Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-08-28
ORDER IN THE HOUSE.
rhe Attention That is Demanded by Minor
Details.

No room can be cheerful and COIN
Portable when the minor details are not
looked after. 1t is not enough that the
floors should be polished, rugs laid
straight the carpet carefully swept In
the dark corners, under the ia les, and
along the edges, and that a eenefous
supply of fresh air shoiild be provided
for These are rieeessary matters Id
even the most ordinary housekeeping
there.are smaller details which give any
room its whole expression, and which
reflects Enthusiastically the Individuality
of the occupant. First of all is the
grate-supposing that this delightful
luxury has not been supplanted by
steam, a register, or an air-tight stove.
An open fire is an ever-present Joy,
when it is properly looked after, and Its
surroundings Kept in order, but not
otherwise This means that there must
be d bright fender the ashes confined
to the ash-pan, and the poker and tongs
in the rack where they belong. A
sull1ing fire, a handful of smoking Goals
in one corner A the grate,,a film 81
gray dust over the fdg all these will
give an air of melancholy to the most
cheerful room, for the hearth and its
lighting are sort Of keynote to it all.
A "cluttered" mantel is another evil
TO be avoided. There never should be
too much. on it; very few good bits Of
pottery and stlch hangings as can be
made TO hafmonise with the rest of the
draperies There are tidy families,
however, where the "men folks" make
the mantel the repository of all their
odds and ends-tattered envelopes,
gloves, note books and pencils. 1t is a
troublesome habit and one which the
mistress of the hotse should discounte-
nanee by mild means, at first, then il
these prove Intellectual, by more en-
phatic ones.
Crumpled chair scarfs, and lopasided
cushions ought also I'd come under the
ban. Chair scarfs, when they are prop
erly arranged, doubtless have their
place in modern furnishings, but they
require exceeding discrimination in the
selecting of materials, the designs
chosen, and the making, They are not
to be tolerated at all If they are Of the
sort that will never stay in place, and
which the casual visitor carries away
on his back when he makes his adieus.
Covers for cushions which are to be con-
stantly used should be of materials that
can be freshened by cleaning. There
are wash silks, linens with the new ART
linen thread for embroidery, or crewels
in ali the best shades, which will wash
like cotton cloth Nothing Is pretty
or to be desired that can hot be kept
constantly fresh-ih palmer English
clean.
There is nowadays an inclination I'd
furnish. Too many ornaments
too many tables with wool or silk GOV
ers, too much upholstered furniture ear
not be kept free from dust. Polished
tables, graceful chairs of wood anC
cane as they are now made, shades
with simple curtains which can be wei
shaken, are preferable always where
that time and care can not be giver
which more elaborate things require,
However elegant its appointments nj
room is attractive which is not abso
lutefy clean, in perfect. order, and il
which there is not an unlimited supply
of fresh air and sunshine. Chicago In
| ter Ocean.