St. Paul daily globe., 1896-02-24
THE RESULTS OF AN EXPEDITION
AMONG THE FURNITURE
DEALERS.
BOTH BEAUTY AND ECONOMY.
CHARTERED OAK IS DURABLE
SUBSTANTIAL AND NOT Too
COSTLY.
Things tire Young HOuseEseeper
Hiust Not ForGet-Artistic Sets
Initiating Bamboo.

Initiating Ba boo.
Furniture is cheaper and better to-
day than it ever was; not that wood
is any cheaper, or that labor is any
cheaper, but because the methods of
making have so much improved. Ven
eering alone is done so perfectly, so del
icatelyr that all sorts Of desirable eff
fects are made possible, which were
not thought of a few years ago.
Take the drawers OF this desk, for
instance" said one conversant with
the subject. "They are of the finest
French walnut. A workman comes
across q beautiful piece of wood, the
veins and mottles of which are charm
ing to the eye. He splits the rare
piece into layers of marvellous thin
ness and evenncss by the aid of his i'm
proved tools, and faces over an in
credible amount of surface with the
rich veining. The result is solid,
substantial desk, or cabinet Or bureau
Of fine French walnut. The founda-
tion is of plain walnut, and the ven
eering is so perfectly applied, owing to
the Improvement in CLUES, that it will
last indefinitely and is in no danger
of cracking or peeling off. Curly birch,
SO much coveted, because it is such a
fine-graned, artistic wood is used in
the same way. Some years ago a bed
room suit of three pieces was consid-
cred cheap at SIS. Now a set OF the
same sort of wood and make can be
procured for SO or $12"
What kind of wood would you rec
ommend for a bedroom set where ex-
pense is d consideration p" he was
asked.
"Quartered oak, undoubtedly" was
the reply. 1T is refined-looking, and
since the method has been learned OF
quarterinS the oak across the grain,
allowing the veins to run in curves,
instead Of the straight way OF the
wood, it is much more ornamental
than either the plain or antique oak,
the latter being called antique merely
because of the color due to the dress
ing and finish. Quartered oak is dura-
bic and substantial, too, and nowadays
it is made UP in choice designs, usu-
ally accorded only to very expensive
woods"
What about bird's-eye maple?'
''It makes a charming set-so light
and cheerful. But the best is not for
plain, practical people, for it is too ex-
penSiVe. White mahogany is a coming
fad, but that, too, is beyond the reach
of limited purses. The bird s-eye ma
pie after four or five years use takes
on an oid-orange tint something like
the cofOring of q meerSchaunl pipe 1t
is a matter of taste whether one OBJ
jects or not to this 'ripening' or turn
ing yellow. If one wants to be very
economical he can get an ash set, but
ash is close-grained, common-lool1-
ing wood, and no matter how shapely
or well made, it has a cheap look
What about enameled WOod?"
"That is out OF the question for the
young housekeeper, or the practical fur
niSher with limited means. The Crdina-
ry enameled furniture is common-looll-
ing, and that which is desirable is neces-
sarily very expensive. Beautiful effects
are made with this erameled wood in
harmonious tints to suit the particular
color of the room and wall decora ton.
The upholstery can be chosen with a
touch or not of the same pale-biue,
green or amber tint and the combina-
ton is attractive. But for my own part
nc wood, however we'll enameled, can
ever be as pretty as when left in its orig
inal shading. The green or blue or
white heart Of a tree would not be adj
mired however clear and beautiful the
tint. This enamcling is only fad in
accordance with the ever-recurring
craze for something new
Gould the. young >housekeeper fur
nisbing for a limited sum have a brass
bedstead?"
She could, but she would have to pay
$50 for it alone and then have a bureau
and washstand enameled to match. An
iron bedstead, painted white, with brass
trimmings, is neat, and would be IN far
better taste and more economical for a
modest home, if one prefers it to set Of
quartered oak or of plain maple, orna-
mented with bird's-eye, that may be
had for S25 or $50. For $40 she could Sc
cure an attractive set of quartered oak
The few chairs, rockers and small work
table would cost only a few dollars
more, and with simple curtains and
neat toilet appointments the bedroom
would be complete and be really we'll
furnished. For the dining room every
thing desirable and durable, in oak
could be secured for $50, not including
the china, curtains, etc. AS birch is
stained nowadays in such perfect imi-
tat1on Of mahogany. neatly uphol-
stored, cheerful-looling parlor set of
three pieces can be had for from $22 to
S35. A graceful-shaped unpretentious
parlor table viii cost as little as $3, and
with two comfortable easy chairs. an
easily moved light chair or two, and a
second table for books, lamp ETC., $50
would furnish the simple parlor. Cab
inets are luxuries that should only be
affected by people of means, who have
something unique and beautiful to dis
play in them. There never was a time
when window curtains for bed chamber
and drawing room could be procured as
pretty and as cheap as now, and if the
housewife has any taste and individ-
uality she can fit up home for far less
than most people would suppose. Of
course, L have left no margin for a
lounge, couch or divan, but one of these
can be made with good springs, cover
cred and draped with Persian rep, and
furnished with cushions that, taken al
together, would give far more comfort
than much more pretentious sofa.
By the way, the beginner at house
keeping must not forget that fine
hair mattress and good springs must