Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-11-28
How to Arrange . Parior for Party.


The following, from Graham's Magazine.
comes to us with the endorsement of the Home
Journal. The writer's views are SO sensible that
we wonder that they have not long since found
expression, both in words and practice
1T is great art to know how to place the fur
niture of parlor-not as regards the general ell
feet of the room, that is easy enough but IN such
manner as it shall become an element in the en-.
tertainment of your guests. Much Of the dullness
and formaity of the PARTY depends on the arrange
meot OF the furniture. There are some magnifi-
Gently furnished apartments, which, with their
soIemo. we-arranged seals, each immoveable in
lis own place, actually chill wit and Danish AMI
nation.
"A drawing. ROOM or parlor destined for recep-
tim room. should not be like Dutch parlsrre but
should be ranged with all the careless grace and
negligence Of an English park. There should De
little rroves of sofas, with low seats, grouped a
rcundotbere should be little tables, with two or
three chairs invilingly placed near them but
tbere should be no long rows OF chairs standing a
oapst the walIs-no sufas with large tables In
'front.' of them. behind ,ich the guests we delight
TO honor are completely sent to Coventry. aud to
pass . most isolated evenin5, for nobody can get
at them
"The arrangement of the furniture, that is, car
inr more fur the look than the use Of furniture,
causes those gatherings OF men into square oattal
ions of black coats it would require the skill OF
Napoleon to break through-they would much
nreier these black coats sitting near and talking to
The beautiful pink, white and blue dresses-but
they had not the courage TO traverse the carpeted
desert before them or to thread their way amidst
eiaoefes and fragile tables loaded with China and
ornaments nudge of the elbow would destroy
And for what? Has not The fair acquaintance
they seek lady IN pink r. lei T;gii! iissd. sai
lady in blue on her left hand, neither of whom
our black coat knows? As long as we are the
slaves of the uphos;erer there is no hope for in
telsct, wit, or conversation; people can only
make speeches in large room thus arranged, and
orators are not always to be had nor are they al
ways amusing If they were.-Conversation loves
cozy party-fve or six being almost the extent
of an audence-in which all can minge. Threes
and mysterious twos gel on famousy, and if a hos
tess would only sacrifice the symmetry of her
rooms. and be no longer the slave OF her chairs
and sofas, she would, without any further effort,
suddenly find herself famous tsr the trilllancy OF
her parties.
sin order to know" says Madame de Girardin,
a woman celebrated for her parties, (not bals,)
..how to arrange your drawing room according TO
the tastes Of your guests. and in order to promote
conversation, and bring consenial spirits together,
a hostess should carefully examine the drawing
ruom after her guests are gone, note down The
position of every article of furniture, and SO DIS
pose them for her next assembly. She will see
that the very chairs still appear to conyerse-,hat
the ann chairs seen confdentially whispering to
each other, and majestic sofas give audience TO
two rockinp chairs still oscilatng beside 1t. As
they left your parlor, so at the next meeting let
your guests fnd it, and you will have the pleasure
Of seeing your guests sociable from the beginning
of the evening, hsppy. gay and brilliant through,
out and all will wonder how you manage, and
attribute the pleasant evenings at your house TO
vour talents and amiability, and each to his own
individual merit aud nobvdy will guess that it is
all owing to the right position Of inanma!e and
,rJ ch,ira ~