The art of decorating dry goods windows and interiors

A pretty custom it is to set apart one day in memory of our nation’s fallen heroes, and May 30 is always held in loving, if sad, remembrance by our people.

Much advice has been offered in past years concerning the appropriate decorations for this day. Some favor depicting the joy and triumph resulting from our wars, and the glory of a life given for the nation’s defense. Others see the sadness of mourning friends only, and think the flower strewn grave the best recognition of the day. So the matter of design must be left to the taste and disposition of the decorator. It is well, however, to bear in mind that mixed with the sorrow of the people is a strain of pride and exaltation that their loved ones died so nobly and heroically.

Flowers in profusion should be used, and the national colors are not inappropriate.

Since our late wars there are more soldiers’ and sailors’ graves to decorate than ever before, and a new interest in Memorial day has been aroused. Therefore the wise merchant, who persistently caters to the moods and whims of the great public, will see that his show windows pay a fitting tribute to the occasion.

A FLORAL FLAG.

A national flag composed of flowers is made by running wires across a frame for stripes and pinning red and white flowers to them. Wire netting does nicely for this purpose, and if natural flowers are not available, red, white and blue artificial flowers may readily be procured.

RIBBON FLAGS.

Another way to make a flag is to use ribbon for the stripes and puffed blue silk with white knots of baby ribbon for the stars. I have seen some handsome flags made entirely of baby ribbons. You can make red, white and blue backgrounds by using these colors of Velvelette, which is easily applied. Velvelette is a “flock” which comes in various colors and can be had at paint stores.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The illustrations accompanying this chapter are appropriate designs for Memorial Day. By studying them you will get ideas for your own display, the details being readily carried out through the instructions furnished in the opening chapters of this book.

FOURTH OF JULY DISPLAY.

Trimmers will find no difficulty in securing appropriate subjects for Independence Day, as our recent history abounds in striking incidents. But it must not be forgotten that July 4 is dedicated to the heroes of the revolution and to the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

For this reason July 4th is the great patriotic occasion and the national colors, the national flag and shield and the national heroes are appropriately employed for decoration. “The Spirit of the Times” and “The Birth of the Flag,” are grand subjects for window display, and both of these we illustrate. Other window trims of a patriotic character also accompany this chapter.

EXAMPLE OF PATRIOTIC DISPLAY.

Many people, I know, place an electric fan where its powerful breeze moves the flag in quick waves; but after all, that is not a natural method of waving “Old Glory.” The sweep of the flag pole itself in a semi-circle is the proper method of waving the star spangled banner, and this effect may easily be procured in a show window.

In the first illustration is a large frame of red, white and blue, in the center being a battleship, or whatever else your fancy may dictate for a trim. You can make this frame and keep it to inclose various incidents of the war as they may occur. The section of frame marked “white” is beveled, or placed on an incline, to better carry out the effect of a picture frame. Above your picture three flags are naturally and continually waved, and the effect is well worth the slight trouble required to produce it.

The second illustration, which is the rear plan, explains the waving of the flags. Three circular slots (3) are cut in the frame, through which the flag staffs (2) are placed. These are weighted at the ends (7) to make them balance. Place the pulleys (4) as shown in the cut, and run a cord over the pulleys connecting with the flags. Opposite each connection place a rubber cord or weak spring, fastened to the framework in such a position that as the cord slacks it will pull the flag to the opposite side. The pin and block (5) for the flag to work on should be loose enough for free motion. The wheel (6) gives the motion to the cord, and is operated by a small motor. The apparatus is very easily constructed, and works perfectly. In front of the picture place stacks of arms and a cannon, to fill in the foreground. The cannon is made as follows: Cover a frame with oilcloth or carpet paper and apply black or yellow cloth or paint, to make it resemble iron or brass.

THANKSGIVING DISPLAYS.

While much labor, time and expense is devoted to Christmas windows the trimmer often neglects his Thanksgiving displays. For this reason hardly anything strictly new is ever seen on this occasion. As a matter of fact, it is much easier to scheme for Christmas than for Thanksgiving displays, as the trimmer has a greater variety of attractive material for his work at his disposal and more liberal allowances are made on his employer’s side for the occasion. Yet we can without any great expenditure produce many attractive and new Thanksgiving displays. Winter scenes of different character can easily, quickly and economically be gotten up and are very adaptable. On Thanksgiving Day we have usually snowy, wintry weather; should it happen, however, that this year this is not the case, do not let the weather interfere with your work. Thanksgiving Day being the opening day of the season a winter scene is always appropriate, very effective and makes a winning, pleasing impression upon the passerby.

If your window is large enough you may construct a pretty background by building mountains, partly covered with snow. Take old dry goods boxes of various sizes and pile them up in an irregular fashion so as to form the shape of mountains. A few boards and strips will also be required to obtain the desired effect. Cover this frame with carpet paper, that the hills, rocks and earth will be properly represented. Take care to hide the edges of the paper. Heavy old packing canvas may be used instead of paper, if you have it. Cover the paper or canvas with cheap water color, consisting of black and white mixed with a little umber brown, to give it the proper color. You do not need to be much of an artist to do this work. After it is painted cover the tops of the hills, the gullies and the floor with cotton, in such manner as to imitate snow. Place the display in the back and sides of the window, so as to leave floor space in front. From the upper parts of the mountains have a little brook or rill run down till it reaches a pond of water at the bottom. The pond is made by placing on the floor a flat wash tub, having a hole in the bottom connected with a waste pipe. The outside of the tub, up to the edge, must be hidden with rocks and snow, and the inside should be painted a brownish green. Put a few pebbles in it to cover the bottom. The brook can be arranged by using a runway of tin, painted brown, which must be bent into an irregular course, and follow the shape of the mountains. One or two pretty cascades may be made by allowing the water to fall a few inches from one trough to another. Place small stones and snow at the edges to give it a natural effect. The water may be supplied from a barrel set up in the back of the window, or by a connection with water works. A few dry branches placed here and there will represent trees. A red incandescent light behind the top of the highest mountain will give a very pretty effect to the scene, as it will look like the sun setting or a volcanic mountain. The cotton, or snow, will almost appear as on fire. To complete the picture scatter some diamond dust over the cotton to make it sparkle like snow. Some rabbits in the foreground, a form dressed as a hunter, etc., are additions which will suggest themselves to a trimmer able to procure them. Put a few goods at the front of the window and don’t forget the price cards.

For a thanksgiving scene paint a background on cloth, showing a farm, with barn, rail-fence, trees, etc., in the distance. From this background a block of turkeys is seen marching forward like a file of soldiers. All this is painted. The real scene now begins. Show the corner of a house at one side, and a farmer’s form with axe in hand, beside a stump. Two or three dead turkeys (real ones) are lying near, their heads severed from their bodies. Red paint upon the axe and stump will show the slaughter is real.

The first turkey on the painted scene could bear a placard reading, “We are ready for you,” or “A Sacrifice of the Innocents,” or something similar.

Be sure the bottom edge of the scene is covered by cotton, branches, or stones, so that the painted scene will blend into the real one.

THE TURKEY.

The Turkey being the natural emblem of Thanksgiving Day we show a most beautiful bird of this species created from linens. We print herewith a cut of the framework, showing how to construct the foundation. The tail is made separate from the body and fastened on with screw hooks, so that it may be handled easily; 194 doilies were used in the covering. A good idea would be to place a sign on the turkey reading: “Good to eat off.”

CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS.

It has been estimated that the value of the merchandise disposed of during December is equal to that sold during the other eleven months of the year.

It is no wonder, then, that active preparations have been made for months in advance to take care of the holiday trade to the best advantage.

THE MERCHANT’S DUTY.

is to provide for his window display on an elaborate scale. No notion of false economy should be allowed to interfere with the attractiveness of his displays. He must remember that his trimmer has the brains and skill to create beautiful effects, but is powerless without the material to work with.

To be economical—let us speak plainly, and say stingy—in supplying your decorator with material will lose you more trade than you can afford to spare. If your competitor’s display is better than yours the reason will probably be that he has been more liberal than you in providing proper material for display. You can’t afford to allow any one to outdo you in window display in these days preceding the holidays, when most of the shoppers depend upon the windows to guide them in purchasing.

THE TRIMMER’S DUTY

during this important season is to exercise his talents to his employer’s best advantage. He has doubtless been planning original displays for months in advance, and if his house affords him proper scope and material he should strive to outdo all former efforts to win trade for the firm that pays him his salary in dull months, as well as busy ones.

Don’t worry about working over time; the entire force must be too much interested in the success of the house to grumble about work. And do not expect your employer to allow you a greater expenditure than the size of your town or the importance of the house renders necessary. Make your windows as attractive as possible at the smallest outlay of money that may be required, and in this way consider the interests of your firm.

A CHRISTMAS MANTEL.

Accompanying this is a picture of a Christmas mantel and fireplace, created entirely from underwear. A light frame of wood was first erected, and the underwear piled before it. Upon the shelf were pieces of bric-a-brac.

This picture illustrates a stalactite cave, which is rendered even more attractive by a background showing the northern lights, and constantly changing by means of an automatic device. The lights are painted on an ordinary drop curtain, before which at a distance of three feet was placed a tarletan curtain to lend the effect of distance. The back scene is lighted by twelve border lights that flash automatically every minute. The front is also lighted by concealed incandescents which flash when the back lights are turned off. The stalactites used are hexagon in shape. They are cotton batting, and covered with ground frosting. The lightning was effected by rollers and an alternating current. The display was ten feet deep, thirteen feet high and sixteen feet wide.

CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS.

We show in this connection several excellent designs for Christmas window displays, all of which have been used successfully. The methods of constructing these displays the reader has already been instructed upon. At once you will see what framework is required and how it must be covered and decorated. Of course any window shown can be adapted to any sized window, and many of the illustrations can doubtless be improved upon when the idea is once presented to your mind.