LOST LEISURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 723, 21 November 1914, Page 6

LOST LEISURE.

In these strenuous times, when "leisure," as our ancestors understood'; it, is -seldom -to. be obtained, most of us have to get through the diurnally appointed task with every nerve strained 1 towards, achievement. To some, of us bra'n work is aypointed, others labour with their hands, and some craftsmen combine iranual work with mental effort, aB • in the case of inventors. It is no wonder that with days eo full, we cannot always perform each separate task with the deliberate care and concentration of thought that ensures the best achievement. Our dut'ics are multiple, and attention., has to bo divided between them ; everyone is conscious—some of us arc painfully conscious—of the evcrrincrcasing demand on our faculties, he they ol v.hat order they may. Our ma'in <n deavour is to make as" good a result as it is possible consistent with the time we have to bestow on the vrork in hand, so that there may be ~ no robbery of Peter to pay Paul. This is rather a solemn preamble to what I am about to write concerning a new' kind of fancy work. Tho application lies in the fact that workers in our day (amateur workers) desire to get the maximum of effect achieved by a minimum of labour. Much modern needlecraft is telling 'in effect, and the fineness of detail that was a characteristic detail of the work of women of many generations back is ever looked for. There is not time nowadays 'for the slow progress demanded for needlework! comparable with that done by tho leisured class 'in the "'past long vanished," priceless specimen* of which remain to show uo tho inanito pains bestowed on thd'r creation, Some of thehi, although centimes old, have survived as far as may be tho mouldering touch of Time, becauss the materials used were of a moro enduring qualit-y than those sold in our day. Most of the work dona with present-day materials looks very well for "the day," but, unlike Mrs. Primrose's wedding gown, it !b not made to last.

Amongst new designs in fancy work one that looks effective and entails-no tedious labour is a combination of cretonne and net. In a well-known art needlework depository I bhw the cushion I now describe. Cotton-back white satin covered th» ,• cudiion, which was again covered with white net, the mesh of which was o;nn, Flowers in gay colours have bscn cut from a-piece of cretonne. Those flowers were carefully arranged en a corresponding square of net,- and iton neatly stitched into place. A few beads iu crystal suggested dew-drops, but though.these may bo admitted in work of this kind, devised for other uses, I thought them rather out of place on a cushion intended for a head rest. This kind of work could be utilised for table-coveri?, firescreens, etc., and a. bedspread for the summer would look very effective in a bedroom upholstered in chintz. The lining of the spread could bo of mercerised linen, white or colored, and the flowers of large size. Beads used to emphasise their effect would not be out of place as they seem to be when employed to embellish a cushion or the head rest.

The capacities of this now work are by no means exhausted. ' Very dainty dresser d'oyleys can be mado in similar fashion to the articles already enumerated, and spotted net may be used instead of that with a plain open mesh. A very dainty set of d'oyleys I saw was made of wide meshed net, cut to shape and tho edge turned in narrowly all round. Thus prepared the net was laid upon tho centres of sonic Japanese paper serviettes, to which it was carefully gummed. Of course tha design on the paper must be suitable,, in order that the flower or flowers may bo adapted to the purpose 'in hand. As vivid colours (chiefly) appear in these serviettes the design is clearly visible through the net. I need hardly say that work of this kin* belongs to the .ephemeral of needlocraft. It is just a novelty ftot warranted to withstand the ordeal of tho., washing tub, but pretty enough to justify its brief existence, and bo inexpensive that to destroy it when soiled can raise no compunction. Japanese paper d'oyleys are sold in boxes, fifty," in a box, the cost being less than a shilMng. Many other pretty trifles can be made of these artistic flowered papers.—" Weekly Telegraph."