The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08
FOR WOMEN'S READING
A MANS OPINION OF THE ARRANGE
MExT OF wOMEN's PARLoRs.
Suggestions to the Summer Girl Who
Is Planning Her GOwns-Hints In
Furnishing Odds and Ends.

II find most womens drawing rooms i'm
menseiy CHARACTERISTIC" said a cynical old
bachelor to a writer in the New York Trib-
une, "but they impress me in way just
opposite to that probably intended. For
instance, the other afternoon / stopped to
make a dinner call at Mrs. C.'s, and as she
kept me waiting few moments began, as
usual, TO make a mental criticism of my
surroundings. What poseuse that woman
u.s. Pthought to myself, as / noticed a
much-talked-of and somewhat erudite book
half opened on chair, as If 1t had just been
used; a writing table in effective disarray,
although my experienced eye could detect
the studied method In the madness, and
calculation in the premeditated disorder OF
the pile of invitations and their half COM
p.eted answers. A piecesof work lay on a
sofa, as If 1t had been left there at some
sudden summons, and smiled grimly as
remembered picking I'D that same piece OF
work several months ago and telling Mrs.
c. how sweetly feminine it seemed TO ind
evidences of home occupations about the
room. What little humbug she is said
half aloud, as she tripped in and gave me a
cordial welcome, which, confess. was very
pleasant, and her drawing room was home
like and pretty, although a little artificial.
but deliver me from the drawing room
of woman who sits in her bedroom. That
type is the worst Of all, il is unmistakable
and most depressing with the stiff arrange
ments of the furniture, the little tables COW
cred with conventional ornaments, the I'M
used look of the room. often wonder In
such houses where the family sit after din
ner true drawing room ought, in my
humble opinion (the ideals Of an old bache-
Tor are apt TO be visionary, TO be the social
center of the house; 1t should be suggestive
OF comfort, of sincerity, of culture and Of
taste; it should have plenty of deep, coy
chairs and tables that can be used, not pit
fal.s for the unwary in the shape of waboly
little affairs covered with silver ornaments
and fragile china. There should be a CHEEKY
fire burning all day in the winter months,
a veritable altar fire, sacred 10 the Lares
and Penates the gods of the household
1t should be a room that a. tired man
would come home to with sense
of untold comfort. where he would find
a cheerful. becomingly dressed wife and
happy children. How many of the drawing
rooms behind those respectable brownstone
fronts could answer such a description or
fill such needs? If the house is large
enough there may be a shabby substitute
for such a room upstairs, which Is called
a library, and is more or less comfortable
and homeiike; but the ideal drawing room Is
practically unknown in American homes.
Another kind of room that CRATES hor-
r.bly upon my aesthetic sense is what l
cali the tawGry dressing room, wherein pet
ticoated and not overclean lampshades seem
TO fill every available corner, and tinselly
silk scarfs are draped over chairs, mantel-
shelf and picture frames. 1 was at a house
the other day where the room was certainly
not over 15x20. and there were five huge It's
sue paper monstrosities in the way of lamp
shades which had evidently seen service all
winter, and they were trimmed with arti-
fetal flowers. Could there be anything more
meretricous or barbarous? And yet it was
in the house of an educated woman, one
holding a good social position, who doubt
less thought her room very pretty and up
to-date. / may be considered lonely old
like that am thankful don't own a draw
ing room or a wife,"