Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-02

One of the prime conditions of happy and
cheerful home-circe in the long evenings, is
comfort solid comfort" rs the expressive
phrase has it. Much of this depends on ex-
ternals. although n contented mind and n
sound stomach are at the bottom of the eX-
perience First among the essentials of
comfortable and attractive Preside, we reck-
On the fire itself, an open fire of wood or
coal, and not furnace-hend in the cellar
So much has been said about the sanitary adj
vantages and the social charms of open fires.
since Dudley Warner exposed the absurdty
of trying to bring up family of children in
the old home-loving way, ''around a hole in
the floor" that we will not mount the hobby
now, though it is always saddled and bridled
if any one dare to assail it We wish only to
say, that as nothing is so Companionable and
CHEEKY an open fire, and as fire-places and
open CRATES cannot always be had, q very ac-
ceptable substitute can be found in the pretty
CRATE stoves now so common and popular If
your house is heated with II furnace put a
pipe-hole into the chimney, in your sitting
room and set up one of these little comfort
bringers For morning and evening use,
with camel, Franklin or soft coal, they will
pay for themselves in the added pleasure of
single week. No picture that you can buy
will add half so much to the beauty of your
room rs glowing fre-no article of furniture
can afford so much real comfort.
In view of all that light does to make a
room pleasant and home-hke, its uses are not
enough considered. With gas enough to ban
ish the gloom from the ROOM and II student
lamp ON the comfortable to diffuse its soft and
steady illumination, the dreariest November
night can be abolished-annihilated to
give way to n summer sunset By lighting
sperm candles before the mantel mirror one
gets another fre-picture at an economical
rate.
With the room warmed and lighted in the
best way, the chairs and lounges come next
in the way of ministers to comfort. One may
often try a score of times, even in houses fit
ted up without regard to expense, before he
finds chair that would delight him to occupy
four or five evenings in week They are too
hard or too high-too narrow or too straight
too low or too ''slantingdicular nice
or too uncomfortable in some other way
And this suggests that it is a good idea to
furnish sitting-rooms with chairs of different
patterns No two people like them just alike,
perhaps; and so sleepy hollows' and rock
ers. camp and reception chairs. willow and
rattan ware, wooden stuff and leather covers,
all have their admirers. The tastes of the
family should be studied in this matter. A
boy or girl has as much right to be particular
in the matter of chair in which they are ex-
pected to be comfortable for twenty-four
hours out of n week as the father or mother
has.
The aggravating "tete-d-tettS" the absurd
sofas, and the break neck lounges. are all foes
of comfort. Better wide, long, low, broad
dicdR. after the Turkish fashion, thoroughly
cushioned, and destitute of either grace or or
nament, than any of the average pieces of
furniture" Use, ease and comfort are what
one wants of these things in n sitting room or
library. Let the triumphs of the carver's and
upholsterer's art be confined in the parlor-
or better yet in the shop show rooms
Home comfort to many people, weary with
the days toll. means quiet. But this should
not be sought selfishly. An entire change of
thought and activity often brings better rest
than mere quiet. The children, if healthy
and happy, will not be quiet unless interested
or engaged in something attractive. Try an
hour of whist or other games with them. af-
ter tea or dinner 1t will make them happy
and divert your own mind. Visit with them
about their school, their plays, or their read
ing. Set them to popping corn or cracking
nuts for the evening cheer. Parents ought
not to be comfortable unless they know that
their children are safe and happy Remem-
Der that as the long evenings come on
GOLien Rule