Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-01-20
ARTISTIC HOUSES.
Hint Concerning Housekeeping.

An aumlraDle DOOht entlIleu Him
on Household Taste in Furnitur,
Upholstery and other Details" by {
l.. Eastlake, has just been publishe
in London. A part of the volum
has already appeared in the form {
contributions TO the Cornhill Mags
zine, the Queen and the Londo
Review, but the illustrations and
great part of the text are new. MI
Eastlake looks at the household wit
the eye of an artist, and gives som
useful suggestions concerning furni
ture and the numberless details q
housekeeping. He says:
"In the ewes of materfamilias ther
is no upholstery which could pOssibl,
[ surpass that which the most fashion
able upholsterer supplies. She be
lieves in the elegance of window
curtains, of which so many dozeI
yards were sent to the Duchess o
-, and concludes that the Dime
service must be perfect. which i
described as quite novelty WheI
did people first adopt the monstrOu
notion that the last pattern out mus
be the best? Is good taste so rapidly
progressive that every mug which
leaves the potter's hands surpasses il
shape the last which was nodded
At that rate, how Intimately superiOl
would it be to that of the middle ages
and medieval majOlica to the vase,
of ancient Greece! But it is to b,
feared that, instead of progressing
we have gone hopelessly backward
in the arts of manufacture. And thi;
Is true not only with respect to the
quality of designs, but often in regard
to the actual quality OF the material
employed. 1t is generally admitted
by every housewife who has attained
n matrOnly age, that linens, silks, and
other articles of textile fabric, though
less expensive, are far inferior now to
what was made in the days of ouT
grandfathers. Metal workers tell us
that it is almost impossible to procure
for the purpose of their craft brass,
common use half 4 century ago.
JoineTy is neither so sound nor so
artistic as it was in the early Georgian
era. A cheap and easy method OF
workmanship, an endeavor to pro-
cure show of finish with the least
possible labor, and, above all, an
unhealthy spirit of competition in
regard to price, such as was unknown
TO previous generations, have combin-
ed to deteriorate the value of our
mechanics work"
He continues:
"As n rule, the simplest patterns
are the best for every situation but
where the eye has to rest upon the
surface of the wall alone, q greater
play of line in the patterns may be-
come advisable. 1t is obvious that
delicate tints admit of more linear
complexity than those which are
rich or dark. Intricate forms should
be accompanied by quiet color, and
variety of hue should be chastened by
he plainest possible outlines. In
color, wall paper should oppose instead
IF repeating that of the furniture and
langings by which they are surround
ID. Some people conceive that the
most important condition of good
aste has been fulfilled if every bit
II damask in one room is cut from
he same piece, and every article of
urniture is made of the same wood.
At tins rate the art of house fitting
would be reduced to a very simple
process. The real secret of success
n decorative color is, however, quite
S much dependent on contrast as on
imiiarity of tint; nor can real artistic
fleet be expected without the employ
nent of both"
Mr. Eastlake goes on to show that
modern CRATES, Tenders and fire-irons
re almost always ill-designed, re-
ardless of the material of which they !
re made. The curtain pole of the |
resent day, with -fuchsias or con-
Olvuli sDrawling down at the ends, |
e says, is a wonderful burlesque of 1
he simple iron rod on which curtains /
'ere formerly hung. For the cur
lins, besides silk, rept and damask,
le German stuff called CoIetan is one /
the most artistic of modern textile 1
lbrics. The French material called
.lgerisse, which was the best thing
the kind which had appeared for
lany years (being cheap, washable,
nd artistic,) found few admirers,
nd is now obtainable. Cretorine is
bod and useful in quality, but the
esigns in use for it includes every I
ement which sound taste would
void. For summer curtains, Swiss
zee, made of stout thread and work
in small, well-defided patterns, is
luch better than muslin on which
.mi-naturalistic foliage or monde
'ript ornament is allowed to meander
Ito silly labyrinth of embossment.
Library bookcases are capable of
Iuch improvement, and the drawing
'om furniture, sent in from FASH 4
nable upholsterer, is sure to furnish
IustratiOns of faults in taste and !
instruction. Oil paintings should {
Ot be hung with water-cOlor draw
gs, nor these with engravings and ]
lOtographs. 1t is best to keep Oil
in q room by themselves. !
rawlings should De hung so that .he
nter of the picture is about five feet
x inches from the floor. They I
Iould not touch each other. In /
awing-rOom, especially, they may
, advantageously separated by soon
:, mirrors or brackets, supporting
me object of art. Never hang glazed ]
awnings opposite window, says Mr..
and he adds:
Never suspend q framed picture, |
)wever small from one nail. This |
ay seem trifle; but, independently
the considerations of safety, the @
feet produced by two points of c
pport is infinitely better. The tri- c
guiar space inclosed by a picture !
rd stretched between three points, c
ust always be inharmOnious with /
e horizontal and vertical lines of
ON. +
"It is a practice with many s
lists of the rising English school to o
sign there own frames for the pic
res which they exhibit, and some b
cellent specimens may now and Z
en- be seen on the walls of the Roy
Academy, and at the old Water c
,lOr SOciety's Rooms. COlored i
etches, which are surrounded by a s
ide margin of white paper, will i
ok we'll in plain, ungilded oak b
lmes. When for economy's sake,
al is used, it may be painted, and a
reel gilt black frames are often very
ective. have seen some painted a
hite, which 1 think would be likely Il
suit engravings. Indeed, both for
cravings and photographs, gilt 5
lmes seem to be out of place" +
-O-
gentleman who dis 4
proved of dancing, happened to d
sit friend. During the evening a .
was inaugurated. Watch y