The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-16
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A pleasant nursery is one of the most
important factors in moulding the dispo-
sitious and general character of children,
and thar such an apartment is a luxury
that can only be INDUCED in by the rich
and well-to-do is a mistake too frequently
made by mothers of restricted means.
Even though house space is very much
limited. if a room can possibly be spared
for this purpose. whatever sacrifice is
made is amply compensated for by the
increase in happiness of both mother and
children. This domain. devoted exclusively
TO the young ones, separates them from
the rush of affairs in the family life,
which is often a severe strain on the ner-
vous force of little children, making them
irritable and confused to an extent that
is not always understood by the parent.
1t also frees the mother from the con-
slant demand for information or amuse
ment to which she is subjected when
the children play all over the house. With
the little ones safely placed in a pleasant
room with their toys and belongings, she
can proceed calmly about her household
duties and preserve that calm and patience
which is so necessary in conducting a
home. but which is very much imperilled
by the constant care of the children.
The young mother would do well then
to economic forces in this way. and If
she can possibly pinch from the small
home space an apartment, let it be made
into a nursery for the babies. Perhaps a
room that was to be made into a guest
when the home was first plan
ned could be used. 1t would be wiser to
use it SO. Guests are only transient but
baby is with you always. Besides If you
must have an occasional sojourner with
you, it is far better 10 give up your own
bedroom at such times than to deprive
the children permanently Of their needed
apartment.
In selecting a room for a nursery let
it, if possible. be a room with windows
opening to the south. Avoid a room
with asnerthern outlook, as 1t will be
cherries, cold and sometimes unhealthy.
The higher up the nursery is located the
better .-fIf it can be on the topmost floor,
SO much the better from a sanitary
point of view. for OF all rooms in the
house This is the one in which the great
est care must be taken of the ventila-
ton. If the windows have medium-sized
panes It would be well to remove one
of the higher panes and insert in its
place a pane Of tin, with a circular ven-
tilator in it. Some houses are provided
with ventilators Quilt in the chimney,
but it is just as well even with them TO
fste one of these window arrange
nzerts. Another way of ventlating Is
TO set a pane of glass in a slight frame
and hang it on a pivot in the sash in
the centre of its top and bottom. This
allows the pane to be moved. swinging
open sidewise. and a cord fastened to
the pane by a small knob, enables one
TO open it without reaching.
The very best authorities are against
papering nurseries on account of the
risk which is run Of using paper whose
~ccsoring contains arsenic. This danger
is avoided, however, when a coat of
varnish Is put on over the papering, and
the extra expense Of this arrangement,
when the family purse is not too slim, is
lost sight Of when enc views the charm
ing papering that is now designed
especially for nursery walls. The Eng
lish people make q specially Of his
paper and much has been imported late
ly INTO this country. Dados illustrating
nursery rhymes and stories, pictured in
delicate tints: Kate G~reenaway's chill
dren in their quaint little costumes, or
simply flower arrangements. can be
bought by the yard, and a clever mother
can make her children.s play room very
charming TO both adult and Juvenile eyes
by 8 small outlay. which is consider
ably lessened il she puts the paper on
witt her own hands.
One argument, however, against wall
paper in nurseries is that children are
subject to infectious diseases, and in
such a case the roons--t be disinfect-
ed The only way to dfsinfeet wall paper
IS TO remove 1t, whereas If the walls
are painted they can be washed and dis
infected with little trouble. Paint, then.
seems TO be the most healthful wall
covering-it can be kept clean always,
and, one on the wall. can be used for
Years A bright. warm tint should be
chosen. cream color, buff. pink, light
brown or terra Gotta being very suit
able and pretty.
Kalsenine or distemper-coior comes
next to paint in healthfulness and clean
Illness, but it must be renewed every
year or after an infectious sickness. This
can be done. however, at very small ex-
pense and if the kalsomine is taste
fully tinted it makes a very charming
effect. kalsomine ruhs off very cas-
lily It is always well to have a dado of
paint or vanished paper when it is
used.
A bare floor is best from a hygienic
standpoint, perhaps. but when one con-
siders the restless feet that clatter across
the nursery floor and Of the frequent
tunoies that are made thereon, it must
he AnnnaaAa1 <Aof n