, 1885-01-03
WOMAN AND HOME.
HUMAN NATURE VERY LIKE THE
WORLD OVER.
Husbands and wivos-How oeave-Dreas-
ing Wen-Iteras of Peculiar Inter
est to womcn-A Nebraska
Girl-stray Jottings-


another Indicative Of the character of the
inmates. Tho moment a caterer enters a
kitchen he can tell the kind ofaa table the
family is used to. But for evidence of ma
tive retirement and real culture the critic
mus go to the bed room One of the first
cares that n Quakercss imposes on her child
rem is TO keep an orderly bedroom. Therei Is
a place for everything, and everything is
supposed to occupy that place. So thor
oughly arc the people OF this sect trained
that men have come to Justify the divorce
on this ground, alleging that a girl who did
not keep n neat bedroom when she was mar
ried had not the requisites for n successful
housewife. Doctors, too, gain a great in
sight into personal character from the very
furniture on the dressing-table, the pattern
in the carpet and curtains, and the details In
general of the room.
The first requisite for a pretty bedroom Is
q pretty carpet, and unfortunately u at Is
not a characteristic of all bedroom carpets.
People seem to think that anything is good
enough, and as a rule old and faded rags of
hit-or-miss ~pattern-and usually misfits-are
collected from lower halls or living-rooms,
and made to answer as floor coverings in
back sleeping-roomS But however mex
haustible their wearing qualities mny appear.
they answer but poorly, for they hold dust and
vermin and their influence on respiration is
of most injurious nature. Many women
arc actuated by economy In this 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 hygie-
nically tho best covering for a bedroom floor.
1t is cheap and can be frequently renewed.
But when beauty Is wanted this style Of COW
ering is not 50 desirable, for 1t not only looks
cold and hard, but is so.
Ingram carpet is much preferable provided
choice is made Of small patterns and light
colorL Even then It Is less desirable thar n
Brussels, for n good ingram cannot be had
for less than 81 and II does not pay to
lay n cheap ono. Admirers Of ingrains put
great stress on their reversibility, thus enab-
ling one 10 have roses one season and buds
and leaves the next.
About the furniture there Is much TO say.
To start with the bedstead, choice will de-
pend very much on the outlay. Brass bod
stears are having a largo run and the supply
continues Such an article is a good invest
mont as it has five times the durability Of
any other kind. Then there are large i'm
ported beds made of hardwood, with the side
boards cushioned in velvet or plush and but
toned down. Canopies are rarely sold. Beds
with couohes at the foot are in demand
among people who have n home of their own,
and there is a world Of comfort in them too.
For chairs a rocker, II couple Of straight
backs, and at least one armchair will be re-
quired- With several footstoolsa and a couple
OF ottomans a fewer number may do. One
table is Indispensable, which should contain
nothing but a lamp and papers. If the COM
fort OF a husband is TO DO consulted. A man
wants a lamp, and want a place to put his
favorite newspaper and magazine on, and
| 81. $3.50. .-t. III. >. ..a.lu 49,. -.
neglects an important duty, As IA means OF
keeping that erratic individual at home, have
u second stand covered with n neat, white
crumb-cloth and holding IA tete-a-tete set
with a continuance Of some kind for making
him a cup Of tea. This little tea-table will
DO quite an addition 10 the room, and even
though ono may not make tea twice in a
fortnight, the rare bits OF French china in
tho set will in all probability have u potent
effect in cultivating a love for the beautiful
1t is not necessary to put big sums Of
money in dressing cnsos when II few dollars
and a little taste will supply IA substitute.
Get a 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 cushions, bottles, and caskets to
suit. Buy three yards or thereabouts of
Madras cloth, arrange it over the glass, tic
back the ends with some pretty ribbons, and
one has a d~ressing-table that is worth the
best bevel-mirrored, granite-top, French
dresser in the market. Look well to 1t that
the head of the house has a place of his own
TINT he can lny undisputed claim TO.
II there is a mantel, make a drapery Of
creton or etched linen, rufle with lace, and
tack on the board with thumb-screws. Or
nament the walls with something, if it be
Il 49,
hung opposite the eye where they can be-
seen and enjoyed, but don't let them become
numerous enough TO pail on tho senses. Bits
of fabric on rich color may DO hung hero
and there with picturesque effect, and books
should not be foreign TO the room. Moro
than n little beauty OF the room will delend
on the makeup of tho windows. Don't buy
heavy drapery, as it is a barrier to free cir
c~ulation, and is a catch-all for dust and
other impurities Tho use OF Madras cloth
is on the increase, and the richness of tho
material and the grace with which it can be
draped nre the main qualities which have
contributed to its popularity.
And now for the score Of accessories that
speak of the refinement in which we are all
in pursuit Line bureau draws with pretty
colored paper and make them odorous with
sweet clover, orris root. sandal wood, laven-
der, or sachet powder, Have some sweet
scented fancy work or Tag ON the wall, or,
better still, buy a cheap urn and burn in
cense to sweeten the room. Make two bags OF
contrasting colors, either in satin, sateen, or
creton, and hang on tho door-knobs, one to
hold stockings needing daining. and the other
for soiled collars and cuffs. A screen is in
dispensable, and may cost from 81 to $50. A
paper-basket can be made ornamental, as il
certainly will be found useful Make sure to
have a supply Of matches on hand, and, for
the beauty of the wallpaper, a scratcher in
some convenient place. Writing material
and a ball of Irvine are by no means obliga-
tory, but their presence may ave some i'm
patience.