The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-22
ABOUT BEDROOMS.
How to Furnish Them-Taste To Be Exercised
in Selection of Ornaments.


tell the kind of table the family is used to-
But for evidence of native refinement and real
culture the critic must go to the bedroom. One
of The first cares that a Quakeress imposes on
her children is to keep orderly bedroom.
There is place for everything, and everything
is supposed to occupy that place. So thoroughly
are the people of this sect trained that men
have come to justify the divorce on this ground,
alleging that girl who did not keep neat
bedroom when she was married had not the
requisites for successful housewife Doctors,
too, gain great iusig ht into personal character
from the very furniture on the dressing table,
the pattern in the carpets and curtains, and the
details in general of the room.
The first requisite for pretty bedroom is
pretty carpet and unfortunately that is not
characteristic of all bedroom carpets. People
seem to think that anything is good enough, and
rule old and faded rags of hit-or miss pattern
and usually misfts-are collected from lower
halls or living-rooms and made to answer as
floor coverings in back sleeping rooms. But.
however inexhaustible their wearing qualities
may appear, they answer but poorly, for they
hold dust and vermin and their influence on res
piration is Of most injurious nature. Many
women are actuated by economy in the saving
of old parlor carpets for bedroom wear but
when all things are taken into consideration the
economy is somewhat doubtful.
There is no denying that mating is hygienic-
ally the best covering for a bedroom floor. 1t Is
cheap and can be frequently renewed. But
when beauty is wanted this style of covering is
not so desirable, for it not only looks cold and
hard, but is so.
Ingrain carpet is much preferable, provided
choice is made of small patterns and light colors.
Even then it is less desirable than Brussels,
for good ingram cannot be had for less than
dollar, and it does not pay to lay cheap one.
Admirers of ingrains put great stress on their
reversbility, thus enabling one to have roses one
season. and buds and leaves the next. But,
however this may be- both sides put together
cannot compare with pretty dove-gray Brus-
sol CHI Nt with N1Ihn Jrpla md Of
colors, which can be bought anywhere for 80
cents, and will not only outlaSt the very best
three ply ingram but look better the last day OF
its old age than the other did in its youth. There
are body Brussels to be had at all prices and an
English pattern worth 81. 60 will wear twenty
years in chamber, and hold its color while
there is fragment of wool left on the warp.
For the ordinary purchaser, who must consider
means with the ways there is nothing in the
market more servicable than a Roxbury Brus
sels which sells at 30 cents at present. 1t is not
always possible to get choice patterns, but occa-
Sionally body Brussels designs are reproduced,
and for the purpose here intended are just as
good. If one lives in his own house it is quite
different matter but where there is this May
day evacuation so much alteration and refttlng
are required that experience has taught people to
invest in inexpensive carpets.
In the purchase of all kinds of carpets this one
rule holds good: buy light colors. The lighter
the ground the greater will be the service, for
they show soil and wear less readily and are al
ways made of good material Only the best
grades of wool will take a high dye, and the in
ferior qualities are dyed i'll colors and put in
cheap carpets. Women as a rule, hesitate
about taking light carpets, arguing that they
get soiled so soon. Now, everything under foot
must of necessity get soiled regardless of color,
and everybody who has worn black is aware that
there are few colors which show the dirt sooner.
A white ground makes the choicest carpet as
the dust and wear will tone it down to a soft,
gray, on which any color almost will show to
advantage.
For those of an esthetc taste there are plenty
of grays browns, light yellows, and pretty olives
in Scotch tweed that make exquisit floor cover
ings. They can be had at ninety cents and ST. %,
are usually made up with bright border of the
same material and come full yard wide. Ii
this arrangement is not desired lay your floor
with moss green meerschaum yellow and buy
a few mats to finish it with
Moquettes and ve]vets are undesirable because
it is so hard to sweep them.
1t is a nice idea to buy a good carpet, cut it
square, and finish off with light border. Fill
in the floor to the depth of half yard or so
with plain terry, and the effect will be artistic
enough to appealto the taste and the imagination.
THE FURNITURE.
About the furniture there is much to say. To
start with the bedstead choice will depend very
much on the outlay Brass bedstea6s are hav-
ing large run and the supply continues. Such
an article is good Investment as it has five
times the durability of any other kind Then
there are large imported beds made of hard
wood with the sdeboard cushioned in velvet
or plush and buttoned down Canopies are
rarely sold Beds with touches at the foot are
in demand among people who have home of
their own, and there is world of comfort in
them too But it is not a difficult matter TO i'm
proyise couch. For instance procure bench
as long as the foothoard, such as is used in Sun
day schools OF recitation-rooms. Make a cush-
ion of cretonne, jute, any kind of upholsterers
cloth long enough to cover the seat. Put SOFA
pillows in each end to cover the arms, throw
slumber blanket or afghan over the back, and
one has delightful couch. Have extra
slumber- blanket on hand to be used for an after
noon nap. This not only facilitates comfort, but
is great saving to a bed, which is so easily
soiled and mussed by chronic nappers
For chairs, rocker a couple of strais ht-
backs, and at least armchair will be re-
CURED With several footstools and couple of
ottomans fewer number may do One table
is indispensable, which should contain nothing
but lamp and papers, if tho comfort of hus-
band is to be consulted. man wants lamp
and wants place to put his favorite newspa-
per and magazine on, and the woman
who fails to provide that place neglects an i'm
portant duty. = q means of keeping that
erratic individual at home, have a second stand
covered with a neat white crumbcloth and hold
ing q te-a-tete set with a contrivance of some
kind for making him cup of tea This little
tea-table will be quite an addition to the room,
aud even though one may not make tea twice in
a fortnight the rare bits of French china in the
set will in all probability have potent effect in
cutivating love for the beautiful.
1t is not necessary to put big sums of money
in dressing-eases when a few dollars and little
taste will supply a substitute. Get common
little three-drawer bureau of old fashion. Buy
a square looking glass, any size, and have it
hung on the wall over the bureau. Make some
pretty mats for the top and arrange cushion,
bottles, and caskets to suit. Buy three yards
or Whereabouts of Madras CLOTH arrange it over
the glass, tie back the ends with some pretty
ribbons and one has a dressngtahle that is
worth the best bevel-mirrored granite
top French dresser in the market.
Look well to it that the head of the
house has place of his own that he can lay
disputed claim to. You will not care to dupli-
cate the above table, and there is nothing at
present in mind more suitable for him than a
chifonier This is by no means handsome
ticle of furniture, but it is roomy, and that will
he sn fl Giant To racnmmnnd it TO the nerSon for