Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-03-22
The Esthetics Of H0nse.F Furnishing.

The last of the series of lectures by
Donald G. Mitchell before the Yale Art
Life' was delivered on the 25th ult.
The speaker said:
To speak Understandings of the
adornment of interiors, we must have
a well-defned idea of the disposition
and collection of rooms. In this matter
convenience is the first law. Whatever
arrangement sacrifices this, no matter
for what effect, is bad. Instead of a
stark, narrow hall, with only a hat
stand to welcome the visitor, should be
a good breadth of hallway, which al
ways carries with it a welcome. The
space so used will be far more effective
there than when put into a little-used
parlor. It permits also a partial equip
ment with such fixtures as books, pic
lures, ETC., as shall tell at the outset
something of the taste of the occu-
pants. Stairs play an important part
in our domestic economy, and are not
to be sighted. They should give a free
and easy passage to whatever may be
above. It is amazing what inconveni-
GuC6 udS lO1 year d1bC1 gCdI pSGA liz
posed by only four or five feet of need
less curtailment of space and the fail
ure to throw off an inch or two from
the rise of home stairs. It is a barbar-
ism which women, had they been archi-
tects, would have remedied long ago.
The space needed-and this would
make all the difference between an
easy, inviting stairway which gives dig
nifty to a hall, and a pinched, niggard-
ly one-is so small that it could, in the
great majority of cases, be secured
without interference with other wants.
In regardt to the general arrangement
of rooms, in view of the limitless variety
of the demands which different condi-
tons impose, little can be definitely
said. But certain large rulings, which
can be borne out by good sense and
good taste, may be made. First, we
should order our divisions and parti-
tons for the comfort of our own fami-
ly, not for the benefit of outsiders. In
dividuality may express itself as charm
ingly and piquantly in the distribution
of parts as in the exterior or furnish
ing. If condition of life and tastes in
vite to the bestowment of large hospi-
talities, or if we love domestic quietude
and modest hospitalities, these should
be respectively provided for. The
friends whom we invite will have a
stronger relish for those appointments
which are most characteristic of our
own taste. Outside architecture should
be declarative of purpose, while the in
side admits of pleasant and grateful
surprises, and should not be so arrang-
ed as to be read from the outside. Fin
ally, with respect to interior division,
the mistress Of the house, in nine cases
out of ten, is the best Judge, and to her
should be given the ~judgeship, if, in
deed, she does not of her W accord
take it. The best planned of all houses
are those which have grown up under
the suggestion and supervision of a
good, resolute materfamilias.
The speaker here began to consider
the arrangements of a house in detail,
starting with the vestibule. Passing
from this he took up the matter OF
floors, and said: Floor surfaces we
find covered with wooden carpeting OF
every tint and figure. This is agreea'
BILE to the foot, however calling it may
be to the eye. But it is q reservoir OF
dirt and dust, no matter how vigorous
and aggressive the housewifery, and i:
wisely giving way to such use of it a:
only necessity demands. In the proper
flooring of halls no soft wood should be
used. Georgia pine is excellent, and 81
are black oak and ash, though the lat
ter may be disposed to silver. No ligh'
wood should have a place in any floor
Tints may be varied and made fast by
q wash of solution of asphaltum. There
should be a distinct border with inter
ed angles having tints of their own. 4
diagonal arrangement is effective. Elk
treme polish and shining surface in
floor are to be avoided. Naturally
parlors, reception-rooms, chambers
and ever bedrooms will demand thei
modicum, if no more, of carpeting il
our winters. But a border of flooring
darkly tinted, with its inferred angles
will make the happiest possible setting
and do away with that periodic moving
of heavy furniture, which is a haunting
nightmare to housewives. Respecting
carpet materials, taste long ago declar
ed against those famboyancies of figure
which our grandmothers loved SO well
While a gala-day chamber may b.
strewed with daisies for the welcome o
our friends, in rooms subject to much
use, simplest geometric or flower,
arabesques, which merely hint at flora
growth, will be more fitting; or, per
haps, better still, such a fine, confused
mingling of tints as shall suggest moth
ing but soft dalliance with the foot.
The subject of ceilings and walls wa
now taken up. There does not seen
to be any well-devised method of evad
ing the usual plaster treatment. Plas
ter ornamentation in heavy cornice
and %stupendous central rosettes is hap
lily going out OF favor. Color decora
ting is much better, as it is simpler
c~leanlier, and permits of renewal an
redisposition. Ambitious engarland
ing of walls in fresco may be well done
but there is danger that it will kill al
the home embroidery which we love
The same rules apply to ambitious pa
per-hangings of whatever sort; Their
exists the additional objection that i