DECOKATIVE ART. 54 DECKEE. produce the harmony, rhythm, balance, a,nd con- tract of good decoralion by means of novel combi- nations of flowing curves and swaymg lines, wita occasional recourse to natural fonos. The limits of this article preclude the attempt even to sketcli the general principles as well as the historic development of the decorative arts. The technical rules observed by decor;itors vary with the materials, purpose, and manipulations of the several arts-, but all are subject to the controlling principles which underlie all good art Order and balance, unity of style with va- rietv of detail, rhvthmic movement and subordi- nation of details" to the dominant theme are (■<iually valid principles in poetry, ornament, and ""ri'ie literature of decorative art is extensive, but a fiist-rate general treatise on its history and principles is lacking. Among the better known titles may be mentioned Owen Jones, Gronnnar of Ormunent (London, 1856);. J. Ward, Historic Onunnent (London, 1890; J. CroNvniushield. Mural Painting (Boston, 1^83) , F S Alever, Bandbook of Ornament (^ew otW, 1894) • Blanc, Grammaire des arts dccorat ifs (Paris' 1882); Movaux. Decorative Composition. ■ The reader is also referred to the articles in this work on the art of various nations and periods; ON Glass; Inlaying; Mosaic; P.ihting; Pot- TERv; Sculpture; Textiles, etc. DECORATIVE NEEDLEWORK. See Em- broidery. DE CORONA (Lat.. On the Crown). The most famous speech of Demosthenes, and the most perfect specimen of the world's oratory. It was delivered in B.C. 330 as a reply to the famous speech of .Eschines against Ctesiphon, who had secured the passage of a law authorizing the crowning of Demosthenes for his services to the State. DECORT', Frans. See CoET, Frans de. DE COS'TA, Benjamin Franklin (1831 — ). An American clergvman and historian. He was born in Charlestown. ilass., graduated at the Concord (N. H.) Biblical Institute in ISoti. and was rector at Xorth Adams. Mass.. from 18o( to 1858, and at Newton Lower Falls from 18o8 to 1S60 He served as chaplain in the Federal rmv from 1861 to ISCS. when he settled m Isew York. Here, having entered journalism, he was editor successivelv of the Christian Times, the Episcopalian, and the Magazine of American His- tory. In 1884 he founded the White Cross Soci- ety, and afterwards helped organize the Church Temperance Society. He was rector of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Xew York from 1803 to 1890. when he became a Komaii Catholic He has published many valuable monographs and essays on early .Vmerican history, and on local history, the most important of which are: The Prc-r'ohnnbinn Discovrry of America by the Sorthmen (18G8) ; Sarrative of Events at Lnfce Oeorpe (1868) ; The Sorthmen in Maine (1870) ; Columbus and the neoqraphcrs of "'ej^orth (187") ■ The Fipht at Diamond Island (18,.-) ; Hianat'ha: the Story of the Iroquois So/c i« Prose and Terse (1873) ; The Lost City of l^'ew Enqlnnd (1877); Verrazzano the ExpUrer (1880); Cabo de Bn-ros, or the Place of Cape Cod in the Old Cartoloyy (1891) ; and Cabode Arenas, or the Place of l=landy Boole m **^ /> Cartology (188.5) ; W;ii(fter Ooest Thouf (1902). He has also published a novel. The Rector of lioa- burgh (1873), under the pseudonym of William Hickling. DE COS'TER, Cn.U5LES (1827-79). A Belgian author, bom in Jlunich. For many years he occupied the chair of French literature at the military academy in Brussels. His prose epic, La legende de Thyl CUnspiegcl (1868), is a masterly description of Flemish life during the reifTi of Pliilip II. and the ilays of the Inquisi- tion. Other interesting works are: Lcgendes flamandes (2d ed. 1861) ; Cont_cs brabantons (1801) ; and Voyage de tioce (1872). DECOY ( from de-. Ft., Lat. dc-, down + coy, OF cut quiet, from Lat. giiict lis, still, from 9Uies, repose). A contrivance for luring game into a snare or within the range of a weapon. In l.ng- land for centuries 'decoys' have been contrivances for capturing as well as alluring ducks, by driving them into tunnel nets, or by catchmg them in a cage built on a platform on the water, into which they were enticed by feeding. To-day botli these especial metliods are obsolete; but the i)rineiple of the tunnel net still remams in the decoys built in the fresh-water pools near the coast, ' which attract the birds on their arrival from over sea. At the corners of the pool curved ditches are cut and covered with wide arched hoop-nets, gradually diminishing m size The wild ducks are enticed to the mouth of the tuiuiel by live, tame ducks, trained for that purpose, who irradually lead the wild ducks into it, upon whicii a tame duck shows himself among the reeds momentarily, and disappears, to appear again higher up. This excit^^s the wild ducks' curiosity, and they go on and on to a point where the keeper shows lumselt. Ihen the ducks rise on the wing. They are alraid to pass back by the man, so they go farther and farther up the netted archway, thuikmg that it may lead them into the open, but it lends them up "to the end of the pipe, which by this time is on land, after which they are all easily caught. In America the decoys are entirely different. They are painted wooden imitations of ducks (or other birds, as the ease may be) anchored on the water in such a way, as from above, apijarently to swim about. The decoys are set out in dif- ferent order, according to the; quarry the hunter is after, .as naturally as possible. Thus, in open- water shootin2 for "ducks, when the wind blows across, they will be displayed in two converging lines, heading into the wind. In shooting with the wind, the decoys are set out in the shape of a diamond. The gunner then retires to l,is blind, or into his sink-1>ox. The ducks are efVectuallv allured to alight, to share the good things they imagine the decoys to be enjoying, and are thereby )rought within shot-r:jnge De- coyiuo- is applicable to numerous kinds of wild foWl and waders, and to geose and other birds on land. A perfect knowledge of its possibilities is only to be acquired by long and close oliseiya- tion, "and by mechanical skill in making the "^Consult: Folkard, Wild Fowler H^onio^, 18.59-64-7.5-97) ; Galloway, The Book of Duck De- coys (London, 1880). DECREE (Lat. decretum. iudgment, from de- ccrn'-rr to separate one thing from another, to decide) In the Civil Law. an Imperial judgment in causes brought before the Emperor on appeal.
