Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-05-30
THE GUEST-ROOM.


How to Render 1t Cheerful and AttraA0-
Every genuine housel<eeper enjoys
furnishing a guest ROOM There is .
sense Of delight to every properly con-
stituted woman in the thought that ono
is not only possessed Of a fine homo.
but of dainty room fitted up properly
for the reception of ones friends.
Everyone has friends whom it Is
pleasure to meet and know under their
own rooftree, and with whom it. is a de-
light to live over school days and recall
past pleasures. Perhaps the scanty
limits of the little home in which we
began housekeeping did not admit of
guest room, and it was some time be-
fore we could confidently say to old
friends we met: 'Come and see me and
spend a few days" What a pleasure it
was when the first little room was TT
ted up for company! We all Of us are,
or ought to be, social beings, and tho
occasional presence of a friend, whom
1t Is joy to see, breaks the dull
monotonous round of domestic life, and
the old life drifts along more merrily for
their presence, even after they have de-
parted. There are so many churlish
complaints in the public prints, and it is
SO much the fashion Of the day to speak
of company as kind of imposition,
that one is tempted to put in a plea
,or the visitor. There is one feature
of the gucst-roon which is essential; it
should be cheerful 1t is not a room in
regular use, therefo it is not likaly to
be on the sunny side of the house. To
offset the lack of sun, furnish 1t in as
cheerful, warm colors as possible. Yel-
low and white, or yellow with some
rcd, are very pretty coIors. When red
is used with yellow, it should be en-
ptoyed in delicate way, chiefly in
mixtures forming an orange, SO that the
effect is never bizarre Or coarse. The
prettiest bcdstcad for such room is
twin brass bcdstead, such as is in gem
eral use now in place of a double bed.
These twin beds are two single beds
placed close together and matching each
other perfectly Each should have half
canopics extending over it. In pure
brass a pair Of twin beds would each
cost twcnty-three dollars and upward;
in white or tinted enamel trimmed with
brass eight dollars and upward. The
canopy of these beds can be of muslin
over silk, cretonne or India silk, and
the beds are covered with silk coverlets
and furnished with round holsters up
holstcrcd to match. a pretty dressing
table covered with muslin or some
sheer material over silk is a dainty feat
lrc OF this room. There should be a
white enamelcd wash stand, dressing
bureau and a tall chiffoniere. A table
with writing materials and a few books,
u lounge and abundance Of chairs COM
plcte the desirable furniture, though
one could begin with much less. Have
dainty muslin or silk curtains at the
windows and if possible. Il fireplace
where a glowing fire can be lindled to
welcome the visitor on wintry days.
Nothing is more chcerless than to be
taken to 4 guest room in winter, where
there are no arrangements for fire be-
cause the room i, not in general use
\ few good framed prints or ctchings
give little decoration to the walls. and
should be there. if one can afford to
have them, without taking them away
from some room where there is n scare
ity of pictures. The chief charm in
guest-room lies, however, in the many
little comforts in the way of pincush-
ions. ncedlccasc, convenient comfort
;,bles. cushions and head-resss, which
the thoughtful housekeeper scatters
about such room to meet the wants of
the tired sojourner. The match-safc
should be at hand and buttonhook and
other toilet articles which may be need
ed before the visitors trunk arrives.
Whatever else you do do not burden
friend with attention. Make her at
home by giving her perfect freedom
\. Y. Tribune.