have been known to pick up shillings and even halfcrowns. There would be no danger, as at present, of their slipping on pieces of orange-peel, or catching their skirts in matches which have been thrown down after lighting masculine pipes. But the great gain of walking with downcast eyes would be the impossibility of seeing into shop windows as they passed, and of the conséquent coveting and ordering of some trifle. A hat, or jewel, or what not-which, if they had not seen it, they would never have wanted, and would be quite as happy without. It is true they might strike on some of these useless articles in the catalogues, which the bigger shops will persist in sending out nowadays, but, probably, they would not be quite so sure they wanted them. Sanders and Crwhurst E. Morgan, who scored the winning try for Wales v. The In this photo, Morgan is seen winning the long jump at the United even by "One Who Knows Them "-unless it were one setting forth in a critical spirit the size of boots taken by each individual Minister. I do not know if there is anyone in the country who does know them, but an enterprising reporter might get to. Doctors are said to be much interested in a new disease, which has as yet received no name. The symptoms are a sort of hysterical rage, followed by deep depression and a sullen determination to have no more to do with ephemeral literature. The disease is believed to be caused by reading through an article headed "Santa Claus" or "How to Spend a Happy Christmas," or something similar, only to find on reaching the end that it is the advertisement of a library or pills. For some years past, of course, illiterate people have been accustomed to be deceived in this way; but the art of advertisement has reached such a stage that even literary men are lured on to their destruction. It is not the actual dénouement that acts so distressingly on their nerves, but the reflection that they have been taken in, and wasted My Lady's Lace My lady steps across the street, Her modest skirts are held discreet And foamy lingerie. The road of rain or drifting snows Or snowy lingerie ? On Choosing Gifts (So many people at this season have to choose gifts for others, with whose tastes they are entirely unacquainted, that we have -by request-opened this little correspondence column on the subject. We hope it may be helpful.) "What," asks Birdie, "am I to give my cook as a Christmas present? I do not wish the gift to take the form of money, as Mrs. Thompson would only spend it on her person, which is already overdressed." We quite understand your objections, Birdie. It cannot be pleasant for you to see Mrs. Thompson, whom you describe as stout and with spectacles, issuing from your front door in a sky-blue velvet blouse and a picture hat. There is no need to pander to her taste in dress. Give her a warm grey shawl, and, if she betrays any resentment, mention in a firm voice that your husband has gone for a policeman. Once Bit, who is a widow, writes to us to say that her next-door neighbour, who has been very present took this form; while the instruments are made so brittle that in all probability they would be broken before Easter comes. Augustus's case is not so peculiar as Augustus seems to think. He knows a certain Miss H- slightly, having met her at a subscription dance, and he now feels uncertain as to whether he can with propriety send her as a Christmas present his photograph in a silver frame. He hints that Miss H-- is the most perfect of women, and that he hopes one day to call her his own. As Augustus has been so thoughful as to submit his photograph to us, we cannot but think that his best course would be to send the silver frame only in the first instance. Later on, when she was more used to him, she might welcome the photograph. Yes, Mrs. Magdon, we are of opinion that your grandson, aged 16, will be delighted with the book you allude to, called "The Temptations of attentive and neighbourly, is a retired Admiral, and she has often noticed, when calling on him, how devoid of knick-knacks, and all the things that denote a woman's care, his rooms are. "I am anxious," says Once Bit, "to give him a little Christmas gift, and have been wondering if a case for his razors—with his initials embroidered in green upon it-would be likely to prove acceptable." It all depends upon whether Once Bit wishes the Admiral to continue neighbourly or not. Retired Admirals are often queer tempered, and we have known cases where such a gift has decided them to change their residence, without leaving an address. Something simpler, such as a Bradshaw's Guide, would be a safer present to make, if a present is necessary. Alicia has three nephews, varying in age from four to nine, who are coming to stay with her at Easter. In the meantime, she asks us what she should give them for Christmas. She would like it to be something they could remember her by. Why not tin trumpets, Alicia? Not only your little nephews, but also their parents, would bear you in mind if your Even if he is not delighted with it, he will not mention the fact in his letter of thanks to you, and as, if he reads it, it will raise his moral tone, you should have no hesitation about the matter. |