The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-01-20


are hung with family photographs in
oval frames, and perhaps chrome
or two. If there is a young girl in
the family, there is probably an eff
fort after popular decoration in the
shape of two or three japanese fans.
several bows of ribbon, q tidy done
in Kensington stitch, or milking
stool with gilded legs and embroid-
cred cushion. The effect is not in
spiriting, and offers a solution for
the awe encompassing the best room
Ia respect born of the dread of the
discomfort undergone by its tenants,
All this cannot be altered by q
single touch. If one has to buy new
furniture, the task is less diff
cult. A pretty mating or carpet
of subdued tones, odd and graceful
chairs instead of the hackneyed set,
can be purchased as reasonably as
the unattractive furniture that is Of
ten selected. But when one has ones
parlor furnished already, one has to
make the best of things as they are.
The glarlng tints of the carpet may
be lessened by one or two inexpen-
siye fur rugs, the chairs and sofas
placed at less acute angles, the hard
GOODNESS of the marble of mantel and
table disguised by draping scarfs'
the artificial flowers exchanged for a
pot of real ivy, the mats banished
and a few books and magazines
scattered about. A light chair or
two may be purchased, or imported
frem some other part of the house in
exchange for one of the set. These
by-the-by, may be materially inn
proved by saving off about two inch
es of the legs. The family photo
graphs must be ruthlessly swept
away. Their place is not in the din
ing room. They are of no interest
to strangers. Ii they must be hung
up rather than cherished in an album
let them be in the sittingroom or
bedchambers, where they will be
viewed by the uncritical eyes of
those to whom the originals are dear.
Above all the room must be lived
in. 1t need not be used as romp-
ing place by the children, or as a
sewing room, but it should be kept
open not darkened and gloomy. Ey-
cry day callers may be received here
for social chat or relaxation in the
evenings, If it is half library, so
much the better. Books give home
like air impaired by no other ihsen-
tient thing, perhaps because they
are more nearly living than anything
else not flesl and blood.
The room that is in daily use will
require daily care. Probably this is
one reason that the parlor is often
kept closed. The busy house wife
shrinks from the added labor, and
finds it easier to avoid the room al
me st entirely than to keep it in ord
err. Yet the duty need not be irk.
some. When there is young lady
IN the family it naturally deyolves
upon her. Even the halfgrown
Fschool girl is capable ofassuming the
charge il she is assisted by few
hints and little supervision from
her mother.
In the first place, the room should
never be left In an unt:dy state at
night. Unlike room in which work
is constantly doing, there need be no
litter on the floor. The chief de-
rangement is OF the furniture, and it
is not five minutes work to pull
chairs and tables back into place af-
ter the circle breaks up for the night
A semblance Of neatness is thus pro-
cured, together with the comfortable
consciousness that there is room in
a fit state to receive very early call.
ers the next morning, if srch should
unfortunately present themselves.
Before break fast the windows may
be opened Icing enough to freshen
the air of the room. A few passages
of the CARPET sweeper over the floor
will gather up what dust or shreds
may have been left there by feet or
clothing on the preceding night. II
this is done two or three times q