The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-01-27
LADIES COLUMN.
ABOUT PARLoRS.
The Awful Glocminess Of the Mod
ern Ones.

New I Ork Post: A great deal
has been said and written about the
old-fashioned parlor. Indeed, peo-
pie have generally come to look
upon it as a failure, and to think
slightingly of the taste which rem.
dered it possible. Whatever may
have been its defects, there is a
question in the minds of some peo-
pie as to whether the modern parlor
is great improvement upon the
ancient one, and, in fact, whether
there Is sufficient reason for its ex-
Istence. 1t is true that this mod
ern room Is not kept Theoretically
sealed, as is alleged of the older
one. There are more feast days
upon which it is opened, and chill
dren are allowed to sit upon its
handsome chairs, and look into the
street through its lace curtains.
Still 1t is not room to be happy
in, and it too often absorbs into it
self the best there is in the house,
not only in the way of furniture,
but also of pictures and books,
leaving the living room as bare as a
desert, so far as educating and REIN
ing is concerned. THAT this is not
best, a little thought will show.
We who are so wonderfully made
and so mysteriously influenced,
gain much by having around 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 frequently attract the. atten-
ton of the family. To the thought
full man who wishes well TO his
kind, it is saddening to see people
spending their money for that
which is not bread.
3. People who think they cannot af-
ford to buy one new book in year,
or so much as photograph or he
liotype of good picture, must
have their parlor "set," cheap
lace in imitation.of those who can
well afford to have them. They
illustrate the woful facility we have
in copying the failings of our
neighbors instead of their virtues.
This is not plea for the utter ex-
tinction of the parlor. A tasteful
reception 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
a great convenience, and in some
homes almost a necessity; but if
two pleasant, inviting rooms cannot
be afforded, it would be vastly bet
ter to invariably make the one
cheerful, comfortably furnished
room, with the good pictures and
the books, the room for the family
to meet in and to enjoy. The mon
ey. or a part of it, saved by not in
dulging in parlor, might be used
to good advantage in buying books
and objects of. interest and instrac-
ton. 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 per-
sons would hardly appreciate
Charles Lambs going about in his
thread bare plum. colored coat that
he might buy favorite folio. Nor
would they ever be found wonder
ing how much Oliver Wendell
Holmes owes to the fact that he
staggered againss books as a
baby" Who that has ever attempt
ed to trace back any of his own i'm
pressions to their source has not
been surprised to find that deep and
lasting ones have been made by
something in itself very slight2