Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-10
letter frOn BOstOn.
BosroN. April %. 1878.

n house nowadays is not merely to gather
together a certain number of chairs, tables,
and beds, because one can't keep house with
out them; nor is it to spend a great deal Of
money without bringing judgment, good taste
and discretion ns assistants. Indeed no! he
the amount spent much or little it is, after
all, the taste of the impclling power which de-
cides whether a house is well or lily furnish
ed. Your carpets may be of Moquettc, AK
minister, or Wilton your furniture in costly
woods elegantly upholstercd your curtains
of the finest lnce with the richest hangings,
and, unless harmony is the general result,
your interior is a failure. But if the effect
produced is artistic you can lay claim to a
well furnished house, if your floors are of
pine stained or painted your few carpets in
grain or simple straw mating your curtains
of plain muslin. your furniture of painted
wood covered with chintz.
1t is to the enterprise Of leading houses and
their employment of artistic talent and skilled
labor that we owe this revival in art interest.
l think that New England owes debt of
gratitude to the Boston firm of Blake Al
den. who rot only import all the newest and
selves. Some of the ''interiors" in Boston,
New York and other cities, which they have
designed and fitted up are elegant in the ex
treme and are absolute works of art. They
have n designer, Mr. Rim, who has not an
equal in America nor a superior in Europe
l was shown, the other day, some designs
which he was making for house in New
York which the firm is to furnish. Only the
dining room and library Were complete, but
from them one could get an idea of what the
rest might be. think the library one of the
most perfect rooms that could be imagined
one would want to stay there all the time. 1t
had what every library should have, and
every perfectly appointed library will have,
an air of coziness and comfort, Hs well as of
extreme elegance. The room was long with
bay window at the end hung with heavy raw
silk draperies, in subdued shades of maroon
and deep blue with thread of gold color to
brighten it. The ceiling was finished in wood
There were dwarf book cases all around the
room, an open wood fire, and such big, easy,
lounging chairs, and roomy sofas with piles
of pillows There was an upright piano for
the musically inclined, and plenty of pictures
for the artistically inclined. I've only given
you the least outline of the room; it would
take a full column to give it in detail and do
it Justice.
People are 5ust beginning to appreciate the
beauty of wood To me it contains more pos
sibilities than anything else which can be
used in decoration. SO many more kinds are
used than formerly. You know we've had
black walnut craze for some time. Every
thing that was the most elegant, especially in
chamber furnishings, was in this wood. Now
it shares favor with mahogany, cherry and
ash One OF the handsomest suits | have
seen was mahogany set in the Queen Anne
style, a style that is dividing public opinion
with Eastlake. 1t is massive, with Il great
deal of carved ornamentation about it. The
bed is low and very wide, with square head
board which is not SO high as the French.
| The bureau follows the same design and its
characteristic features are richness and solidi-
ty In the set have mentioned the wood
was not polished but simply oiled, so that its
natural color and appearance were preserved
The marble used was of a brownish tinge, al
most exactly n match for the wood itself
Next to that stood an EAstlake set in cherry
also unpublished, and finished without marble.
That reminds me; wood is considered the
most elegant and ornamental finish now, and
comparatively little marble is used Tiles are
seen great deal in the Eastlake furniture,
but the best taste generally gives preference
to woods l am delighted Mt the revival of
cherry; it is to me one of the loveliest woods
in use. Don't you remember the old cherry
bureaus with their highly-polished surfaces
and brass knobs on the drawers. I don't
think there are any handsomor pieces of fur
niture made than those bureaus. There is a
richness of eoloring in the wood that pleasos
me. like the reddish tinge.
But everything is not Queen Anne on
"Eastlake." There are very many people who
still prefer the French suits. with the high
bedstelds and dressing-cases and will have
none of the later modes. ! was shown a sci
in French style at Blake 4 Alden's which wa
made to order for special customer. 1t was
in black walnut with red cedar veneering ant
panels in mdrguetrie. The latter was mos
delicately done. Inlaid work is 30 desirable
when well done, and this was simply artistic
OH don't let me forget, while am talking
of chamber SETS to tell you of a now style o
commode, designed for use in houses wher,
the water is not carried into the rooms. A
the top of the com mode, where the drawer Il
usually placed is zinc-lined tank capable o
holding four gallons Of water the marble ba
sin is sunk into this tank, and a spring oi
one side opens n valve and fills the basin
Another spring opens an escape valve ant
Al. 4.
pipe into movable tub beneath. 1t is tn
most convenient contriyance l ever saw, an'
the expense is very little more than an ordi
nary commode, l would prefer to pay tn
difference and have it, if l lived where
could not have water brought to the cham
bers. l wonder what the next invention vii
be? 1t seems as though things were simpli
= fed and steps saved almost rs much as the
, can be, though no doubt the next centur
= will think us rs crude and slow as We thin
those were who lived the century before us
q Another thing which commends the presen
j. style of fhouse-furnishing is the latitude whic
=, is allowed in choice, and in the exercise of in
diyidual taste. The fancy for ''set' furnish
= !. ing has gone by, and the drawing room, pan
), lor, sitting room or library is made NOR
!. homelike by the odd pieces of furniture
:. which relieve room from stiffness and Civ
- it II more informal look Such pretty easel
and cabinets and wall decorations as are mad
Music stands, too, are ornamental, and nc
merely useful. There is a great fancy fc
ebonized woods, and nearly all these odd an
purely ornamental pieces are of this WOOD
finished with gliding. Some of the prettie'
music stands are in marQueterie with tables
:, match.
d The Queen Anne and Eastlake styles hay
invaded drawing and dining rooms as well &
chambers, and either of these styles, especial