The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-23


The last Of the series Of lectures by
Donald q. Mitchell before the Yale Art
School on " 4Esthetics Of Everyday
Life" was delivered on the 25th ult.
The speaker said
To speak Understandings OF the
adornment Of interiors, we must have
well-deined 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 hat.
stand to welcome the visitor, should be
good breadth Of hallway, which al
ways carries with 1t welcome. The
space SO used will be far more effective
there than when put into a little-used
parlor. 1t permits also partial equip
ment with such fixtures rs 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 q free
and easy passage To whatever may he
above 1t Is amazing what inconveni-
ence has for wear after year been i'm
posed by only four or five feet Of need
less curfailment Of space and the fail
ure TO throw of an inch or two from
the rise of home stairs. II is 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 4 pinched, niggard-
ly one--is so small that it could, in the
great majority Of cases, be secured
without interference with other wants
In regard To the general arrangement
of rooms, in view of the limitless variety
Of the demands which different condl-
tions impose, little can be definitely
said. But certain large rulings, which
can be borne out by good sense aud
good taste, may he made. First, we
should order our divisions and parti-
tions 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. Ii condition Of life and tastes in
vite to the bestowment Of large hospi-
talities, or IL we love domestic quietude
and modest Inequalities, these should
be respectively provided for. The
friends whom we invite will have
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 10 be read from the outoide. 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, II, in
deed, she does not of her own 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 house in detail,
starting with the vestibue. 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 agrcea-
BILE to the foot, however CALLING II may
be to the eye. But il is reservoir of
dirt and dust, no matter how vigorous
and aggressive the housewifery, and is
wisely giving way to such use Of 1t as
only necessity demands. In the proper
Of halls no soft wood should be
used. Georgia pine is excellent, and SO
are black oak and ash. though the lat
~.
wood should have a place in any floor.
Tints may be varied and made fast by
a wash Of solution Of asphaltUm. There
should be distinct border with inter
ed angles having tints Of their own. A
diagonal arrangement Is effective. Ex.
IRENE polish and shining surface in a
floor are TO be avoided. Naturally,
parlors, eception-rooms, chambers,
and even bedrooms will demand their
il no more, Of carpeting in
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
nightLare TO housewives. Respecting
carpet materials, taste long ago declar-
ed against those Hamboyancies Of figure
which our grandmothers loved 50 well.
While gala-day chamber may be
strewed with daisies for the welcome OF
our friends, IN rooms subject TO much
use, simplest geometric or howery
arabesques, which merely hint at floral
growth, will be more fitting; or, per-
haps, better still, such fine, confused
Of tints as shall suggest moth
ng but soft dalliance with the foot.
The subject Of ceilings and walls was
now taken up. There does not seem
% be any ell-devised method Of evad-
ng the usual plaster treatment. Plas-
er ornamentation in heavy corniccs
Ind stupendous central rosettes is hap