Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-03-21

Aunt Kerammlk's Art Studies.

Abdf CW.
Aunt Kerammlk's Art Studies.
IL IS perhaps year ago since |
dropped in to call upon MIRA. K. one
evening and found her porting over
that fatal volume, First Steps in
Household Art. | say fatal volume
Tor innocent as the book seemed, il
was destined to poison my peace of
mind and to cost my poor aunt much
pain and misery in the days to com Q.
But, happily unconscious as yet
OF the trouble in store, my auut
looked up from her book on my en-
trance and exclaimed
oh, Frederic, am 80 glad you
have come want you 10 read this
charming book, and then to tell me
what you think Of it. What stupid
mistakes ! have been making during
all these yeara-why | SEQ now that
| did not comprehend tho first prin-
clples OF Art, not even its alphabet.
But will begin at once. | will re-
furnish this house in accordance
with my new ideas, and then, Fred
eric, my dear you shall sse--what
you shall see.
Somewhat puzzled, | began TO
qaestio out for all answer my aunt
thrust the First Steps Of Household
Art into my hand, and babe me read
and be convinced.
Dutifully / turned over o page or
two, but | found their contents de.
cidedly mystifying. Mean while my
aunt was running on chilly, in what
seemed to mo an unknown tongue.
| did my best to turn the converse
tion into more familiar channels. but
in vain. Renaissance, bric.a-brao,
dados, portieres, Queen Anne, mir
rors, coves, Eastlake, Morris wall
paper, decorative Art-the latter
pronounced with a capital A-these
succeeded each other with startling
rapidity, until at last | rose TO take
leave, feeling almost anxious about
my aunt's sanity.
1t so happened that / was obliged
to leave town early the neyt day on
urgent business, so | did not see her
again for nearly week. But what
q surprise awaited me / stared in
helpless amazement when the door
was opened in answer TO my ring
and should have apologized for get
ting into the wrong house, had not
johns smiling visago e-assured me.
lie alone was unchanged. But what
meant all this transformation The
elegant carpet and curtains had dis.
appeared SD had the luxurious
chairs and lounges /; so had the SUI
perb mirrors, the valuable pictures
lin short al the furniture and orn-
aments Of which my aunt had been
so proud In their places / beneld
ugly old Dutch Clocks, clumsy cary
cd furniture ponderous and grim of
aspect, sconce holding candles
whose dim light only made one re-
greet the gas, and tiny mirrors in
queer frames. Old China plates were
suspended all over tho walls. Jape-
nese cabinets stood here and there,
and in the place of the polished CRATE
with its cannel-coal fire,an enormous
fire place now yawned before me,
it's sides ornamsnted with tiles, the
tall brass andirons and fender franz
ing in couple of blazing logs, The
floor was dark and shining and ter
ribly slippery, as found out in
moment, 80 | stepped gladly on
dingy rug as an island Of refuge.
At one side OF the fire, on 8 tall cary
ed oaken settle sat my aunt. look.
ing blissfully content with her new
surroundings.
Isn't il charming, Fredemep'
was her first question. Then Il
ioand It all ia that delightful book
the one ] was reading when yon left
me last week, you know, Fred. Did
you eve" 500 such n transformation?
Never | replied with considera-
bic emphasis; but are you quite
sure my dear aunt, that you find
yourself % comfortable as formerlyY
This article of furniture for instance
touching the back of the wooden
ettle-'isn't it little, just little,
hard and unaccomodating? Don't
you miss your delight uI, easy chairs
now p
Frederic said my aunt, with
mingling Of reproof and surprise in
tones--'prederic, can you be 90 ia
sensible to the value of true house
hold Art as to regret the furniture |
have discarded Alb, my dear boy,
your words only prove to me your
lamentable want of culture, the dull
ness of your aesthetic perceptions, in
fact-snd | shall do my best to edu-
cate you TO higher plane in Art.
My aunt shivered pcrceptibly as
she finished and no wonder, for the
room was really cold.
you are chilly, Let me open the
register, or shall | tell John TO put
some coal in the furnace p | asked
rising from my seat at once. But
Mrs. X. stopped me, with another
SILVER as she did so.
Nonsense z she replied, shortly /;
! am quite warm enough besides,
| have had the furnace taken out. 1t
is the greatest of modern abomina-
tions, and | could not permit it to
remain in a dwelling devoted to ar
tistic furnishing. Is not this charm.
ing wood fire delightful substitute?
and so saying she sneezed.
How miss your pictures 7 l ven.
turea to say next. | felt so discon.
certed by the strangeness of all
about me that / made this remark
with real timidity. Ny aunt was
more reproachfui than before, as she
said:
Haze you noticed the dade and
the trieze. Erederic 2 That nnua