The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-09-24
FOR THE LADIES.
Home Made Furniture and Upholstery
individuality in Decoration and House,
keeninp.
What to wear During Your summer Trips
to the Seaside or Country.
ROOM DECORATION.

Aside from being a most aStute di-
plomatiste, Mrs, John A. Logan is an
accomplished housekeeper, and her skill
in improvising hall, parlor, and cham
Der furniture is rs well known rs the
legislative tactics of the Senator Any
one who has any important business to
transact with the General is almost GER
tain to meet his wife, and nobody ever
saw her divans or was initiated into
the mysteries of the luxurious settees
and couches that line the hall of her
Washington home who did not dilate
on the inventions with great glory to
the bright little woman who planned
them. Speaking about the matter to a
prominent Ashland avenue lady who
visited her in Washington last winter.
Mrs Logan said Now it is not alto
gether economy that forces me into
these schemes with the cabinet-maker
and upholsterer. for some of my designs
are far more expensive to execute than
modern purchase would be. But
don't want these modern pieces; l want
the chair, rocker, couch, and cabinet
that is not likely to be found in every
woman's parlor in the States l like
individuality in furniture, decoration
and housekeeping just as do in people"
Mrs. Logan is one woman in Il tn ou-
sand, and the facilities she has are by
no means common. 1t is easy to un-
derstand the enthusiasm she can work
up i'm building Il bookcase or designing
a cabinet from boards sent her from
HindOOstan, Syria. or from our own
California, where they were cut and
dressed by party of admiring friends.
She turns barrel heads into Eastlake
lounging chairs. and can make n COM
mon packing box captivating by ram
ming a couple of horns in the top after
tufting it with raw silk or cotton tapes
try. But the secret of the whole outfit
lies i'm the sentiment That hallows key,
box and horns. Her angular touches
with their pretty upholstery and the
stained wood hall seats which afford adj
mirable rcceptaclcs for dresses, over
coats and bed clothes, are more or less
historical in architecture, but would
hardly answer the purpose OF simple
housewife who buys with the constant
wear and tear of decade in view.
Aside from utility, Mrs. Logan's name
is as good us crown, and the designer
who would do her odd jobs for the
pleasure of seeing such distinguished
lady would charge Mrs. Live-in-Ob-
security II figure that can only be desig-
mated rs fancy
But if it is not within the possibility
of every housewife to make a successful
sofa out of n dry goods box. there are q
few mistakes that she may guard against.
To wit: Ii your rooms are small. buy
small furniture. Don't buy upholstered
goods unless you buy the best in the
market, nor buy that quality unless
there is plenty of money to provide a
handsome ensemble. There is plenty
of willow and rattan ware for small in
comes. which are rs pretty as they are
sweet and clean. Get your lolling-chair
or lounge first. and if you can't devise
ways and means for pOmegranate or
pink velvet cushion you are a failure as
an economist. This pillow may be
made of common ticking filed with