The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-11
FOR WOMEN'S READING
HARDWOOD FLOORS AND PARouET-
ny TAKE THE PLACE OF CARPETS.
Fall Fashions show Moderation I'm
skirts and SIeeves--Not Luck but
perseverance, Wins the Prize.

There is no part of the finish OF a house
which can give more permar, snt pleasure
or satisfactory service than fleoIs OF pol
ished hardwood with rugs, says n writer
In Schoppers Modern Homes. y is small
wonder that year by year parqdetry floor
ing grows In popularity. Women. the
biters all such questiofls,- have euthusi-
asticaliy Endorsed It's merits and have prac-
ticaIly decided its precedence as regards
use, beauty and fashion. Tho floors are
recommended by the best architects ana
physicians for their sanitary advantages
oyer carpets. Ii should be a cause of uni
versal thankfulness that the old-fashioned
fitted carpet-that is carpet made to fit
from base to base, following every angle
of the room and nailed securely
down, is fast giving place 10 the
removable square or rug, which
can be. taken up and freed from
dust as often il requires 1T, and 1t the
same time furnish an opportunity for clean
ing the floor underneath. Amy floor that is
covered permanently with a carpet con-
tains dust; any floor that contains dust is
unhealthy Sweeping the carpet simply lib
crates the dust for short time. leaving it
to settle again in it's old place and on the
furniture, easily see from these
1ndiSputdbe facts that the only way to
keep a room clean is to have the covering
removable so that it may be folded UP and
taken out of the house TO be freed from
Ats load of dirt and the floor underneath
wiped off before 1t is put back. Parquetry
floors are a JOY and comfort to the house
keeper at all seasons. they seem peculiar
blessing In hot weather when the very sight
of the woollen stuffs is a burden. For the
summer months a drugBet or mating is
the most sensible covering. For this pur-
pose take as much mating will cover
the desired portion of floor, cut the strips
10 even lengths, then with strong double
thread whip the breadths together so they
Ia F1og
or finish with fringe. The fringe makes a
more ornamental finish and will be more
durable. If the mating is reversible and
the fringe has double selvedge, the mat
ting can be used on either side. Thus the
polished floor with the removable mating
VIII De found an ideal covering for any sea-
son especially during the warmer months
its smooth surface renders IL cleanly and
hyglenlC. AS 1T can be readily wiped off
with damp cloth it is cool and soft, which
recommends 1t for comfort, and the charm
ing designs and colorings in which mating
now comes make ii everything to be desired
In the way of artistic effect.
The dining room is of the first places
treatment. This need not be an expensive
feature, as the first cost is but little more
practically indestruofible. IS really an econ ~
ony. "A well-Iaid and properly-cared-for
parquetry of Ole Give-sixteenths of an inch)
IN thickness should and will last long as
the house stands A hall floor laid in par
query OF a neat pattern to suit the area,
with border to match, will be a constant
source of pleasure and impress the visitor
with its elegance on his first entrance. All
the living rooms follow in their demand
Tor this common-sense treatment of the
floor question, the material can be of plain
pattern and Of moderate cost, they can
be made in ornamental design of the more
expensive and foreign hardwoods. For
hoors the requirement. is a wood hard to
prevent marring or bruising under the
wear to which it is subjected, of tight,
close grain to prevent its absorption of the
minute disease breeding dust that is held
and stored in softer woods. Parquetry con-
ssts Of stripes and blocks of hardwood
fastened together al edges and backs
In slabs of convenient size for handling in
the work of putting down. The art of
uaking inlaid or parquetry floors has been
brought to a higher state of perfection in
recent years in this country and their pop
ularity and adoption is being correspond
fngly advanced. These floors are uniyer-
sally adopted throughout Europe where
the nailed-doWn carpet with all it's moth
breeding tendency, insect and larVae-abid-
ing places, is unknown, the use of rugs be-
irS universal 1t has been generally consid-
cred that these polished hardwood floors
We're an expensive luxury, but there are
degrees of expense in these floors, as in
everything else-the patterns chosen and
the woods employed determine the price.