Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
How a Cottage in the Woods May Be
Made Delightful.
PLEAS URES OF A CAMP.
A sample Summer Home ON the Border OF .
Lake-Where Health and Comfort Are the
Chief Objects sousht-FIshins the Sport for
the Men-How Guests Are Provided For.
Written for The Evening Star.

FINHERE Is NOTHING LIKE THE SPICE
l. of variety in living well as other things
and zest Is given By extremes in the manner
OF life and matter of surroundings that monot-
oDy can never impart. Perhaps no one enjoys
bit Of roughing it more than the people who
at home have luxurious houses and more than
comfort in their daily lives. They will extract
pleasure by mere force of contrast and bring
more enthusiasm to q summer cottage life than
one could fancy.
Just nows party has assembled for the best
OF good times in a cottage which might serve as
a good model for comfort and convenience COM
bined in a life as free and delightful as can be
imagined.
In the first place. beautiful lake up in the
mountains stretches out before the cottage, and
all approach is by way of the lake, the nearest
station being at some distance from the opposite
end of the little sheet of water. So a row of a
mile and a half is the first pleasure in connec-
ton with ones arrival The view of the mount
aims Is one of the charms of the place, for the
ever-changing clouds and sunshine constantly
vary the outlook and one can never tire of look
ing at them.
GROUP OF COTTAGES.
The particular cottage 1 speak of is one of
group OF five comprising the settlement, and
all summer the owners and their friends come
and go, enjoying season in camp, with the
fishing, boating and quiet life which the place
affords
The situation of the different cottages makes
pretty group, as seen from the lake. while the
thick growth of trees and shrubs really forms
seclusion about each cottage, which adds much
to the attractiveness.
The special little lodge speak of is painted
dark red, like the others, and is on the same
general plan. A broad piazza is in front and
along one side, and although the next cottage
Is only a few rods distant through the
woods no sign of civilization is
at all visible from either door or window.
On entering from the piazza one steps at once
into the living room, which is at the same time
dining room and drawing room. l put dining
room first because with the appetite that the
mountain air creates that function Of the room
Is more important than the other
THE INTERIOR.
The interior of the cottage is Of implanted
pine. which looks fairly satiny as the fire light
plays over it, especially in the roof, which runs
up into high point in the center, open to the
room. while gable is over the front door. The
principal feature of the room is the corner fire.
place of brick, the chimney setting out into the
room with mantel built out still further. and on
top three receding pine shelves, giving place
for decorative objects.
These ornaments arc quite in keeping with
the room, on the top shelf being a Stuffed
hawk, tianked by a wild duck on each side. On
the lower shelf are two stone jars generally filled
with the beautiful and enormous ferns
which grow in such profuson all about. almost
to the very doors The fireplace is generous
one, and when the big loss are piled up and
the flames leap nigh on a rainy night
thero Is coziuess about the room
that makes the occupants feel that they
had rather be there than anywhere else in the
world just then. When the fire burns too
herceiy for comfort, large pine screen frame,
hmm t(ax
ground and pattern in other gay colors, is
drawn up 10 shut off the heat
Another similar blanket serves for O table
cover, on which two large lamps are set in the
evening 10 add their light to the fire flames.
HOW GUESTS ARE PROVIDED FOR.
The painted floor is bare, the furniture Of
the simplest kind, but many little ingenuities
abound which do credit to the inventors The
round center table answers for meals when the
family is small, but when guests arrive
and there are MANY. for doubt il a invitation
TO visit this charming place has ever been de-
cllned, large square top is laid over the
table and fastened on by wooden button at
each side. BY this simple continuance the ac-
commodations can be increased sufficiently for
Large familee. Shelves are put about in
convenient ways and places, serving catch
alls for all the odds and ends needed for fish
ing and home lite combined.
Books fill the shelves for q considerable
space on one side of the room, shelves across a
corner give additional table room, while the
door TO a corner cupboard is filled with a good
sized mirror. and a stuffed owl looks down
from above. A large dresser of pine. open above
and closed beneath, contains the dark blue and
white dishes, and is made to look attractive by
the tasteful arrangement Of the same.
THE BED ROOMS
Two bed rooms open off this big room, with
sets Of ash furniture, corner shelves and hooks
giving space for the wardrobes necessary for
the simple life at camp. The partition between
the living room and two bed rooms (Which are
side by side) only runs up one story, where
to the living room. with sloping sides
and in the center open to the roof
like the rest of the rooms. This
forms the upstairs or 'loft," where are
primitive toilet conveniences, and two big beds,
with soft mattresses, where sleep comes almost
as soon as the head touches the pillow, and the
dreams are pleasant ones.
An open-work railing protects this balcony.
and a swinging ladder is the means of ascent
and descent; this is easy for the men if those
quarters are assigned to them, but if the femi-
nire element prevails among the guests and a
contingent OF them is lodged above there is
many laugh at the first attempts to mount
the steep incline.
FISHING TIE REAL BUSINESS.
Fishing is the real business of the camp, and
at nearly every meal delicious trout are served.
A large store room besides filled with all sorts
OF substantials and deicacies is taxed every
day. and if living Ill n general way Is primitive
at the cottages the table supplies combine many
Injuries with the home products of the lake
and surrounding country.
In rain or shine some OF the boats are gen.
orally to be seen moving up and down the
lake with devoted fisherman or two in
each, and only the settled darkness Of night
drives them in to supper and the big
fire, which is almost always welcome
at evening. Though the walking through the
woods is rough, over roots and granite which
continually crops out through the earth, still
the allurements too many not to walk
good deal, many beautiful hooks invite, and
the flowers, trees and shrubs are in such varied
prOfuslon.
TIME FLIES QUICKLY.
As happy little boy from Washington, who
had grown brown and plump during his visit
to camp, remarked, 1.-THE days seem only about
one-third as long as they do in the city," So the
cottagers are inclined to keep late hours around
the fire in the evenings to make up for that
unaccountable loss of time. more perfect
mingling of city ease-for good service leaves
nothing in the way of household work
10 be accomplished by hostess or guest
and the freedom of life in the woods
can hardly be imagined, and happy are the
days that fly by all too quickly, for they mean
too soon n farevell tn the lovely snnt I hava