How to amuse yourself and others

by Lina Beard; Adelia B. Beard

In a room occupied at one time by a young friend of the writer, there was an old-fashioned white-pine mantel-piece. It was stiff and plain, with no attempt at ornamentation, and the border of white marble, about five inches wide around the fire-place, was apparently inserted to protect the wood from the heat of the fire, and not for beauty. A hint from the writer was sufficient to set this girl’s brain and fingers to work. Soon the white-marble border was transformed into a row of blue and white tiles, which were not only pretty and appropriate, but were also the means of dispelling the impressions of coldness and hardness the marble gave.

Fig. 375.—Shelves over Mantel-Piece.

The manner of effecting this transformation was simple enough. First the marble was divided into squares, the lines being painted black; then conventional patterns were sketched with a pencil on the squares and painted in blue, oil-paints being used for the purpose.

How the mantel-piece was otherwise reformed, the writer never saw, but it might have been greatly improved and altered by the addition of shelves above, or a suitable lambrequin upon the mantel-shelf. However that may or might have been, the tiles were a successful bit of work, and the painting of them within the capabilities of almost anyone. Then why should we long in vain for a tiled mantel-piece, when we have it in our power to gratify the wish?

On a plain white-marble mantel a border around the fire-place may be marked out, and a set of tiles painted, which will look just as pretty as any that can be bought.

If the rest of the marble is painted black or brown, the tiles will look as though they were set in, and the contrast will make them more effective.

Fig. 375 illustrates our suggestion of putting shelves over the mantel-piece. The braces can be bought at any hardware-store, and the shelves may be of black-walnut or pine boards, stained or painted to match the mantel-piece.

Fig. 376 shows the effect of a mantel-shelf covered with enamel-cloth made in imitation of leather. The color of the material used for the one from which our sketch is taken is dark red, and has a dull, soft finish like Russian leather. It is ornamented with small brass curtain-rings sewed on in points or pyramids; a strip of enamel-cloth is also put behind the shelf, and at the top edge a piece of narrow gilt moulding is tacked.