er for the same hospitable emergency. They make
delightful nooks in sitting-rooms for the little folks' playhouse, or
they may screen off, from the morning caller, a temporary sewing-room
in the back parlor, and in sleeping-rooms, occupied by more than one
person, a cosy dressing-room may be made by their use.

Draperies.

The new swinging portieres that have appeared have a handsome swinging
crane fastened to the wall near the ceiling, upon which a portiere or
curtain is suspended. This can then be swung back against the wall or
swung out to make a cozy corner or to shut off one portion of a room
from another. These swinging portieres can in many cases be made to
take the place of screens and often fit with great advantage where a
fixed portiere of the old sort could not be used.

The handsome cranes are of course more or less expensive, but a
home-made substitute will answer the purpose very well. It is not
exactly home-made, however, for the services of a blacksmith may have
to be called in to bend the three-eighths inch iron rod into shape for
use. The ends are bent to fit into screw eyes or other sockets
fastened to the wall, upon which this improvised crane can be swung.
The portiere is suspended from the iron rod by rings.

Denim is one of the best of all fabrics for a portiere in rooms
constantly used. It may be washed out and will look quite as well as
new. If you want a variety put one entire width in right side out, and
split another and join to the first section, putting the side pieces
wrong side out. Sew the seams, then fell them and featherstitch the
outside of the seams in colored linen. Then with a teacup or saucer
draw some circles, intersecting or lapping at one edge. Work these
with linen in short stitches and make eccentric lines or spider-web
lines from the central design. The edges may be hemmed or
featherstitched or done in buttonhole and cut out in scallops. It is
better to have the edge of the facing instead of making a turned-in
hem.

Then denim, as a floor covering, wears far better than low-cost
matting and never becomes disagreeably faded; for, being made for hard
usage, it but takes a quieter tone when other blues would surely fade
into unpleasant, soiled-looking hues.

Some Useful Bits of Furniture.

A settee table of oak has an adjustable top, which can be turned over
by the removal of two pegs, making a high back to the bench, whose
deep seat is utilized as a household line