The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-06-17
GBe 2gorrr Cjrtlr:
Keeping Rooms for Show.


A sensible writer in the Ladys Book,
expresses our notions exactly in the fol.
lowing paragraphs, which we commend
to the especial attention of our lady-read-
ors
Let us ask the children, then; is it to
please their eye that so many pretty
nicknackeries are placed here and there
in the room? Is it for them those ele-
gautly bound books are placed with such
precision on the circular table2 And is
it for their pleasure and dear papa's that
the music is uncovered and used2 "Oh
no." they would say; mamma is very
angry if VIC ever 60 in there, unless
there is company, and then we go for
a very little time; and it is only then
that the music is played"
1t is plainly, then, not for the pleas
ure of father and children that this room
is kept, and no one will suppose it is for
the servants qualification; and as to the
mistress herself she may sometimes be
heard to exolaim that ''really, the room
is more plague than profit"
Why, then, IS it kept? Apparently
for the good of the public, or for that
small portion of it that may occasionally
honor the house as state visitors. Small,
however, is the gratitude that mis-
tress Of a showroom ever receives from
these visitors. And little would her
vanity be gratifed could she hear the
remarks of those who are not too we'll
bred to make any, or see them smile at
some Of the things because they are like
aoJodys, and at others because they are
like eUeyyJody's We were, not very
long ago, one among a number in such
a room, and, in spite Of good FIRE, the
room, for want Of more frequent use,
a0ould feel chilly, and, in consequence
Of the fire drawing out the damp, it
would smell musty; and some of the
ladies were certain the chair-cushiOns
were damp right through. Those who
were more timid or less sensitive sat
still and hoped they should not take
cold, while some Of the bolder made an
amusing scene by each taking the cush-
ion from her chair and carrying it to
the fire, where they held it to air, mean
while anziOusly listening for the first
approach of the mistress's footsteps, at
the sound of which they scampered like
so many rabbits to their respective bur
rows; and some perhaps would have been
glad could they, 'like the rabbits, have
hidden their almost telltale cOuntenan-
ces. We imagine this scene would not
have been gratifying to the mistress;-
and Tmnnnn rnn ma HnNnIrr h0
rarely does a party in a showroom end
with satisfaction either to the visitors
or their entertainers
What, then, can be the motive for
keeping these show-rooms, if neither
the family nor their visitors are bene.
fitted thereby
Shall we injure any one If we say that
the motive is vanity? that the easily be-
setting sin Of trying to appear like those
who are a grade or two above us in so.
ciety is very active in the establishment
of these rOoms2
Let those who can afford to have all
the comforts Of life about them, and
still have sufficient for elegance and show
Jet them enjoy their abundance by
all means; they will not, however, at.
tempt to do it in a damp room; nor yet
have all the elegancies Of their house
merely for visitors.
Our best advice TO those who live in
small houses with limited incomes is
that they should do away with theil
showroom forthwith; they may perhaps
find that it would conduce greatly to th,
health and comfort Of the family if il
were converted into a sleeping-room; bu
supposing they can spare q room for
best sitting-roOm, lot u be so fur
nished that it may be onioved az
family room, and used at least ever,
Sabbath, or every day after the variou
occupations Of the day are ended. II
there is piano-let it be froquentl,
used for family onjoyment a mothe
need not think her time wasted If shu