Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04

X3SEaeTs&E6 of money. Merchants
VNESdi SNsa#&vI and decorators have
H~N no soft corners in
their hearts for those
impecunious little
wives that are trying to fight the battle of
life without much silver shot to help them,"
but one little wife," blessed with taste and
discretion instead of much money. having
achieved most desirable results in home
decoration, may serve a guide to others
through the mazes of home furnishing.
A Few Good Things.
In the first place, she found out exactly
how much money she might spend. and
decided to have a few good things, sub
stantially made and really artistic. rather
than many cheap ones She felt that a
halo Of romance would always cling to the
earliest household possessions, and she
wished them not to be put to shame. when,
later on, more costly articles should come
to keep them company.
Her initial success was the discovery OF q
cottage-like farmhouse on the edge of the
town that was to be her home. The arcni-
lecture of the building was somewhat in
conveniently, though picturesquely irregu-
lar; the outside was trellised with roses and
draped with honeySuckleS, as genuine
cottage ought to be; the walls Wee solid,
the woodwork sturdy, and the doors iitted
snugly-a rare excellence in houses having
a certain claim to antiquity. Moreover, the
prospect of tasteful tenants for his long I'M
occupied and neglected property rut the
landlord into such an amiable frame of
mind that he was not only willing. but hap
py, to scrape off old paint. put on new, and
otherwise show indulgence in beautifying
repairs. Yet, while there ere many clever
little wives. there Is not a proportionate
number of amiable landlords; therefore,
sweet, yielding specimens of the latter must
not enter too confidently into the average
calculations OF the former.
The Outside of the House.
The outside of the house received the
thrift. it was, in her opinion, the index
10 its mistress Hence she selected a soft
shade of grayish green paint, neither vivid
nor dingy, one that showed up TO perfection
the brass handle and knocker. She
careful that the short curtains GcrpsS the
bed room windows were precisely tire same
all over the house, and in arranging those
gave prompt evidence of her niger atty.
Since brass rods are expensive she planned
the curtains with hem at the top TO run
over small wooden lath having a hole at
each end which slipped a little brass
dresser-hook fixed to the woodwork She
realized that no amount of interior decora-
zion could compensate for dull brass ham
dies, untidy blinds and short curtains of
various types. ~-... .,.
The Dining Room.
The first interior attack was made On the
dining room. She intended this to be the
room of the house, and selected a large one
in rambling wing. with oak wainscoting
great oallen beams stretching across the
low ceiling and a huge chimney corner
which brought ruddy visions of u wintry
night and blazing logs throwing fantastic
shadows across kindly faces, cordial smiles
and sweetly eloquent glances. She had the
floor painted a dull red that showed Up
the richness OF the Turkey rug, well-se-
lected wedding gift. Above the wainscoting
q wa Is nj nail tod ale hIlff colo and
the ceiling beams form charming back
ground for Delft plates and jugs. The old
oak dining table stands fearlessy out,
guiltlesS of a cloth, rejecting in It's dark
polished surface the heirloom punch bowl,
though 1t is now trimming with flowers
oftener than with punch. At one side of
the fireplace stands grandfather's
chair covered with colonial tapestry de-
flying draughts and keeping in countenance
the tall clock in the opposite corner, ticking
In and ticking out the footballs of the pres
ent of the past
Flower Rooms.
Other rooms she has treated in lighter
vein, making them. Flower rooms by u.s.
ing the beautiful floral wall papers now in
vogue and having the woodwork appro-
priately stained enameled.
A room of poss Utilities apparently dim
was chosen for the drawing room. but as
Ii OPENS upon my lady's garden" and has
been converted into daffodil room its
flooded with dainty, CHEEKY grace and light
The walls are covered with daffodil paper
there Is frieze of pale green along the
top, and all the woodwork is stained a
ralm-leaf green, emphasizing. not hiding
the grain. At the windows hang soft cur
tafns of cream net, with inner ones of
lettuce-green coarse-rib serge. The carpet
Is like moss-covered roof glnting yellow
flashes in the sunlight. and the wood of
the furniture Is stained green, the seats
covered with yellow corduroy velvet, the
nj folk 10 1a..f IL,
Der. One picture water color, framed In
velvet of woodland green, hangs on the
wall. 1t is field of buttercups shaking
their golden heads in the breeze that sends
light clouds across the shining sky. ON
the writing desk is a slender vase of clear
green glass, holding fresh yellow flowers
iris, nasturtiums. daisies, marigolds, which
nestle into the crumpled crystal edges. -,.n
Pink Roses.
A led room with a wall paper and frieze
of pink roses-some in bud, some in full
blooms and others with the petals falling
seems to suggest the quaint pot-pourri scent
which, In reality, turks in a grandmother
jar on the easement ledge The woodwork
Is painted In old Ivory, and the chairs of
white wicker have cushions of pale fawn-
color silk, while the curtains are OF the
same delicate shade.
A very lovable room is the one devoted to
that blossom Of peculiar fragrance and old
world memories-lilac;; 1t has paint the
Soitcol SiieiIc VI tHc IedNeS, ana curtains
of the same light green. Lilac, like Law
ender has a fascination all its own, and
this bed room seems a delightful dream of
perfume, color and association
All this has been done with a moderate
sum of money, and margin left besides
for extra after-thoughts and necessities 1t
Is true, there were tasteful wedding rres-
ents to fall back upon to supply much of
the joy and beauty, but the real secret of
the success lies in the consideration Of COM
fort and restful effect. If room was
naturally dark, from a lack of windows or
too shaded an exposure, a bright paper and
furnishings were selected; If on the very
sunny side. cool green's and cream grounds
prevailed; If tiny apartment, the smallest
of French designs In wall paper and tapes
tries were chosen.
Therefore, in color and furnishings in
noiseless floors, in chairs free from creaks
and Offering soft tempting hnllnws IL 10