The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-05
THE BOYS ROOM.
How That Usually Dreary Apartment May
BE Made Habitable.

THE BOYS ROOM.
How That Usually Dreary Apartment May
BE Made Habitable.
Mothers are frequently much worried
at their boys tendency to spend their
time anywhere but at home. Yet they
seem to think it necessary to
give them an attractive ROOM Next to
the servants room the least beautiful
and least habitable room in the house
is generally the bows room The
daughter of the house has her own
room and her mothers sympathy and
help in furnishing it to suit her fancy,
but it is generally taken for granted
that Teddie or Bob can not appreciate
pretty things; that it is his nature to
like boots on his floor and soiled collars
on his bureau. and that nothing but
age can alter him. Whereas, the truth
is that age itself can do very little for
him unless he is daily educated in the
art of tidiness and prestiness. Isn't it
rather pity that boys idea OF what
boys room may be made is often gained
from some other fellows room when he
first goes to college?
Muslin and enamel paint, to be sure,
will not play the important part in the
furnishing of Bob's room that it did in
Bessie's. Bob has not fondness for
frills. The bureau cover may not be
of dotted Swiss, and the pincushion
will not be appreciated any more for
the rosettes of baby ribbon. But three
COVERS of strong white linen heavily
hemstitched and embroidered at the
ends in big pattern with heavy silk
will keep the bureau fresh and dainty.
A big pincushion of Pompeiian red
hemstitched square of thin muslin en-
broidered with a narrow border of red
will please his youthful soul more than
frills of lace and punches of ribbon.
OF course Bob doesn't want a tea ta-
BILE in his room, but he does want a
desk and a lounge as badly as his Sis
ter, on which to dream. For q boy
has just as many dreams as girl; they
differ from each'other in quality rather
than in quantity. If the lounge is
an impossibility-for sometimes a
OUNCE IN Bob's room would leave no
room for Bob himself-he should have
a window seat. 1t would be an excel
lent idea to arouse his interest in the
furnishing by making him make the
boasting of plenty of feathers but no
frills, will make that seat his best
beloved lounging place.
If Bop's father wore a sash or .
sword he can win his sons undying
gratitude by letting the sword hang
above the window opposite the bed, or
the sash drape an engraving of the ia
ther of his country or the boys favor
ite military hero. Then if there is
wood picture or a sea scene that the
boy particularly likes that and his
mothers favorite madonna will be
enough in the line of mural decoration.
A taste for art treasures is rarely
found at the same time with a love for
marbles or even high-school football.
Bob's room should have a big ta BILE
it may be kitchen table covered with
a dull red spread. and on il a big lamp
and his favorite books should be kept.
A little bookshelf fastened to the wall
above viii suffice to mold his geome-
try, his Virgil, and the other ter
rors of his existence. He should have
a desk, too, where he can wrestle with
the composition" foe and keep his oc-
casional invitations to young folks fes-
tivities and his greataunt's letters.
Now that the desks can be bought for
three dollars is no reason why Bob
should not have one.
A box. fitted with three or four COM
partments, which he has made and
painted dark red, will afford resting
place for his boots. and, when the cover
is down, for himself. The bedstead
should be of white painted iron. The
washstand should have q generous
basin and pitcher trimmed with broad
bands of duh red. A screw in the wall
back of it should remind him not 70
leave his sponge lying about. A brass
rod fitted to the side should recall to
his mind the duty of hanging up his
towels. A big, square. rubber mat
should impress upon his youthful mind
the virtue OF not splashing other parts
of the floor with water.
By and by, when Bob grows older,
he may cultivate taste for pictures,
or pillows, or pipes. but the only place
for him to cultivate a taste for neat
ness is at home, and the only time is
when ne is still young.-Cbicago
Times