Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
HOMES.
Suggestions Which Are Appropriate
to the Reception Season.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Other Rooms Than Those on the Lower Floor
should BE Carefully Looked After-An Al
cove Chamber With Rich and Handsome
Furnishings and Artistic Decorations,
Written for The Evening Star.

pie seem to live for the public, as it were. The
role OF hostess il one that most ladies assume
here at some time or times through the season
with more or less grace. II it is only in the
way of giving up an afternoon in every week
to ones friends and acquaintances it involves q
certain degree Of solicitude that ones house
should be ut its best for the inspection of
visitors and pride in making 1t as attractive
as possible. All housewifery makes Of the So
cial season o time to shine both practically and
fguratively. greater degree of symmetry
seems to prevail than used to in the arrange
ment Of house, and all the efforts toward
identifying do not exhaust themselves on the
first floor, which is more generally thrown open
to visitors. Much attention, in fact is being be-
slowed on the sleeping rooms, both for the
family and for the stranger within the gates"
If there is an only daughter especially is her
room made one OF the prettiest spots in the
house, and If the house is new probably care
has been taken to have the foundation of wood
work and papering or other mural decoration
correspond with the future furnishings and
coloring. This is the case with a fortunate
maiden OF my acquaintance, whose own room
house was contemplated, and who now is enjoy
ing the contamination Of all a young girl could
wish for in the way Of charming room.
AN ALcovE SLEEPING ROOM.
The shape is attractive in itself. with an al
cove for the bed and washstand, giving bou-
doir effect to the rest Of the room, which is
nearly square. The side walls are papered
with French paper, one Of those delightful
connections Of tulips and roses, shepherds
pipes, shepherdess hats, garlands and ribbons. A
freize and ceiling decoration carries out further
the same idea, with design Of festoons and rib
bons, all in softest old pink and white, while in
the paper pink and reed green seem rather
more prominent than any of the other delicate
colors mingled with them. The very pretty
mirror above, and across the room, a little in
front OF the mantel, a graceful arch from side
to side OF the room gives the effect Of a recess
which Is an attractive feature. The polished
floor is as ight-colored as the mantel and is
pretty well covered with Turkey rugs of SUBJ
dued tones. Water colors predominant among
the pictures on the walls, and, with wide mats
and white frames, look particularly delicate
and lovely against the lowered background of
the paper.
ITS PRETTY FURNISHINGS.
The principal furniture except the brass bed
were made to order of white mahogany like the
mantel, and are a chiffonier. washstand,
dresser and writing desk. The bed, as have
SAID Is brass, and sets in the alcove, and beside
It, in corner by window, is the very daintiest
OF little wicker bedside tables, three cornered
and painted white and gold. There is Just
room on top for q candlestick-a Dresden one
of beautiful decoration-with its pink candle
and few books. On the other side Of the bed
is the washstand. very commodious and with
the prettiest Of toilet sets of low, broad shape
and with tiny roses powdered over all the sur
face rod Of brass supported by two up
rights is at the back and from this hangs the
Evolutionary ''splasher," in this case of hem
stitched fine linen, with design of large flow
ers nearly covering it embroidered in white
silk. The dresser is a beautiful piece Of furni-
ture and its furnishings correspond. The top
is covered with q scarf Of pink plush with q sif-
very sheen, each end hanging over the edge
with fall of deep, heavy white lace to finish it.
The brush and comb tray, box and small trays
are OF china with a charming decoration Of
small flowers in wreaths and festoons. Other
small odd pieces of china are scattered over the
plush, which brings out their coloring most ef-
fectively. The brushes and hand glasses are of
silver, as well as many other of the knick- knacks
about, and combined with the china thew leave
nothing to be desired in the way of pretty
dressing table fittings. There are three win
dows In the room and the light comes through
sash curtains of pale yellow silk, which tones and
mellows it. Between the dresser and the desk
stands dear little white table with upper and
lower shelf and rails Of spindles around each to
protect the pretty trifes with which it is COW
cred. When brass jar is filled with chrysan-
themums and set on this low table as saw il
one day, the effect is charming
DAINTY DESK AND cHIFFoNIER
The desk is of the colonial STYLE with sloping
front, which lets down and rests on supports
drawn out from each side. 1t is ample and
substantial and all its conveniences and orna-
ments are OF the prettiest. Dresden china
inkstand has as its accompaniments the pen
tray and candlestick of silver, while large
silver-tipped blotter protects the polished sur
face Of the desk.
The rail around the shelf above the desk and
The handles of the three drawers beneath are of
brass, as are those of most desks but touch
OF individuality is the large monogram of
graceful design also in brass, which is disclosed
when the desk is shut, being on the ceater Of
the lid.
The chiffonier is a handsome piece Of furni-
ture, commodious and well proportional and
not too large. A pretty clock of pink marble
stands on top, with other ornamental objects
beside it and soft water-color picture hang
ing over it.
PRETTY DIvAN.
Just beyond the chiffonier, SO that its side
helps make a comfortable corner for the pill
lows, is the divan, as pretty a one as have
ever seen. The covering is green velours of
fine quality and beautiful color, several shades
darker than any of the other greens in paper
or in other furnishings. A deep puff and plated
fri finish the sides and the seat is closely tufted
and delightfully."- soft and inviting. The collec-
ton OF pillows heaped about it is varied in size
texture OF covering and coloring. One is Of
pink and white India silk with small flowers ON
the white stripe. while another is of the white
Japanese crepe with gold-stamped design, and
has wide frill Of the same around the edge.
plain pink silk one is similarly frilled and
cream-colored one with plain edges has CAV
bouquets scattered over its silken surface
There are two large ones covered plainly with
the same velours as the divan is also Near
the end OF the lounge farthest from the chif-
fonier, and which comes near the mantel. il a
Turkish coffee table, plentifully inlaid with
This low table, about on a
level with the couch, is a most convenient place
for book or two az we'll as a very picturesque
bit of furniture dainty little three-fold screen
with white and gold Frame and with shirred
panels OF pink and white silk, il near the table,
adding its own pretty effect to the room.
CHAIRS AND oTToNANs.
The chairs are all odd ones, one a rocker of
wicker painted white, another of wicker with
high back and seat covered with tapestry. A
title corner chair, with frame of ebony. has a |
seat OF pink and white brocade and another
one, not large. but low and luxuriously soft. is
covered with green velours like the diyan.
There are two ottomans in the room. one of |
wicker painted white and one of light wood |
with seat somewhat depressed, on which lies |
a cushion of chintz, with cream ground and |
bouquets of flowers in colors like those of the |
This cushion is tied on with rib |
bons Of reed green and is very pretty. 1 have |
spoken Of the sash curtains Of silk, but have |
not mentioned the inner ones. They are long
curtains Of dimity, that soft, lovely material |
which hangs SO well. A frill of the same Ave
inches deep is on the edge and across the bot
tom and is full enough to cascade as it falls
down the edge. The curtains are crossed at
the top and put on the rod with full shirr and