The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-22
Ghe 8ullftin.
HOUSEHOLD ART.
Honest and ROliO Furntture W.. Glued
and Semesred limitations.


From the indignant protests that are
coming across the Atlantic, it would seem
that many of the methods OF household
decorations inaugurated in England
within the past eight or ten years, and
from which we have so generally Dor.
rowed, have reached the height Of their
/ popularity and are now on the decline.
IL Is the old story Of a fashionable mania
which runs its course in a very short
time ; but in this instance it Is satisfac-
tory to know that the motive that gave
1t birth is likely to survive long after the
foIlies and yagaries that have followed
have passed away. Probably TO most
persons in tl,is country the essays OF Mr..
Easilake, on the subject OF household
furniture aud decorations came like
new revelation. For a series of
years we had been made the VIC
tins Of the monstrous and neretricious
creations OF decorators, upholsterers, aud
furniture makers. 1t is only necessary
to go into the parlors and bedrooms Of
houses furnished during the first of this
decade TO become aware of the immense
progress that has been made. Drawing
rooms, with awkward, uncomfortable
sofas, and light, spider legged gilt chairs;
bedrooms, with huge, uDgainly dressing
cases and bedsteads, ornamented with
fantastic bits OF moulding; indeed, the
evidence Of the glue pot, the turning
lathe and the yeneering saw are so clearly
apparent that one can not help wonder.
ing how the purchasers could have been
induced to buy such specimens OF tawGry
and cheap workmanship.
Now this has been in q great degree
changed by the influence OF the truthful
dictum of Mr.. Eastlake that articles OF
furniture should be honestly and solidly
made, and not be mere glued and We
neered limitations. We have no defense
to offer for the excuses and corruptons
to which the followers Of this gentleman
have run. The introduction Of tiles as a
means Of household decoration Is in many
instances highly effective; but to bespat-
YER them indiscrimlnately over every ar
ticle. oi use both weakens the charm an d
wearieE the eye. So, too, with the strain
ing after the midlaval that has been lat
terly SO much in vogue; it is but depart
ure from common usage which sooner
or later will react ON itself. What
should be- aimed 1T by those furnishing n
house IL the possession of articles which
are comfortable, solid, and not offensive
to the artistic taste and not those which
have only the fleeing styles OF the pres
ent day to commend them. Low,
roomy. upholstered arm-chairs and
sofas, suggestive OF comfort and repo1e,
are never out Of style in the real accep'
tation of that word while the furniture
of bedrooms, however simple, that
shows good, honest labor, will not only
outlive dozen of the fancy sets Of the
show windows, but will never seem out
of date to those who place reality above
appearance.
No doubt ideas somewhat similar to
these are influencing many persons in
this city, who have the time and money,
in the method they have adopted for
house furnishing. This is, not to buy
furniture ready -made, bat to have il con-
strlcted from designs which express
their own thoughts, oreyen idiosyncras-
les. There are now in Boston quite a
number OF makers who combine artist
with the builder, aud as the business Is
often carried on at small expense they are
able to supply those who are willing to
wait with really serviceable articles at
lower prices then they can be
purchased for at more preten-
tious establishments. In this way each
individuals fancy can find its true en-
bodiment, and though the result m y at
times be grotesque. the owner has the
continual satisfaction OF knowing that
what he sees around him is his own, and
is not nodded on the same pattern as
that of half OF his neighbors. With our
national spirit of personal independ'
ence, it is not strange that this means OF
embodying it should be favorablY re-
ceived and from present indications II
seems not unlikely that the time will
soon come when the purchase of ready
made furniture will be classed on tie
same footing as the purchase Of read,
made clothing or ready made boots and