LOST LEISURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 736, 13 January 1915, Page 6

LOST LEISURE.

In these strenuous times, when '"lei* sure," as our ancestors understood) it, is seldom to be obtained, mo;3t ot us have to get through the diurnally appointed task with every nerve strained towards , achievement. To soma 0 f us brain work is appointed, others labour with their hands, and some craftsmen combine manual work with mental effort, as 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 ensured the best achievement. Our duties are multiple, and attention, has to be divided between them; everyone la conscious—some of us are painfully conscious—of the ever-increasing demand on our faculties, be they ol what order they may. Our main en,' deavour is to make as good a result as it is possible consistent with the time we have to bestow on the work in hand, so that there may ba 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 fancywork. The application lies in the fact that workers in our day (amateur workers) desire to get the mkximum of effect achieved by a minimum of labour. Much modern noecllecraft 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 the leisured class in the '"past leng vanished," priceless specimens ol which remain'to show us tha infinite pains bestowed on thoi'r creation. Some of them, although centuries old, have survived as far as may be th< mouldering touch of Time, because the materials used were of a mora enduring quality than those sold in our day. Most of the work done with present-day materials looks very, well for "the day," but, unlike Mrs. Primrose's wedding gown, it is not made to last. Amongst new designs in fancywork one that looks effective and entails no tedious labour is a combination ot cretonne and net. In a well-known art needlework depository I saw tho cushion I now describe. Cotton-back white satin covered the ; cushion, which' was again covered with white net, the mesh of which was open. Flowers in gay colours have been cut. from a piece of cretonne. These flowers were carefully arranged on a corresponding square of net, and then neatly stitched into place. A few beads in crystal suggested dewdrops, but though these may be admitted in work of this kind, devised for other uses, I thought them rather out ot place on a cushion intended for a head rest. This kind of work could be utilised for table-covers, fire« screens, etc., and a. bedspread for the summer would look very effective in a bedroom upholstered in chintz. Tho lining of the spread could be 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 th'is new work are by no means exhausted. Very dainty dresser d'oyleys can be made 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 widt meshed net, cut to shape and th« edge turned in narrowly all round. Thus prepared the net was laid upon the centres of some Japanese paper serviettes, to which it was carefully gummed. Of course the design on the paper must be suitable, in order that the flower or flowers may be 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 kind belongs to the ephemeral of needlecraft. It is just a novelty not warranted to withstand the ordeal of the washing tub, but pretty enough to justify its brief existence, and so 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 shilling. Many other pretty • trifles can be made of these artistic flowered papers.—" Weekly Telegraph."