The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-04-03
Chairs and Tables.
lCornhill Magazine

The best chairs and touches are those which
you like best, and which best conform to the
natural contour of the human figure in re.
pose. A couch should allow of the feet being
put up, if necessary, and should be of such q
shape that you can lie upon it. either full
length or half length, with perfect comfort
To be really serviceable it should not be GOV.
cred with pale blue satin or maizo-colored
taboret, but with good tapestry covering in
o neutral hue, say sage-green or dark rusty
red, TO wear WELL The tapestry should not
be too fine to lie down upon, or even, in the
privacy Of family life, to lay ones feet upon.
And the whole couch should, if possible, turn
toward the fire, SO that its occupant may
have his face toward the cheerful glow. At
the same time, little wickerwork table
black and gold if you will--may hold lamp
for reading. AS to chairs, a couple of good,
well-stuffed easy chairs, also covered in the
same tapestry, and arranged SO as to look
toward the fire, ought to be sufficient for lux
ury, while six or eight little ebonized and
cane-bottomed gossip.chairs are the simplest
and prettiest occasional furniture you can
have. The gossip-chair has curved back
which exactly fits the natural curve of the
body, and the seat slopes gently downward
and backward, 80 as to give one the best
possible support with the least angularity or
awk wardnoss. With these pretty little clean
cane seats, black wicker-work chair, two
easy chairs, and couch, you should have
enough places for family and guests in quiet
household. Tables are Of very little real use
In drawing room; still, we must have one
or two 10 give the whole furnished look. A
spare table near the bay window will allow
Of jardiniere and u fern or india-rubber
plant to stand in the sun. You can have
nothing better than black and gold for this
purpose. Another round, of course, is needed
for afternoon tea. There must be some place
to lay books and other heavy articles; and
the table for this Office should be solid and
should stand against the wall. Nothing re-
mains but the piano; and that must naturally
be placed where the exigencies of space de-
mand. Few articles of furniture are more
difficult to manage than the coal-scuttle. 1t
is always getting in everybody's way, and it
can hardly be made presentable even by the
utmost pains of the struggling decorative
Imagination. 1t is almost lamentable to think
of all the useless efforts lavished by the hui
man intellect upon abortive coal-scuttles.
Perhaps the best solution Of the problem is
that which combines scuttle and what-not in
one comprehensive whole, having a box for
the coal beneath, and one or two shelves for
knickknacks above. This composite piece
Of furniture may then stand against the wall
beside the chimney-piece, where it adds to
the general prettiness of the room, instead of
being an unsightly incumbrance. Moreover,
the weight of the coal gives stability to the
what not, and prevents it from having that
topple- down air so common with its kind
Any such suggestion of imminent catastro.
Plies should always be avoided in drawing