Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Short Letter on Extravaganza.

"a LITTLE HousE WELL FILLED"
Our houses are too large. and too costly.
We have, usually, one or two rooms shat
are merely for show, parlor, pc. haps
two with folding door between. that are
only open for company, that are too nice
for children to play in, too large 10 be
warmed readily in winter, in short like u
dandy, too nice for anything useful. And
then, often there is part of the house
unfinished large attic which might ac-
eomnodate whole family, occupied BY a
f,sv old boxes Of white beans, and few
banches OF catn,p aud prnayroja al, and
same broken eilaits aud cradle. This
upper story was probably put on because
ysu wanted house as LAT &c as our neigh
>af4. Now house shouid, in some mea-
'rte, f family, is a suit OF clothes should
= ri. Individual. Although it is not, per-
~ ;, Hfways safe 10 count your children
set. they ar. born, and therefore the
t=asits II Yoaf house must often be by
9.=.4-'e;.a9, -, err y here Gre houses 60
.ag uF, ~, ihs perfect understanding
ias, 4 considerable ,iirt ofthe loom is 10 be
Useless. t,,hcr Kept for en annual party, or
remain uutirishrd. five who plan aaa
buiid such houses, would reflect upon it
ialfly. we would ace that no rational man
would entertain fer Us any more respect
Tor living in house which we do not fill
than tor wearing sui, OF clothes made for
a person OF twice our size.
Let us have "a little house we'll filed, ;"
with no spare room except chamber for
our friends. and no lumber room for gar.
ret for ghosts and rata and mice to intiab-
it. The thousand dolhrs which even care
FL, zen generally expend in building "a
house to live in" merely to conform to
fashion, or architectural wh,m, costs the
poor wife aud children many lecture up.
on penny economy, which might other
wise have been spared. And when you
have built or purchased a house too large
Tor your wants, thu evil has but common
ced. Your large and numerous rooms re-
quite large and numerous carpets. and Gu.
tains and sofas, and other adornings. But
this is not all, nor the worst of it. The
house and the furniture must be taken off
swept aud busted daily, and scrubbed
and secured Spring and Fall, when house,
cleaning time comes round. Yon must
either pay for help TO do all tins. or what
is perhaps mote common, alIo " additional
burdens 90 fall on yoar wife. who has al
ready ceaseless round of cares. A sensi-
tive or even a Just man should see that, in
this land where servants are an expensive
luxury, at best, his wife have comfort and
leisure, and selfish man may soon learn
that he cannot lead peaceful and happy
life with a woman who is eyerrun with
hard work and family cares. We think
if our reader himself is not open to cepsure
| in the particulars named, he NAV find
plenty OF his neighbors to whom our re-
marks will apply.
! And then, again, we are extraysT giant IN
our household furniture. The ladies must
come in fora share oil our lecture on this
topic. The furniture Of the house j, main.
~ fcr Use and comfort. Carpets and sofas
aud chairs aud tables are chief y designed
TO promote warmth and quiet and physi
cal enjoyment in some way. A caspeted
/ eeoG is warmer III winter, and the children
make less disturbance on 1t than bare
.boai is, and besides, they require much'less
labor to keep them in nice order. Let
comfort then be. regarded, principally in
selecting furniture. .f.sst .
Blu, a nice perception Of the fitness oil
things which is good taste-the faculty OF
producing harmony between the occupant
Of the house and the house itself, and be-
tween the house aud the furniture and
surroundings-ths is what you do not buy
at the upholsters, this is beyond price. and
a matter, madam, in which it is your prov
nee 10 excel. Let the furniture, say, al
plain as things can speak. this house is fo'
ne comfor. Of those who live inside OF i
and not Cor mere callers and strangers te
faii on. This armchair will not be soiee
b. oe,ag occupied, and the bright sun.ligh
tqav visit the inmates, ir the morning
bringing health and cheerfulness, witnou
Far thar il will fade the brilliant ,olors o
.itaa TX and velvet. II, when your house
lis tph., Md furnished, you have money
T. eafe f., articles Of mere taste and luxu
lre lie @ard ia foil Of books and pic
l.iges, aud Thousand other things, which
II il aliefG s.ined and cultivated mine
fl more raaansl enjoyment than whole
warehouse of silded mahogany.
On the whole, we think the ambition
which is common among all classes. TO Inv