The Portland daily press., 1881-03-04
AGRICULTURAL
The Household.
About ParlorS,

ABOUT ParlOrS.
A great deal has been said and written
against the old-fashoned paror; indeed,
people generally have come to look uron it as
failure and to think slightingly of the taste
which rendered it possible Whatever may
have been its effects, there is a question in
the minds OF some people as to whether the
modern parlor is a great improvement upon
the ancient one, and in fact, whether there
is sufficient reason for its existence. 1t is
true that this modern room is not kept her.
metically sealed, as is alleged of the older
one. There are more feast days upon
which it is opened, and children are allowed
to sit upon it's handsome chairs and look
out into the street through its lace curtains.
The furniture is arranged more artistically
Still, it is not room to be happy in, and it
too often absorbs into itself the best in the
house, not only in the way of furniture. but
also of pictures and books, leaving the liv-
ing room of the family bare as desert, so
far as anything refining and educating is
concerned. That this is not best a little
thought will show. We, who are so won
derfully made and so mysteriOusly influ-
enced, gain much by having about us every
day surroundings which are elevating and
suggestive. So, if there is only one picture
IN the house which is worth looking at or
studying, let it hang where it will most fire.
quently attract the attention of the family.
70 the thoughtful man who wishes well
to his kind it is saddening to see people
spending their money for that which is not
bread People who think they can't afford
to buy one new book in year. or so much
as photograph or heliotype of good pic
ture, must have their parlor ''set," cheap
lace in imitation of those who can we'll af-
ford to have them. They illustrate the
woeful facility we have in copying the fail
ings of our neighbors instead of their viz
tues. This is not a plea for the utter ex-
unction of the parlor. A tasteful recep-
ton room, which may always be in order
for guests and for any strangers whom you
may not wish to introduce into your family
life, is great convenience, and in some
homes almost necessity; but if two pleas
ant, inviting looms cannot be afforded, it
would be vastly better to invariably make
the one cheerful, comfortably furnished
room, with the good pictures and books, the
room for the family to meet in and to enjoy.
The money. or a part of it, saved by not in
dulging in parlor, might be spent to good
adva ,tage in buying books and objects of
interest and instruction. 1t is interesting to
notice the value placed upon books by many
who profess loudly to wish for them, by
their always putting them after everything
else. Such persons would hardly appre-
ciate Charles Lambs going about in his
threadbare plum colored coat that he might
buy a favorite folio. Nor would thew ever
be found wondering how much Oliver Wen
dell Holmes owes to the fact that he s'stag-
gered against books as a baby" Who that
has ever attempted to trace back any of his
own Impressions to their source has not
been surprised to find that deep and lasting
ones have been made by something in itself
very slight?-New York Post.