A MATERIAL REVIEW.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
is very helpful to a shopkeeper to have his wares so carefully examined and authoritatively criticized. We get plenty of criticism, of course, from our customers, and are very glad of it, but it is nearly always from a purely personal point of view and considered in relation to a particular room or set of conditions. Where we find your opinion so valuable is that it has the wider and more general outlook.
We have taken to heart your remarks about the orange tones. I very much agree about the lack of clarity, but I find, on looking up some of the numbers referred to, that these are cloths woven with a black weft, which is responsible for the muddy look. In cases where several colourings of a stripe are produced, a common warp or a common weft is used as the basis for each colouring as an economy in working. The 7820 and 7821 cretonne is printed on both sides, which has an effect on the price, and the cloth; although not heavy as you say, is a fairly fine cotton. The " metal window net " you refer to certainly has a metallic-looking finish, but it is actually artificial silk, so will riot tarnish in the way you fear. As to the orange window net, which you thought was not what it might be for colour," I think we have got a better one now (U1647), of which I am sending a cutting. Again thanking you for dealing with us so faithfully.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AMBROSE HEAL.