The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-27

lion, and that il should comport, 50 far as
those requirements in it will admit, with
THE approved modes Of the day. But we
are free to say. that in these times the ex-
|treme Of absurdity. and unftness for use,
lis more the fashion than anything else.
What so useless as the modern French
chairs, standing OF legs like pipestems,
garote.ing your back like a rheumatism,
and frail as the legs ola spider beneath
you, as you sit in it; and a tribe Of equally
worthless membranes, which absorb
your money in their cost, and detract from
your comfort, instead of adding to il, when
you have got them; or a bedstead so high
that YOU must have a ladder to climb into
ii, or so low as to scarcely keep you above
the level Of the floor, when lying on il.
No; give US the substantial, the easy, the
free, and enjoyable articles, and the rest
may go to tickle the fancy OF those who
have q taste for them. Nor do these
aashy furnishings add to ones rank in
society, or to the good opinion Of those
whose consideration is most valuable.
Look into the houses Of those people who
are the really substantial, and worthy OF
the land. There will be found little Of
such frippery with them. Old furniture,
well preserved, useful in everything. mark
the well ordered arrangement OF their
rooms, and give an air Of quietude, Of
comfort and Of hospitality to their apart
ments. Children cling to such objects in
after life. as heir.looms Of affection and
parental regard.
Although we decline TO give specific
directions about what varieties Of furniture
should constitute the furnishings Of a
house, or 10 illustrate its style or fashion
by drawings, and content ourselves with
tho single remark, that it should. in all
cases, be strong, plain and durable-no
sham, nor osten,ation about it-and such
as is made for use; mere trinkets, stuck
about the room, on center tables, in corners
or on the ma~ntle.piece, are the foe.shest
things imaginable. They are costly; they
require a world Of care to keep them in
condition; and then, with all this care, they
are good for nothing in any sensible use.
We have frequently been into a country
house, where we anticipated better things,
and, on being introduced into the "Parlor."
actually found everything in the furniture
line SO dainty and "prinked up that we
were afraid to sit down on the frail things
stuck around by way of seats, for fear Of
breaking them; and everything about it
looked SO gingerly and in~hospitable, that
we felt an absolute relief when we could
fairly get out Of it, and take a place by the
wide old fireplace, in the common living
room, comfortably esconced in a good old
easy, high. backed, split.bottomed chair
there was positive comfort in that, when in
tho 'parlor" there was nothing but re.
straint and discomfort. No; leave all this
vanity to town. folk, who have nothing bet.
ter-or who, at least, think they h%ave--to
amuse themselves with; it has no fitness
for a country dwelling, whatever. All this
kind of frippery smacks of the boarding
school, the %piroutte, and the dancing mas
ter, and is out Of character for the farm,
or the sensible retirement Of the county
Aliens Rural Architecture.