Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-03-13
Art in the Household.

In these favored days Of the preya-
lence OF improved modes Of thought and
better ideas of perfection among our
people, the subject Of decorative art
excit~s a great amount Of interested in
quiry and careful study. Where, ten
years ago, five persons representing the
more aspiring OF householders, were
content each to look forward to posses
sing 70: the best parlor, bright-fow-
cred brussels, suite Of gaUdy velvet
furniture, and two long, guided mir
rOrs. twenty to-day are eagerly asking
how they shall most effectively adorn
their rooms according TO the principles
Of correct taste.
A lady friend says that she well re-
members, when she was a very little
girl, inierrogatIng her artist grandfather
in this way: "Grandpa, hasn't grand
ma got pretty csrpet in her psrlor Z"
"No," he answered, "irs too snowy.
Did you ever see any roses as big as
these They look like red cabbage
heads. The inquiring child thought,
in surprise, that grandpa didn't know
much, aud when he took her upstairs
into that mysterious roomI the studio,
and told her that a deep, navy-blue ta-
ble-cover, oflight Japanese silk. painted
oil over with vine-like tracery OF ar
abesques in black, tsps pretty, she won
dered more aud more. As IL grand
ma wasn't well aware what was the
fashion a .
But 1t was not many years before
she discovered that the man Of taste
and the fashion are very often al swords :
points. Not long before she perceived
that the usual drawing-room appoint
ments OF Mrs. Loitie and Mrs. Parve-
nu, alike, were calculated to set on
edge the teeth Of any one within whose
sensitive soul dwelt images OF perfect
loveliness, whether OF form or fitness,
color or harmony, sufiiciency or grace.
But new era has dawned upon Us.
Love OF home and loye of beauty COIN
bined, have deposed the upholsterer
and enihroped the artist. The crude,
the gorgeous, the tawdry and the oS-
tentatious must needs disappear before
the graceful. the subdned. the genuine
and the fitting. Rooms in which the
truly cultured delight TO breathe and
live, are marked by The complete sway
Of adaptability, truth, simplicity and
freedom.
In place Of the. old-iime wallpaper,
representing confusing landscapes, dag
zling blossoms, or heavy panels of hues
and proportions alike distracting, We
have q charming array Of tinted, har-
moaizing friezes. quiet, conventional
diapers, and rich, decorated dadoes.
The glaring, Joseph's coat carpets, with
gigantic bouquets or staring, geometri-
cal figures, have been superseded by
those Of deep, low tones and mere sug-
gestions of patterns, relieved by deli
cate touches of bright color: the fam
Jog, useless curtains and snowy gilt
cornices have given away before sub
stantial, ample hangings, suspended in
the real artistic manner by rings run
upon rods: and the cold. slippery haar-
closil and gingerly-touched satin and
velvet, with the inevitable, tantaliZing
form Of their accompanying cabinet
work, have been replaced BY comiorta-
BILE chairs and sofas, covered with soft
stuffs, OF tasteful designs and blending
shades.
For The last few years, most Of our
friends having = true appreciation OF
the worth Of comfort. and taste, and
beauty, as well as q desire 10 be most
where was most perceivable the subtle
spirit Of home, have been wont TO avoid
the set parlor and enjoy the less pee
tentious, but more attractive family sit-
ing.room, furnished, as such rooms al
ways should be, with simple fittings,
but taiF adornments, as a quiet carpet.
clear, white curtains, pretty pictures,
autumn-leaves, ferns, flowers and birds,
with scattered nick-nacks, books and
magazines. They, too, though forced
in some degree to fail in with the pre-
vailing mode. have had dsonlething else
in their separate parlors besides the
s;x chairs. aud two sofas, and two stools
AID a piano, and clock on the mantle,
and card-receiver on the Tnsfsel Of .
table. But how glad each one rs now
that, instead ci q public saloon, he or
she can bar cbe more chensbe9 liE-
ing-room.
It's ceiling and walls. Instead Of being
IKE those OF ten Of its, neighbors. may
receive a portion OF Its owners life,
embracing al within them, in the clear
tints and wreathing vines, and tossing
wheat and poppies With which they are
.srr4safgpd. ffe- ffnorr Of 4 dark attained
wood, relieved by soft, mossy rugs. or
entirely hidden BY its warm, deep COW