Indian Beadwork

1895

"Did you know," writes the distinguished folklorist, Miss Mary Alicia Owens, to a friend, "that the beadwork of the prairie Indians is the finest in the world? The costumes that they display during their corn dances and like festivities are really remarkable for both beauty and elegance, for many of the Indians are exceedingly rich and possess great stores of barbaric finery. I just wish you could see my collection of sashes, socks, garters, necklaces, bracelets and headbands. It's said to be one of the finest in the world. I have one very old calumet with the three sacred feathers dangling from the stem by a slender band of porcupine quills and grass. I haven't a tomahawk, I'm sorry to say. The ornamental drums and tomahawks belong to the tribe and cannot be bought.'" — Philadelphia Press.


Why He Kept Silent

American Host — It seems to me rather a singular fact that in all your conversations you have never mentioned Goethe.
German Guest — Vell, you see how id is. If I bronounce his name as you Americans bronounce id, my Sherman friendts will laugh at me, and if I bronouce id gorrectly my American friendts vill nod know who I am dalking aboud. — New York Weekly.


One Case

Watts — Did you ever know of any one dying for love?
Potts — Once. I knew a fellow who starved to death after being refused by an heiress. — Indianapolis Journal.

Beaded Ornamentations Are Popular

1914

Beads are very much in vogue at present and are being extensively used for decoration in all sorts of ways. Old fashioned strings originally intended for necklaces or fan chains have been broken and rethreaded in new forms. In a great many instances the alterations are novel.

Beads have recently made their appearance as decoration upon evening shoes, and a pretty pair are those which are designed with conventionalized flowers carried out in iridescent beads. These are stitched very closely upon net and made in a large variety of colors so that they will match any shade of evening dress.

The fronts of the silk evening stockings are also embroidered with beads, the colorings of which blend harmoniously with the rest of the costume. They are sewed widely apart and can be made to have the appearance of softly glittering dewdrops. If it is wished to carry this form of ornamentation throughout the whole costume beads may be artistically arranged and sewed on the sash ends of the gown, and, provided that they are not placed too closely together, they will always give a very dainty finish to an evening gown.

Then there are the bead bags with which our grandmothers were delighted, and some of the reticules of this period which now remain are to be classed among the few beautiful specimens displayed in the handiwork of an inartistic generation.

For some years these bead bags were ignored and thrust aside as so much rubbish. Then some one discovered their loveliness, and this led to a general revival of them.

They were brought out from old drawers, trunks and lumber rooms and very soon appeared in all the shop windows marked at fabulous prices. Now they are difficult to obtain, and it is seldom that they can be picked up at little antique shops for a dollar or so, as in former days.