signs may be copied from wall papers, carpet borders, or damask linens.
Oil paints can be used in the same way for decorative purposes. The brushes to be used for stencilling are of various sizes according to the work to be done; they should have a broad, flat surface, like the brushes used for putting in grounds in china painting. Stencilling can also be used on linen canvas for portieres, curtains, etc., with great success.
Where the pattern is to be repeated several times, the local or ground color can be stencilled, and the design afterward touched up carefully; this touching up giving the individuality to the work, which distinguishes hand from machine labor.
Very beautiful decorations may be applied to articles made of white wood by means of stencils. A very pretty table was for sale in the rooms of the Society of Decorative art. It was of white wood with ebonized legs. The top was square, the centre forming a chessboard, the squares alternately of black and white. On the white squares were silhouettes of children; and immediately around the chessboard was a band of white, on which was a procession of children. The outer border was a band of black. The figures on the table were presumably drawn by hand, but I have selected it as a good instance of what could be done without any knowledge of drawing. The figures could be easily selected from the many illustrations in children's books, by Miss Ledyard, Miss McDermott, Kate Greenaway and others.
The table-top should he, perfectly smooth and clean before beginning work. With ruler and pencil mark off your chess board, and the line separating the two outer borders. Have ready in a saucer or plate some lamp, black and turpentine mixed to the consistency of cream. Paint your outside border, and the alternate squares on the chess board with this mixture, taking care to keep
