Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-11-16

one of Joan's first purchases for bel
parOr should be handsome bookcase
with glass doors-for books largely
help to make a cheerful room. and
the case which holds them, if wei
made, is an attractive piece of furni.
rure. If she cannot buy one of sc
expensive a kind. she can order from
the nearest cabinet maker a case oil
excellent plain walnut shelves with
out door or zach. and if she can have
these made to fit in some depression
alcOye in the wall, so much the better
Ii not too broad or high, a case like
this with fiYe or six shelves will pr0bq-
bly, cost from $40 to Sl5. The edges
Of the shelves are sometimes neatly
finished with strips Of scarlet leather
scall)ptd in an open pattern and
fastened with giIt-heaGcd tlcky.
My the fair hOusekeeper be strong
to resist that a5omination, an OF
chrome! One thoroughly good en-
craving or two good photographs OF
tine pictures bring more beauty to a
room than do twenty hiehlyocolored
chr0mos. Water color chromos are
not included in tins criticism, for
many of them are really beautiful and
valuable. Those representing bits Of
foreign streets, holding, perhaps a
noble old cathedral or bridge, make
deli htfuI islands Of color OH the
wall But even these should be taken
in moderation one is usually enough
to brighten a room. If it is 4 very
good one-and it ought to bet may
be placed over the mautel-the Elace
where the most warmly coIored and
consequently cheerful picture should
always be hung. Valuable engrav-
lngs are to be accumulated slowly,
and those who do not know how to
select them judiciousIy should ask
some more cultivated friend to do it
for them. 1t is always better to buy
the print unframed and have the fram>
ing done in accordance with ones
means. Joan should remember that
one of the best points Of a welI>fram>
ed engraving is an apPropritc "mat'
the inner frame Of paStcbOrd which
Immediately surrounds the picture. -
With a deep and handsome mat" a
less elaborate frame Is required, and
i'll some cases when the print has a
clear, broad margin. and the impress
sion is very dark, ali inch~wide frame
of ungroovet, oiled walnutis sufficient
without mat" 1t is well. always,
to spend most money on the print
and least on the framing, which can
easily be simple without having q
vulgarly cheap look.
Plaster casts, when they are good
copies OF fne antiques, are handsome
and not expensive. The dead white
Of plaster is somewhat trying TO the
eye, and it is therefore better to have
4 colored delicate pale gray A piece
of warmly tinted velvet or broadcloth
thrown careIcssiy over and hiding a
wooden framcW ork makes very cf>
fectiye background for an artistic cast.
Excellent diminished copies of some
Of the more famous antiques may be
bought for froni S. to SIS. These
casts arc sometimes Bronzed but it is
hardly advisable to indulge in this
very cheap imitation,
There are countless small thiagS
which are not costly, but which help
TO make a rooGl delightful and home
like. The nearest carpenter will
make for little money a water-tight
wooden box. which tainted green
and flied with growing plants will,
with Iitllc care, keep Summer in a
sunny window all Winter. A pot or
two of English ivy placed on brack-
cts, the times being trained around
pictures or doorways. give beauty and
checriness at very small cost. A tall
vase filled with dried grasses, oats,
and autumn leaves, with wjre>Iength-
ened stem, inserted in sand. will make
a dim corner lovely graceful little
training bunch Of pressed ferns. leaves,
and btter>swect berries. fastened
tightly on a picture cord. will brigh-
ten the faded engraving Cnder it a
qtpiut bit Of old china, photographs
of famous places and people. scat
tered carclessly about ones Tables
all these trihcs and more help to make
without much expense, very coy
and charming room. The last re-
quisite is Of course that il be lived
m any room which is left to silence
and darkness more than Nalf the
time the fate of too many parlors--
can never be really cheerful.