The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-02-19
Character in FURNISHINGS.

In making a round of afternoon calls
what fund of information regarding
the character Of those visited lies in the
furnishing of the various drawing rooms
into which we are ushered. OF course
the woman who shuts her eyes meta
phorically to everything surrounding her
Will not take cognizancc of the tales the
manImate objects about her are ready to
tell, but 1t she be of the observing type.
then does she leave each house with a
keener insight into the real life of the
mistress of it than all the continual con-
Versatlon OF years acquaintance could
produce.
In one. she notes that a bit of fancy
work, with needle thrust carelessly into
bud or leaf begun, lies ostentatiously
on the table, as though the busy maker
had but just left it there when called
away, to other duties. The owner of
that bit of embroidery is posseuse. No
rarely grows into the blossom and the
square of satin does artluous duty as the
sandwich which the Raines bill has
brought into public prominence i'll New
York. Music scattered on the piano,
cushions denied as though the drawing
room were made the actual living room
that the owner wishes it to appear, will
impress many unless the subtleties of
embroidery begun and never finished. al
together too fresh pages i'll books and
sheet music and a methodical hollow in
the cushions that no head but fist has
made tell secrets that the woman up
stairs thinks are her own entirely.
In another room the shades and cur
tains are carefully arranged, so that the
subdued lights have becoming effect
upon the complexion of those within
their touch. Reddish-tinted lamp shades
cast a delicate glow upon the objects near
and you know before you see her that
your hostess will. when she appears, take
her seat with her back to the light. and
that all the apparently careless arrange
ment of the room has been thought out
Of time in both face. figure and furni-
ture.
So we might go on. In some houses
the veneer of wealth tlaunts itself in imi-
tation Chippendale and tawdry ornolu,
and you are not one whit surprised when
the one upon whom YOU are calling rus
ties in done up i'll a satin robe blinking
like the castanets of Seville, with jets
and other pendant ornaments. It is not
hard to read the tastes and inclinations
of people by their surroundings. 1t does
not require the keen detcctive- intuition
of Sherlock Holmes, but little COM
mon sense observation often ferrets out
knowledge of your friends habits and
mode of living that would, if put into
words, make you believe you gifted with
power of divination akin to second
Philadelphia Times. (
Where's Mother?
In many an old scrapbook there is a
copy of pretty and tuneful little poem
that went the rounds of the papers, once
upon a time, and whose refrain was
'Wheres mother?" 1t pictured the chill
dren rushing in from school with the
question on their lips, it told of men and
women. when the stress of life came
upon them, still turning for comfort and
cheer to the one being whose love they
feel could never fail, and asking,
Where's mother?
1t was easier to answer that question
in the past than now. Everybody knew
where mother was then. She was in the
kitchen, she was toiling over the sewing
machine, she was darning stockings in
everybody could find her to impose an
other task on the unseltish hands that
never knew moments rest until they
were folded in the everlasting rest Of
the saints and martyrs. Did Mary want
a rip sewed up in the frock, she sudden
~ decided to wear to the party, she
was ready to do it, Did johnny want
something to eat, he, TOO, could find
mother, and she would get it for him.
Did father want a clean handkerchief,
there was mother to fetch it. Every
body knew where mother was. Other
members of the family might do as they
pleased, but they expected mother to be
on time, and in her place.
Where's mother? The question is not
so easily answered today Mother has
taken council with herself, and conclu,l-
ed that there is no especial virtue in
making herself n household drudge. She
is no less tender, no less loving than the
mother: Of the past, but she is wiser.
She has thought the matter out and con-
cluded that she will be of greater service
to her children as a companion than as a
servant. Any thoughtful observer must
see. that asIvast change has. taken place
im the. last twenty years in the way lnost
households are conducted. Formerly
mother wore herself out stitching end
less tucks and drills into underclothing
for her family. Now she buys palmer
things .ready.made from the. shops. In
other days she stewed over the kitchen