The Wilmingtonian., 1888-09-01
Too Nice for Use.

The love Of pretty things is, or should be,
part of every well organized nature. 1t
is credit to woman that she.tries to have
her house look pleasanter and more home
like than that of her neighbor. Let her be
indulged in any ambition so laudable. Lot
no one in male attire throwsc0!d water on
her intention. Lot her paint pictures and
elaborate pottery, and invent something
new by way of mantle ornament, and don't
sneer at her owls, and her japanese ans,
and her long necked decorated jugs aud
bottles. Be good-natured and admire them,
as you ought to do.
The poet tells us that "Home is not mere
Iy.four square walls" and he means us to
infer that home is place where there are
soft chairs and sofas with Tides on the
back s-tidies done in outline stitch, and
tides painted and embroidered, and bapjos
with birds painted on them, and banners
and a quantity of other things that go to
make up the furnishing Of modern house.
We have never word of fault to find
with this decorative spirit; let it run till it
has had day: but we do want to say
to our sisters who are mistresses Of houses
do not, for PHYS sake, make your fancy
articles too nice for use. For there is moth
ing more distressing than to be obliged to
live in house where things are not ex-
pected to be used. Where is the sense in
having mirrors and pictures covered with
gauze which gives them such ghostly ap-
dearance that one feels as if he were in
channel house. with the sheeted dead of past
generations all around him?
Where is the use of having rugs SO deli
cate that they must be laid wrong side up,
and every one must walk gingerly around
them! Why, we would great deal rather
have the old iron-clad rug Of our grandmoth-
ers, and warranted to stay right there every
time you put your foot on it.
Tides now are not made to protect chairs;
they must be turned back before one sits
down. Embroidered table scarfs would be
ruined if a healthy man should lean his ell
bow upon them when he is reading the pa
per.
Footstools are no to put your foot on;
they are made to fiji up the vacant corners
in the room, and all the female portion of
the house would be shocked if you should
plant your No. seven on them. Even chairs,
we find, are made so slender and decorative
that it is hazardous to sit down on them;
! and the artistic work on the cushione qs,i,t.
be spoiled in three weeks Of such use as a
live family Of grown persons would make Of
| them.
| A man when be comes home at night
wants place where he can take comfort
aud rest, andl OF himself out from restraint,
| He wants to stretch out on couple of
chairs, if he feels like it. He doesn't want
to have his mind disturbed by the visions Of
demoraized tides .nd shp-wrecked furui.
/ ture.
| Comfort is what we all want at home.
| Heaven knows we get enough discomfort
abroad A home should be place where
one can use the furniture and Il e belongings
generally, as it pea'es him. If he wants
to rock in the rocking chair, he ought to be
able to do so without being reminded that
the carpet is TOO nice for that kind of ex.
ercise.
Oh, there is nothing like having things ioi
use and using them? We have, so far as we
know, only one Lille to live where chairs,
and sofas, and tables, and carpets will be oi
use aud comfort to us, and it is best to get
our happiness as we go along
So let the women decorate as they please
but give us living living room in every
house where there shall be nothing admitted
that is to nice for us.