New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-06

Is II the LIST OF May had its present significance
for no ordinary moral could move it. 1t is not
unusual to great, unweldy mahogany bu-
reau. fanked by equally large and unwicily cup
boards wardrobes, al in one piece. black with
age and elab0rately carved One wonders whether
IL was built in the house or let in through the
roof The beds are the generous scale.
and made for the express purpose 1t would SEEM,
OF accommodating the Traditional man underneath.
for they stand several f'et above the floor and are
hung with deep valaIce which would most Ell
fccually conceal him. II "yc olden time the chill
drens low trundle beds we're kept under these dur
ing the day. and 1t was great fun for the little
ones to gst in and be relied night. From
this perhaps. comes Their belief that the angels
are pulling their trundlebeds when It thunders.
Most OF these old beds are guiltless of Stats and
springs. the great feathe'-bcd resting on net
work of small ropes; and very comfortable bed
1t Is. too.
In the dning-room the same large idea Is re-
pcatcd in the sldeboard table. while the draw
ing room comes in close second. with its brass
trimmed etagere. garandcd carpet and velvet or
hrocatclle furniture. The later room is further
adorned with heavy green red damask curtains
drapcd under massive gilt crnces and held back
by sken cords Nothing is small or light, and It
is easy to fancy that here originated the express
sion OF solid comfort"
The tables not those d,inty trines so easily
overturned In the drawing-rOms OF to-day, but
broad slabs Of marble supported by carved rose
wood legs. holding vases that might serve as UNI
brea stands, and heavy mTOcco-bound books
that open almost of themselves to the Beauties
Of Moore" or passages OF tendr sentiment. mark
ed and dated. The footstoos and ottomans are
fearful examples of the art u those days. dis
playing their worsted backgrounds tufted
grapes and peaches that would put nature to the
blush In one corner stands the harp in It's faded
green sheath. while long silent flute and a
mother pearl pOrtfOliO lie tod eta nd
near by.
The smiling brown-skinned mad has said mis-
tus would be right down." and lett us alone In the
great, shadowy room There is an odor of mag
nolias In the ar and the quaint old spinet looks
suggestive In the dim light We shift our seat and
examine the pictures on the walls. They are all
porraits-portraits OF men and women who once
lived and laughed in this quiet rocm who, one by
one laid here hushed and straight in that narrow
bed, painfully like the spnet. with the odor
Of magnolias in the air, and the faces on the wall
looking down upon them with the same resigned
impassiyc stare that they now bestow on us
Painted by different hands and from different mod
els they have all acquired IL look If wisdom and
secrecy in conmon And what secmts they could
tell.
The woman over the mantel with a blue velvet
bodice falling from her soping shoulders stares
so persstently that we turn to the windows but
between them hangs red-faced nan with
curled peruke and holder stare. He wears n
great bunch OF seals. and keeps one finger forever
between the buttons OF his bun waiacoat. His
knowing smile so dsconcerts US that We drop our
eyes and sit for time counting the cupds on
the carpet and straining our ears for the sound
OF approaching footstep.
When we look up again 1t Is to met the sad
gaze OF the daughter who was drownd. the
son who fell in a duel. both seeming to shake
their heads and sigh. mournful are their
pressions We move again. but the dreadful eyes
turn In their painted sockets and follow us with
reproachful wonder until we become almost hys-
terical and only the arrival OF hostess
us from gnominous flight.
But a fresher and pleasanter memory pusles this
childish one aside and again We sit In the dear.
dim roonl-not alone nor afraid now 1t Is