New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-17
LIVING IN PUBLIC.


The construction of most houses in the great cities
New York like the esshOws the difference that exists
between the American idea of comfort and ours. The
love Of privacy, prominent feature IN tiS Eghsh
character is unknown: the privilege of exclusion,
rgldly enforced in the walls and fences OF our gardens,
the closed doors of our wihdra wing rooms on the
first floor. is rarely enforced here The house being
heated throughout with hot air, all parts Of 1t are
equally The parlor' on the ground hoor Is
ONLY separated from the passage by curtain. An
other curtain-protably not even drwn-divdes IL
from the central hall, up which the staircase WINDS
And opposite this curtained archway leads INTO the
dlning-lOOm. When people have c0nhdeuces 10 com.
muRcatc in American house they must be reduced
whispering must retire TO their bedrooms. This
is the almost universal plan OF the modeTate-sized
narrow frontage afforded 10 each. The door IS ap.
preached by precipitae flight Of steps-a "stoop'
having its number boldly painted on its face, il is
generally ingenously hidden, aud very often Is only
visible to the naked eye woven into the door mat.
When you add to this that the names numbers Of
the streets never affixed to the walls, only
casionally upon the lamps-and even then are often
half rubbed onthe trouble and loss Of time involved
in paying visit In strange city can be understood
lorS,' and the way they are lived in, are
further illustrations of the difference between
the two nations in these respects. Where
there is wealth there is often
tapestries embroderles and Sus priceless carpets.
houses are adorned with modern French pictures which,
owing % tn systematic exclusion Of light. 1t quite
impossible 70 see In many hOuseS whore | taken
expressly TO Inspect the pictures at leisure the appcr
shutters remained closed, and In the Interior
rooms the gas had to be lit In order 70 discover tha
there were any pictures at all. These facts and the
exasperatng similarity between all the private collec
lions throughout the States lead dOaht whether
there Is much real, honest Individual love Of the works
collected. knew before entered each house exactly
what / should find certain number Of C0r0ts-SO-
called at least for trust that the master would have
dsowned half those spongy secretions Of soaPsuds-
DaI1ignys, TroyOns Dlaz or two. and occasionally
a Mlllet: all admirable painters, whom any lover Of
the art Is glad 10 greet the examples Of their talent
be worthy Of them. still one has impatient wish
10 enlarge the circle occasionally, and not 10 feel thai
the mind and taste Of the collector rs nothing
in the eereoyped list of pictures it was becoming he
should purchase.
UNCOMFORTABLE DRAWING ROOMS.
But II was not to this curious uniformity TN selec-
ton where a dozen Engiishmcn would have asserted
wflliy their individual tastes, that my ODscrs alton
was chiefly directed. Every Is not rich enough
10 buy pictures Louis XVI furniture. But com
fort as we understand II, j. Independent Of wealth
and in this respect the "parlJsH Of most American
houses struck me very deficient | should even
say they do not aim at being comfortable. Ap-
parently the idea built upon the old French salon Of
state. is that room for reception 10 not one for