older in experience. The wild-eyed enthusiast, born in
England, once more waved the American flag and de-
manded from 75 to 100 per cent, ad valorem on Nottingham
cnrtains. When the chairman of the committee asked,
" What will you? " they answered, " The present duty of
50 per cent, is enough for protection. Make that the mini-
mum and give us a point duty, so that every yard of goods
that is imported shall come in at its actual value." Possibly
there are undervalued goods rushing through in bond to
"ports of entry " on some far off Western creek, but the at-
tentive reader of these columns finds very few reappraise-
ments made by the lynx eyed gentlemen who hold a reading
glass over the samples that come to the Washington street
appraiser's office in this city. And in this fact may be
found the solution of the problem of how it is possible
that, with a steadily increasing yardage, there is no over-
production of American lace curtains.
In the pages devoted to the carpet department in this issue
will be found a sketch of the business career of Jud-
son H. Black, of Detroit, who died on December 26. The
announcement will be read with regret by every man who
has been actively engaged in the upholstery business during
the last twenty years. Although Mr. Black was a large
dealer in draperies he never made the slightest pretense to
a knowledge of any fabric connected with the upholstery
department. He knew carpets, and knew them well.
It is doubtful if he could tell a linen Renaissance from a six
point Nottingham, and probably thought spachtel work was
the product of a Jacquard loom. But he bought his goods as
the American furniture manufacturer says he makes his,
"on honor," and during many years of successful busi-
ness life he was never, with one exception, deceived by
the men in whom he trusted.
That transaction was long ago forgiven and forgotten.
One day he found that he had been deceived. He made
a vigorous kick, demanded a reduction in price and a dating,
discounted the bill, and then charging up 10 per cent, to
profit and loss put the goods in his window and advertised
them in the papers as a job lot at the net cost, with all de-
ductions made. When the offending salesman next visited
Detroit the air in the dry goods houses of the town was
colder than any Peary ever experienced on the 70th
parallel.
R lack's life was replete with adventure. He had little
schooling and walked barefooted two miles each way
daily to get that little. His father was a poor Scotch Bap-
tist minister and a cousin of William Black, the famous
novelist. He worked first for George McDonald at $80 a
year, and while a mere boy went to Memphis, where he
was w^hen the civil war broke out. He became chief of
staff' to General Forrest, " the wizard of the saddle, ' whose
raids along the border carried terror to the hearts of the
farmers, whose horses were driven off to mount the cavalry
of the Confederates and whose cattle went to feed their
army. Black was one time in the saddle for twenty con-
secutive days, pursuing or pursued. The people of Mem-
phis presented him with a valuable horse and trappings.
After three years of service he resigned and went to Buf-
falo, where he was arrested by the Union authorities, but
slipped them and went to Canada. When amnesty was
declared he returned to Buffalo, and was with Hamlin &
Mendsen, among his fellow salesmen being Dickson Bean,
afterward wholesale carpet manager for Field, Leiter &
Co. ; Wm. Olding Newman, later with J. & J. Dobson, and
D. E. Morgan, now of D. E. Morgan, Son & Allen.
After a short service in Chicago he went with James Nail,
of Detroit, then with Friedman Brothers, and finally em-
barked in business for himself.
/'^N one occasion a gentleman now at the head of the lace
^-^ curtain commission business, but then salesman for a
house dealing in Swiss goods, thought he would "have a
try" at Black, and soHcited an order. "Now, George, "was
the reply, " come up to the Russell and PU blow you . You
know I buy all my goods of your grade from Fletcher.
Whenever you have anything of a different kind I'll be
glad to do something for you. " It was a fact that Walter
Longmire used to drive up with W . H . Fletcher's sam-
ples, and was uniformly met with the remark, "Well, Cu-
pid, you had better look through the stock and see what I
want." An hour later Mr. Longmire would say, " I guess
about a thousand." "All right, send 'em along."
"To Jack Hargraves, then representing McCIain & Simp-
son, and on the road, like most carpet travelers, a
month too early, he said : "I can't buy any goods just
now. We haven't taken stock, and I actually don't know
what I need." Seeing the disappointed look on Har-
graves' face, he added: " Give me your order book, I don't
want to have you skunked," and wrote, " Fifty pieces of
Extra Super, to be selected when I come East next
month."
\ LACE importer said recently that the high cost of bob-
binets had retarded the progress of Plauen manu-
facturers, who confine their output chiefly to embroidered
goods, and buyers are turning their attention to the Calais
and Nottingham markets. American buyers were fortu-
I
The Carpet and Upholstery Trade Review.
nate enough during their recent visit to the foreign markets
to secure their supplies for the new season prior to the
advance in the price of nets, which has affected all grades
of laces. This assures a stability to the market that will
reflect in the demand as the season advances.
p-ROM Nottingham comes the statement that the extensive
exportation of lace machinery which has been going
on for some years past, and, above all, the development of
the embroidered lace industry in Saxony and Switzerland,
have rendered foreign competition very formidable.
TTfter eight 3'ears of effort the big manufacturers of steel
rod wire and nails have pooled their issues and the
combination was launched on January 1 with $60,000,000
of capital. The corporation tax was $87,000, the largest
ever paid by any concern to the State of Illinois. The
headquarters of the combination will be at Chicago.
Gerritt H. Ten Broek, of St. Louis, who is one of the
counsel, said :
" We have not tried, nor shall we trj', to force any fac-
tory to join the combination.
' ' We offer them their price, and give them the option
of taking cash or stock in the new company for their indi-
vidual interests. If they do not wish to accept either
proposition they can stay out without fear of our attempt-
ing to force them to join us.
" Our whole project is based upon the economic idea
that a factor}- can supply its proper territory cheaper, and,
consequently at better profit, that it can a distant terri-
tory. The only effect on the market that I can see will
be a possible slight lowering of prices, because of this
economy, and also a steadiness of prices for the future."
pvuRiNG the past two weeks the following buyers have been
in the market: H. B. Grosshardt, for Smith, Murray
& Co., Bridgeport, Conn.; C. S. Sanborn, of Burrows &
Sanborn, Ljmn, Mass. ; F. E. Bacon, of F. E. Bacon &
Co., Rome, N. Y. ; N. E. Chamberlain, Burlington, Vt.
J. Cleland, of Cleland, Simpson & Taylor, Scran ton. Pa.
T. Elder, of Elder & Johnston, Daj^ton, Ohio ; A. Frank
of Frank Brothers, Chicago ; H. Weil, for Nathan Gutman
& Co., Baltimore; L. O. Miller, of Miller & Rhoads,
Richmond, Va. ; B. Peck, of the B. Peck Dry Goods
Company, Lewiston, Me. ; S. Smith, of S. & F. L. Smith,
Hazleton, Pa. ; W. R. Trask, of Trask, Prescott &
Richardson, Erie, Pa. ; Edward E. Creighton, for T. V.
Howell & Son, Hamilton, Ohio ; G. E. Lorch, of G. E.
Lorch & Brother, Pittsburg ; R. C. Wheeler, of Tootle,
Wheeler & Motter. St. Joseph, Mo. ; E. R. Du Bose. of the
Chamberlin-Johnson-Du Bose Company, Atlanta, Ga. ; A.
Joseph, of Isaac Joseph & Sons, A'incennes, Ind. ; A. Klotz,
Bellaire, Ohio : J- S. McAnultj^ of Williams & McAnulty,
Scranton, Pa. ; J. C. Soutter, of Soutter, Buchanan
& Young, Lancaster, Pa. : T. E. Kenney, for Shepard &
Co., Providence, R. I.; C. H. Bissell, of C. H. Bissell &
Co., Southington, Conn.; J. Martin, of Martin & Naylor,
Gloversville, N.Y. ; H. S. Cnimle}^ for the Sibley, Lind-
say & Curr Company, Rochester, N . Y . ; E . F . Jones,
of Jones & Audette, Jamestown, N . Y . ; I . Cohen, of the
Cohen Company, Richmond, Va. ; T. E. Covington, for
Schuneman & Evans, St . Paul ; F . A . Addin, of the J .
F. Addin Estate, Orangeburg, S. C.
L. J. Butzel, of J. L. Butzel's Sons, Saugerties, N. Y. ;
W. M. Rettew, of Watt, Rettew & Clay, Norfolk, Va. ;
A. C. Eodman (wholesale), for Marshall Field & Co.,
Chicago; M. J. Michael, of Michael Brothers, Athens,
Ga. ; R. E. Slaughter, for Julius Meyer's Sons, Rich-
mond, Va. ; C. H. Peck, for the Pettis Drj- Goods
Company, Indianapolis ; L. L. Salveter, for Rice,
Stix & Co., St. Louis, Mo.; E. D. Starbuck, of E. D.
Starbuck & Co., Saratoga Springs, N. Y. ; S. Rosen-
thal, of Rosenthal Brothers, Las Vegas, N. Mex. ;
H. T. Menner, of Menner & Co., Honesdale, Pa.; A.
Kennedy, of Kennedy & Mclnness, Pittsfield, Mass. ; E.
E. Shauer, for Mandel Brothers, Chicago; W. H.
Murphy, for Porteous & Mitchell, Norwich, Conn. ;
J. Rothschild, of Rothschild Brothers, Ithaca, N. Y. ;
P. Feldhauser, of the Cordes & Feldhauser Carpet Com-
pany, Denver; Waldemar Meckes, for John Meckes, Cleve-
land, Ohio; C. F. Sisson, of Sisson Brothers & Welden,
Binghamton, N. Y. ; H. J. S. Seeley, for the J. H. North
Furniture and Carpet Company, Kansas City; Wm. J.
Dinwoodey, of the Dinwoodey Furniture Company, Salt
Lake City; G. F. Jones (upholster}^ and cabinet hardware),
for Marshall Field & Co., Chicago; E. R. Hague, for L.
H. Field, Jackson, Mich.; W. J. Bamber, of the Lion
Dr>^ Goods Company, Toledo; A. J. Filers, of McKean,
Filers & Co., Austin, Tex.; N. N. Brooks, for Siegel,
Cooper & Co., Chicago; J. D. Decker, for Montgomer}'
Ward & Co., Chicago.
J. J. Wheaton, for H. S. Barney & Co., Schenectady,
N. Y. ; A. E. Woods, for Reid & Hughes, Waterburj^
Conn. ; H. S. Williamson, Lancaster, Pa. ; D. B. Long-
will, for the Callender, McAuslan & Troup Company,
Providence, R. I. ; C. A. Winsor, for the Hartwell- Rich-
ards Company, Providence, R. I. ; J. McLaren, for the
Wm. Hengerer Company, Buffalo, N. Y. ; F. D. Miller,
of Miller Brothers, Westminster, Md. ; L. Levy, of Le\'y
Brothers, Norfolk, Va. ; J . H . Kunkel, of J . H . Kun-
kel & Brother, Pittsburg, Pa. ; Charles F. Bonney, for
Wm. Donaldson & Co., Minneapolis; L. M. Sage, for
the Minneapolis (Minn.) Drj' Goods Company; F. Brown,
for Jonas Long's Sons, Wilkesbarre, Pa. ; H. B. Strong,
of Brown, Thomson & Co., Hartford, Conn.
THE A. NAUMANN-PULFRICH COMPANY.
THE complete spring line of the A. Naumann-Pulfrich
Company is now on view at the salesroom, 458 Broad-
way , comer of Grand street, and Mr. Naumann and Mr.
Pulfrich are both on hand daily to meet the visiting trade.
The old friends and customers of A. Naumann will be
glad to learn that he is prepared to show them a complete
range of lace curtains and tidies in all grades, from the
cheapest up to the very finest goods, and his concern is
carr}'ing stock in New York of all samples shown, thus in-
suring prompt deliveries. Mr. Naumann spent last week
in Boston and secured his usual good share of orders. He
invites calls from all visiting buyers, assuring them that
such visits will prove advantageous.
The Atkin Furniture Company, of KnoxviUe, Tenn. , sup-
plied the window shades for the Federal Building in that
city. Dark brown Scotch hoUands were hung at all the
windows.
r^c^-^u
The general tone of the room is gold, al-
though in a subdued form, and beautifully
relieved by the rich colors in the draperies.
The room is intended for assembly and
dancing.
A'
A NEW ENGLISH FITMENT.
A FIRST EMPIRE ROOM.
A MOST unique and beautiful room has just been com-
pleted in the house of Edward D. Lewis, the inarine
painter, 30 South Twentieth street, Philadelphia. The
building in which the room is situated was constructed as
an annex to the main structure. It is 46 x 30 feet and 20
feet in height. The architect has reproduced the style of
building popular in the Napoleonic era, not only in the ex-
ternal appearance, but in the architectural adornments of
the interior. The placing of the Corinthian columns, the
medallions, the fireplace projection, the door elaborations
are strictly after the order of the First Empire.
All of the color decorations are from the brush of Mr.
Lewis himself. The ceiling is flat, the main color being
turquoise blue, surrounded with a border in gray tint on
which a few pale pink flowers are introduced. A chan-
delier of ormolu work, which depends from the centre, is
a copy of one found in an old palace in Florence and dating
back to 1750. The floor is of mahogany, cut into strips
and laid in what is technically termed " staggered " rows.
The entrance from the main building into the room is by
two doors that were formerly windows, looking upon the
fine yard of the dwelling upon which the new structure
stands. From these entrances a fine view is had of the
broad fireplace, on each side of which are candelabra
formed of life-sized figures plated with gold. These were
once the property of Cardinal Fesch, uncle of Napoleon.
Directly opposite the two entrances, and upon either side
of the fireplace, are two broad windows with spandrels
above them, filled in with narrow panes of glass, orna-
mented with frost-like tracery. Fluted pilasters hung
with crimson tapestry break the monotony of bare walls.
The two entrances project into the room. On both sides
of each are Corinthian columns, between which hang
canary colored silk curtains.
The centre of one of the end walls is covered by a most
wonderful piece of work in silk tapestry, known as " The
Judgment Day." It was made in the sixteenth century
and is very elaborate in detail, innumerable figures being
introduced. Many smaller tapestries adorn the room in
various positions. Some of them are genuine examples of
the Napoleonic decorations.
ENGLISH TEA CLOTHS.
-MONG the many pretty etceteras of English
fashions of the day may be ranked the tea
cloths for afternoon gatherings. At some
teas the small tables set out about the rooms
have white muslin cloths with deep lace
flouncing, and at others delicate colored
and flowered muslin is used, with a frill of
chiffon matching in tone, lightly caught up with
a stitch here and there. Fine linen with an
insertion and edging of pillow lace, or a de-
sign embroidered in white thread ; Swiss mus-
lin, with colored ribbon run in and out of insertion, cross-
ing and running round the cloth, with clustered loops at
each corner, are popular, and so are others with a pattern
in drawn thread all over them, or a scattered design of
single violets, worked in washing thread or silk, with a
group in each corner, the stalks being gold colored and
without leaves. The ordinary white tea cloths are often
ornamented in this way, and have a fall of coarse thread
lace sewn on. As wedding presents, tea cloths of white
satinet embroidered in gold or of delicate colors, worked
in shaded silks, are given ; and there is also a Cretan silk
muslin interspersed with tinsel threads, which is greatly
used for table cloths and slips. The daintiest little teapot
holders are to be seen made of wadded satin, brocade, or
in the material of the cloth. They are circular, about 5
inches in diameter, edged with a cord and a concealed
wire, so that they fold over and resemble in shape the
division of an orange. Some of them are of soft silk,
" smocked " in color. A silver or old china bowl of roses
or some other flowers, or a quaint basket filled with moss
and ferns, is to be seen on many prettily arranged tea
tables, for, now that five o'clock tea is such an institution
considerable thought is bestowed on it to render it attrac-
tive and, if possible, original.
NEW UPHOLSTERY GOODS MILL.
LAURENCE W. Frank, whose retirement from the Josephs
& Frank Company is noted elsewhere in this issue, is
preparing to enter the trade again as the head of the
Laurence W. Frank Company. A new mill is building
for the company at 139 and 141 Oxford street, Philadel-
phia, and it will be equipped with the newest and best
machinery for the manufacture of medium and high-class
silk, wool and cotton drapery stuffs, furniture coverings,
curtains and table covers. Owing to delay in completing
the plant, the company will not be in the market this
spring, but when they enter it they are certain to be a
highly important factor in the trade.
Dealers in carpets, curtains and furniture should send
to Charles F. Pease for his new book of bindings and other
specialties.
y.J /*
SEEN AND SUGGESTED.
\ NOVELTY in sofa cushions for the present season is in-
tended for a young woman's gift. It is a collection
of college flags embroidered around a circle, their slender
poles pointing to its centre. Each flag is done in the color
of the college it repre-
sents, the whole
set on a background
of cream white canvas
cloth. This material
also backs the pil-
low, and a variegated
heavy silk twisted
cord finishes the edge.
Another pillow,
for a smoker, has
his paraphernalia of
pipes, pouch and a
bunch of Havanas real-
istically embroidered
in gold and brown on a
plain background.
MIRROR FRAME, COPPER REPOUSSE AND
OAK, VICTORIAN ERA EXHIBITION. -^^^ fashion to have
bathrooms done in
spotless white is one that is certainly exceedingly fit. In
some of the new luxurious homes of the suburbs these
rooms are finished
with porcelain tiled
floors and wain-
scotings of pure,
creamy white, and
the mirrors are
framed in white en-
ameled woods.
There are lambs'
wool rugs of the
most spotless
fleece, Swiss draper-
ies at the windows,
and even the
little wall cabinet
for necessary toilet
articles is finished
in polished
white enamel. With
the marble and
porcelain of the
GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR EMBROIDERED WITH
CREWEL WORK, VICTORIAN ERA EXHIBI-
TION.
plumbling fitments the effect is almost dazzling in its
whiteness.
C iDEBOARDS and side tables are now covered with linen
or silk cloths, heavily embroidered, and small squares,
ovals, or rounds, embroidered also, are placed under the
decanters, &c. Some very
elaborate sideboard sets
are made of ecru silk, em-
broidered with flowers and
bordered with silver, but
these are not very practical,
as they cannot be washed.
More useful ones are of granite
linen or damask, em-
broidered with linen or
wash silk and trimmed
with heav}' guipure or cut
work.
T~HE bamboo, associated in
housekeepers' minds with
curtains and furniture, has, it
seems, edible qualities
on its native heath. When
very young the stalks are
succulent and tender and not
unlike asparagus. It is
cooked and eaten with a sauce like that vegetable.
/^usHioNS, or rather couch pillows, of painted bolting
^ cloth, are seen in great variety this season, and they
are usually of a most elaborate character, the bolting
cloth being placed over satin and the pillow being trimmed
with frills, folds and puffings, to say nothing of lace and
embroidery. Such cush-
ions are, of course,
utterly useless, as they
are too delicate to be
handled, much less
leaned upon, but they are
expensive and dainty,
and catch the eye of the
lavish purchaser. Cush-
ions covered with
Bagdad stripes or other
substantial Oriental
fabrics, not too light
in color, are also greatly
liked, and are much "fast black.
SCONCE, VICTORIAN ERA
EXHIBITION.
W^ "i**^"
The Carpet and Upholstery Trade Review.
more practical, as they can be put to real ser-
vice.
CARPET ITEMS.
The Bromlc)' Brothers Carpet Company have all their
men on the road and their looms all running.
jAMiS & George D. Bromley report they have most of
their looms running on an increasing demand. The high
grade goods manufactured by this firm are appreciated by
all judges of quality in carpet.
Lord & Taylor are having specially good success in
their cut order department with Sanford Velvets. Man-
ager Gilmore states that the firm have very largely in-
creased their business on Velvets since they decided that
the Sanford goods would be the only make of Velvets
they would handle in this department.
The Goshen Sweeper Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.,
has been reorganized. The business will be carried on by
a new company, with a capital stock of $25,000. The
stockholders are C. C. Comstock, John Mowat and E. H.
Foot. Mr. Comstock is president; Mr. Mowat is vice-
president, and H.J. Bennett is treasurer.
The M. a. Furbush & Son Machine Company, 224
Market street, Philadelphia, in their new advertisement on
page 99 of this issue, call attention to the Smyrna rug
looms manufactured by them. These looms are built in
several sizes, and are used by all the large manufacturers
of Smyrna rugs. Write for a catalogue and prices.
E. T. Mason & Co., importers of Japanese rugs, straw
matting, portieres, screens, &c., 28 and 30 Greene street.
New York, are in a position to interest strongly every
dealer in such goods. Their stock of Japanese rugs is
especially large and attractive. Particular attention is
called to their new line of Hundo jute rugs, which are
made in all sizes and in a great variety of handsome pat-
terns.
The Lamond & Robertson Company, manufacturers of
Smyrna rugs, hemp carpets, Napier matting, Crescent and
Dundee rugs, &c., Paterson, N. J., opened the spring season
with the most extensive and attractive lines of these goods
ever shown by them, and their business to this date has
been very satisfactory. The lines are shown in New York
by Walter Scott, 108 and 110 Worth street: at Chicago,
by Carl Bremer, 221 Fifth avenue; at Boston, by A. N.
Flinn, 564 Washington street, and at Cincinnati, by J. M.
Allen, Palace Hotel Buildinar.
AFFAIRS OF THE AMERICAN SHADE COMPANY
THE American Shade Company, St. Louis, is financially
embarrassed. It is said that the plant has been taken
possession of by the mother of W. H. Mare, Jr., and that
the Columbia Shade Cloth Company has secured the
factory, with the machinery contained in it, but has not
yet decided whether it will operate it or not. The com-
pany was organized last March, W. H. Mare, Sr., and
his son having secured the controlling interest. W. W.
Carpenter, the founder of the business, disposed of his
interest in it to the Messrs. Mare, but remained with the
company as superintendent of its factory.
THE ROME UNIVERSAL CURTAIN POLE.
THE Rome Brass and Copper Company state that the
"Rome Universal Curtain Pole " is a seller. This
company employ about 1,000 hands, and when they say a
thing sells it must be so, for they are in a position to judge
as to what the word ' ' seller " means. Two little tracks upon
the pole, formed from the metal which covers the wood, is
the device that does the trick. Lubricate these tracks
with a little oil, rubbed on with the finger, and the results
you get with' any ordinar}', common ring will satisfy you
that the "Rome Universal Pole" is all that this company
claim for it.
See the manufacturers' advertisement on page 91 of
this issue.
HARTSHORN SHADE ROLLERS.
THE Stewart Hartshorn Company's new advertisement
on page 71 of this issue is of special interest to every
dealer. In every part of the world where a window shade
is hung the Hartshorn roller is sure to be found. Its
sterling merits have made it an indispensable part of the
stock of every dealer in window shades, and the demand
for it is so great as to keep the company's immense fac-
tories constantly running.
ROSENTHAL & BROWNLIE.
THE spring ling of tapestry curtains shown by Rosenthal
& Brownlie this season is one of the most complete
in novelties in the market. Visiting buyers have placed
ver}'- good orders and complimented the firm on the good
taste shown in getting up the line.
H. Goldthorp is making a trip in the Middle States
for the firm. E. T. Lamburton, who covers Boston and
the New England States, is sending in flattering orders.
R. S. Brownlie, of the house, is back in Chicago after a
successful trip in the West, and H. Gardner is up State
and will make Toronto before returning to New York.
THE MANUFACTURERS' CONVENTION.
PRESIDENT McKINLEY WILL BE A GUEST AT THE BANQUET.