Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
The Best Parlor.

The best parlor is great institution in
America. This is what Vaux says about it,
in his VILLAS and Cottages:'
The draicing-roon,, or best parlor, next
suggests itself to our notice. This room al
though intended to be a strong point in
every American house, is often made its
least satisfactory feature. have noticed
one style, for example. which, in all proba
bility most of my readers have also seen.
The walls are hari-6nished white,t the wood
work is white, and white marble mantle
piece is fitted over fire place which is
never used, as there is stove in the room
or furnace in the house. The floor is COW
cred with carpet of excellent quality, and
of large and decidedly sprawling pattern,
made up OF scrolls and flowers in gay and
vivid colors. A round table with {. cloth on
it, and thin layer ofbooks, in smart bind-
ings, occupies the centre of the room, and
furnishes about accommodation enough for
one rather small person to sit and write a
note at. A gilt mirror finds place between
the windows. A sofa, by courtesy so called,
occupies Irrevocably well-defined space
against the wall, but it is just too short to
lie down on, and too high and slippery with
its spring, convex seat, to sit on with any
comfort. II is also cleverly managed that
points or knobs (of course ornamental aud
French polished) shall occur at all those
places toward which weary head would
naturally tend, if leaning back to snatch a
few moments repose from fatigue. The
sofa is, indeed, the representative man of
the room, and concentrates in itself the
who lie spirit Of discomfort that reigns un-
molested in every square foot Of the apart
ment. There is also, row of black walnut
chairs, with horse-hair seats, all ranged
against the white wall. A console table,
too, under the mirror, If remember rightly.
with a white marble top and thin gilt brack-
cts. think there is piano There is,
certainy,a triangular stand for knicknacks
china, ETC., and this, with some chimney or
naments, completes the furniture, which is
all arranged according to stiff, immutable
law. The windows and Venetian blinds
are tightly closed, the door is tightly shut.
and the best room, that am now thinking
of, is, in consequence, always ready for--
what9 for daily use? Oh, no; it is in every
way too good FOR that. For weekly use! No,
moi even for ihat-but for company use; and
thus the choice room, with tht pretty view
is sacrificed TO keep up conventional show
of inery that pleases no one, and is great.
though unacknowledged bore to the pro-
prietors. Such is one style of the best par
lor to be found in America; and though it is
by no means universal, it is far 100 general
for comfort. A drawing room like this be-
comes sort of quarantine in which to put
each plague of visitor that calls; and one
almost expects to see the lady OF the
house walk in with bottle OF camphor in
her hand, TO prevent injection she seems to
have such a fear that any one should step
within the bounds of her real everyday
home life. All this is absurd. No room in
any louise, except. perhaps, in a very large
mansion, ought to be set apart for company
use only. If eception-room for strangers
is needed, it should be small all,unpretendng
room, certainly not the most agreeably sit
uated apartment in the house, lchich should
be enjoyed daity, for it is not the having any
good thing, but the using it, that gives lit
its value A friend of mine, when making
arrangements to rent small suburban
house, happened to remark that he should
occupy the back parlor as a dining-room
and the landlady seemed really quite over
whe elmed with the idea which she evidently
thought an unwarrantable innovation. "a i
the best fan ilies,' she said, lived in the
basement. Why use such a beautiful par.
lor merely for an eating room!' as if eating
was degrading occupation. Let US re-
turn, however,. to our drawing-room. A
best parlor ought to cypress in its proportions
coEors, and arrangement Of furniture, al
agreeable hearty, SOCIAL 1oelcome. The lady
who studied her room when her guests had
departed, after heightened and agreeabl le
visit, SO as to learn how the furniture hat
accommodated itself, as it were, to suit tht
social convenience of her friends, and whit
then modified her previous ideas accordingly
had the true artistic eye for beauty of ar
rangement, and certainly deserved to have
pleasant circle of acquaintance.