New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01
HOME AND SOCIETY.
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN DRAWING
ROOMS
,-x.crssrr,rs FOR PRIVATE THEATRIcALs-THE
o,,r.nooR RooM-FAsHIoNs OF THE DAY
.,,rp,cANs ABRoAp-soME EXCE1-

,,us, women OF refinement sometimes do not
nur how to dress tastefully, but they rarely fail
,n making a beautiful drawing-room Coloring, ar
r,neement of furniture. grouping or pictures and
ornaments all are lovely, speaking OF culture and
oosness The English woman does not think quite
~ 80, NJ extensive materials the American
aoes Her drawing-room may hold several thou-
sand hounds worth Of art treasures. and at the
same time her luxurious sofas are covered with
o,o,ne 7, Is q cretonne which harmonizes
ou,siteiv with the rest of the room-but what New
York woman would be willing to use that furni-
,,recoyerng instead OF the silken stuff she loves
There is much more fexibility In the art of fur
n,shing in England than In this country. ana there-
fore less stiffness. OF course in great many cases
,,o fair English woman has the advantage of pos
sessins what cannot always be bought-the heir
,ooms IN the way of furniture. pictures and china
which give so much beauty and dignity TO an in
terror
Private theatricals are rarely attempted In an or
binary drawing room. on account Of the diiculties
~ stage curtains, scenery, and lghts-an the
,,orous necessary accessories which appear TO be
so difficult manage and TO involve so much
trouble and expense There is no greater educa-
t,onal stmulant for children than TO accustom them
% act not only in their language, but in what
ever foreign tongues they may be studying. AS
means OF bringing young people together ana az
fordng entertainment to themselves and TO others,
a little stage whereon tableaus. charades and sim
ME
and where elaborate effects are not necessary 1t
can be arranged in any house. The only necessary
nermanent properties are two screw hooks IN the
wa, on either side of the end of the room which Is
hest adapted to the purpose These are to hold the
Galvanized wire for the curtain, which when not
- ,se can be unlocked and taken away. All the
as, NJ the fixtures can be made portable and can
va manufactured home without difficulty, the
only materials necessary being four big clothes
,orses Uhe largest size. sheathing or build
er,s paper (such is used to line wooden houses
under the shinges) a sufficient quantity of paper
muslin and blue denim for curtains and top. few
cans Of paint. couple of house painters brushes
"a large and a comparatively small one) and little
ingenuity II they 10 be frequently used, the
curtains can be made of some handsomer material;
or what is very effective. the blue denim might be
embroidered with ecru cotton laid on in bold pat
tern and 'couched" But the curtains. while made
NJ sufficiently thick material TO conceal the stage.
must not be heavy. they must run easily on the
wire by means Of brass curtain rings at the top.
and are drawn and fro with string attachments.
which are so arranged that they can be worked
from one side Besides the curtain wire at the top
a second wire is stretched across to fasten the
paper muslin top. which is made somewhat longer
and wider than the size of the stage so that 1t
can be hooked on the wire in front by means or
upholsterers' hooks and will hang over the screens
at the sides and back. where IT is kept In place by
the means of a weighted hem. This may be made
nv running shot the hem and keeping IT in posi-
ton by taking a stitch here and there to hold
II together.
Now we come TO the scenery. For any one who
can paint at ALL II is the greatest fun to spread the
sheathing paper on a kitchen table and TO paint
recklessly with a big brush and plenty of paint
OIL paint on this paper dries almost immediately
especially II literally mixed with turpentine; and
by taking some print as a model. various scenes
may be painted with very little trouble. These.
once done may be used often as wanted. Each
chO haV
Of the scene so that the hinges may be free and II
the paper is not broad enough 1t can be pasted or
glued together before IL is painted. The panels or
scenery must also be just a little longer than the
screen so that the strip of wood fastened TO the
top can be hung the top rail OF the screen
and kept IN place by another and heavier strip at
the bottom These all the necessary accessories
of really very pretty little home theatre. and all
the properties may be rolled up and put out OF sight
until wanted for another occasion.
In the way of lighting (or four II preferred)
railroad reflector lamps hung inside OF the curtain
on either side will give plenty of light. These may
be hung hoops wooden upright with a
thiee-fcoted base. that 1t. too may be quite nde-
pendent OF support from the wall, and may De
taken away TO the attic when the performance is
over In this way the most delicate room cannot
be injured and the entire stage may be put up or
taken away in few minutes.
For tableaus alone a frame is great addition,
although II is rather more troublesome to make
This also should be made that II can be useu as
frequently as desired the corners being held to-
geher by bolts so that the frame can be taken
apart Six and a half feet by 7ia makes good-sized
aperture and is large enough to contain three fig
ures while the frame itself should be at least a
foot wide. Ordinary boards cut the right length an
swer the purpose. and can be made very ehective II
covered with gold paper which has been crushed In
the hand give IL an embossed appearance
good way TO put II on is 10 lay it the board In
loops In this way glueing the bottom loops TO the
board; then crush down the paper, ana turn over
and glue the edges. The effect will be quite for-
entne in its richness. A platform the square OF
the outside measure OF the frame on low wheels. Is
needed to go with the frame this serves the double
purpose OF a stage and support. and should be
high enough to be line with the inside edge
Of the frame 1t is attached to the frame with
hinges with removable bolts. the frame when IN
position being held upright by the simple contriv-
ance Of long iron shaft and hook which hooks into
a screw eye on either side. This will keep IT per-
fecty firm Three little wooden brackets on the
inside Of each upright. which lamps with re-
fectors may be placed. will give good light to any
picture.
That every country house should have Its outdoor
room is bit of advice lately given in these COL
Let il be added that this room should not
be a narrow strip of shelter. where Few chairs
may be placed and a hammock swung, but an act
ual room about as broad II is long, which may
De appropriately furnished according to the season
IL In summer such a big open space is oehsh'iui
filled with low easy chairs.
II is difficult to heat the veranda room inclosed
with glass II in the original plan of the house
the question OF providing the wherewithai Is not
taken into consideration. Many people who rely on
the open windows and doors of the rooms Withih 10
supply sufficient amount OF caloric ma thit 'he
inside rooms are chilled and the incosed porch not
heated. This 10 a very common mistake In many
country houses. where the whole OF veranda -
OFTEN shut in with glass. This necessarily cuts OH
the supply OF absolutely fresh. pure air "'1hou'
providing a really comfortable outdoor sort OF an
apartment and II cannot be healthy to surrouho
the living rooms OF the house with belt of con-
hned unheated atmosphere. The best way therefore,