New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-17

signs OF ending not many years back and the hall
PLAYS leading part in social life. Its re-
tnrn it's original purpose of sitting room has
brought back many delightful features Of domestic
architecture The great fireplace. with andlrons and
blazing logs. Is one OF them. A fireplace OF this
sort needs plenty Of unencumbered space about
IT, so that the members Of the home circle can move
their chairs to the flames or away from them
as the heat rises and falls ander the fluctuations of
the winter wind. In country house Of ordinary
dimensions other chamber can give quite so
much space TO the chairs the hall Then
there is the window seat. which, with pretty cush-
ions and a loaded glass window just above the
level of ones shoulders. is in summer or winter
az comfortable a loung;ng place as 1t Is artistic
Nor should the bookcases be Observation-Disclosures
additions to the ''vableness" of the hall-any
more than the wide doors into the other living
rooms When halls halls and nothing more
these doors always closed Now we
revert to the custom of ancestors. and we
step from halls, through curtaned arches. into
the dining-room or the library. BESIDES the con-
yenience of this the vistas that obtained
in this way are among the most precious char
acteristics of home.
But there Is no feature OF the most modern coun-
try hall which Is more interesting than the stair
case or. more particularly. the first steps OF the
staircase The special treatment Of this detail In
small houses Is In fact peculiar to recent arch-
lecture Until a very late day architects rarely
took as much pains as they do now TO start their
stairway with some touch OF decorative originality
that would introduce an artistic and useful factor
into their scheme for the hall. a broad platform
raised one or two steps above the floor. and with
a window lends a charming picturesqueness
to the effect OF evening gathering when group
OF young people Is formed about II. At other times
II is the best of all places for stately rubber
plant or vase of hydrangeas. In some houses
the designers have spent themselves In building
q screen Of delicate spindes around the stairs
placing a seat against the former the hall floor
and this screen Of course. has counted In the dec
Grafton OF the hail. The newell post has gone
through all sorts Of transformations. In one house
II remains the strictly independent member which
our colonial grandfathers made IT. and Is attrac-
tive simply as a marvel OF scroll work. ana or
TOPS which look like Ossa piled upon Pelion In
another pedestal Tor either lamp
possibly most often struggled with by the am.
bilious decorator who has given 1t all manner or
shapes In the sketch which accompanies this
a picture of an English interior. there Is seen thc
natural outcome OF the evolutionary process through
which the hall newell post has passed II mas
the wide platform provided by the first or second
step there stands porcelain flower vase III VIII
not be long before other objects are substueu lot
this and statues are put In position al the be
ginning OF the stairs. This may look IKE a re-,
turn TO the permanent newell post but IL VIII
really have the advantage OF leaving the staircase
clear this point II for any special occasion rhe
hostess wishes to remove her work or art Inc
flower Jar Is perhaps best adapted TO the corner.
II gives Just the required emphasis ana IL Is ire
nience which belong to the newell post that II
inn