Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-26
SECRET OF COMFORT.

SECRET OF COMFORT.
lt Does Not Depend ON . Large House or
Expensive Furnishings.
The comfort and attractiveness of
home does not depend upon the amount
of money spent in building and fur
nishings. A clever woman said re-
Gently that wealth frequently served
only to advertise vulgarity. The say
ing should become proverb. Those
whose resources are narrow are apt to
think with envy of the superior adj
vantages of the rich. Money is a con-
venience. and may be blessing. but
of itself it does not create beauty or
purchase happiness. There are houses
throughout this country that are bar
barrie in their ugliness. They have
been furnished from top to bottom
with two ideas in view-costliness and
show. Carpets blaze, and CHI airs and
tables present an array OF awkward
angles, fringe and knots. This is
where the house-furnisher buys reck-
lessly whatever suits his uncultivated
eye. fatally attracted by gaudy and
trusts himself he may become the vic
tim of the dealer, who prof Is by his
ignorance and makes his house the re-
ceptacle of all the unstable furniture
he has in stock.
On the other hand the humblest
little snuggery may be made SO bright
and so inviting that it impresses one
like spring landscape-all freshness
and fragrance. In these days of cheap
house furnishings there is no excuse
for ugliness. All that is needed is
care in the selection and proper re-
gard for harmony. Stained floors and
rugs, pretty draperies. graceful wooden
chairs. few good bits of bric-a-brac,
a half dozen good prints or photo
graphs, with few book-shelves, are
material enough out of which a clever
woman may produce most satisfactory
results.
The house furnished. the next two
urgent requirements are cleanliness
and order. There is no need to enjoin
cleanliness upon the self-respecting
and intelligent. But there are degrees
in both, and that to be attained should
be proved by the sense of smell, rather
than by the sense of sight. There are
houses that are like whitened sepul-
cheers. The outside is we'll enough. but
rat and roach could tell of hidden
drawers and undisturbed hooks where
the Strengthening out process is cul-
pably neglected. From these hidden
cor ners go forth odors, imperceptible
to the family, who have become in
ured to them. but which are instantly
detected, above the odor of the flowers
in the parlor, by the casual visitor.
AS to the next essential, order, there
can be little comfort where the good
old rule, "a place for every thing, and
every thing in its place." is not carried
out to the letter. Human virtue is
frail at best. The average temper.
whatever fine traits of character may
Offset it, is variable. Many an excel
lent man, who has risen tranquil and
happy, has gone to his business vexed
and disturbed, because some necessary
article has been misplaced. With his
wife, a lost thimble or scissors, caus-
ing annoying Inconvenience and waste
of time. has unsettled the nerves; an
CRY words have been spoken in the
hurry and irritation that may be for
given, but can not be forgotten. A
disorderly household can never be a
comfortable one. It is place where
the unexpected always happens-an
unexpected that is monotonously en-
barra ssing, annoying and painful.
A good deal of marital unhappiness
which eliminated in crime has grown
out of uncomfortable home-life. Men
are not to be excused because they
find solace for domestic discomfort
where and as they should not while
women are expected to endure in pa
thence. But, where means have been
provided, women are responsible for
the character of the home. Whether
it is preventive of vice and intem.
perance Or not, a clean, attractive. or
derby house, presided over by an in
telligent, cheerful woman, is a dan
gerous rival to the saloon and the
favorite loaing-place. Inter.
Ocean.