New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
IN THE SOCIAL WORLD.
A vERANDA NAY BE MADE WINTER
LIVING ROOM
ENGLISH FRANKNsss THAT SHOCKS AMERICANS
UTILITY scEEENs-MEAr PIES

UTILITY scEEENs-MEAT PIES
WORTH MAKING.
The veranda used to be thought Of as disn ,tly an
outside belonging 10 the house. almost as much 50
as the arbor In the garden or the GROUNDS the"-
selves. In the summer few chairs. and perhaps d
hammock were all that were deemed necessary III
the way Of furniture. decoration being never at
tempted and In the winter II was left TO inc iour
winds of Heaven being used only occasionally TOT
a constitutional in bad weather. OF late years IL
has come TO be part OF the house poth IN winter
and summer. In warm weather with It's awnings
end rattan shades mating. rugs. wicker FURNITURE
gay colored cushions and other pretty accessories.
II assumes importance equal 10 that or the
drawing ROOM and Is even more used In the
winter Enclosed In glass. comfortably heated. AMI
filed with palms and Towering plants. the moor
covered with rugs and we'll supplied with tables LOT
tea and periodicals and easy chairs. 1t gives an
cir OF tropical beauty to the plainest house ana 10
como into such oasis from bleak, bitter. WHIT!
world Is delightful
For inclosed veranda, heat is the frst essen
tisI and the second is plants. II there Is no pos
sibility Of carrying the heat out from the house
furnace-and often that is impossible. as lateral
pipes are useess-a small portable furnace can
generally be arranged under the porch and made
TO connect with some chimney. Stoves, OF course.
be used. but they are very unsightly ana 90
not give a sufficiently uniform temperature for
plants. which should line the walls Of the veranda
~
cal palms. inda-rubber plants and gay Towering
shrubs should be placed In front; while on the
other sde next to the windows. boxes filled With
bulbs, aquaria and hanging cages for birds have
charming effect.
A lovely country house on the Sound has such an
.nclosed veranda. the narrowest part OF which.
carpeted with gayly colored rugs. and the walls
completely concealed with palms. large india rubber
plants. etc. forms tropical alley 10 the southern
end. which wders out into the dimensions of a
good-szed room.
This opens with folding glass doors into he
dining ROOM side. and on the other its glass
front shows a stify terraced Dutch Garden. pretty
and quaint in winter its box borders and old
fashioned vases standing out clear cut against the
blue waters of Long Island Sound.
Within the glass Enclosure is summer warmth
and beauty and sweetness. A lexis foot Japanese
umbrella nearly the ceiling. the woodwork
and walls are concealed with tropical verdure. a
swinging japanese sofa is piled up with gay-coloroi
cushions. large centre table Is covered with at
tractive books and periodicals. the comfortable
wicker chairs upholstered in chintz. the floor
is entirely covered with rugs while hyacinths and
crocuses in boxes against the glass with here and
there glass aquarium filed with interesting spec
mena of the inny tribe and brilliantly coored
gold fish, is Illuminated by the bright sunlight which
streamssthrough the windows the glare being sub
dued above by coored shades. In this the heat
is supplied by steam pipes and the temperature is
Of delightful summer uniformity.
ENGLISH FRANKNESs
Where an English woman is absolutely frank |
about her affairs. American il apt be very |
reserved and there is something quite shocking to
the sensbiliies of the latter in the facetous way
English people have of trottng their skeletons
Of their closets for the edifcation OF the public
Family misfortunes and disgrace men |
toned in matter-of-fact impersona manner that |
Is incomprehensible TO the more thin-sknned Ameri-
cans. who would rather die than be ptied dis |
cussed by acquantances On the whole. the Eng
sh way is probably the better. 1t does do TO
be representative in this world. and thick epider-
mis- that Is impervious TO the pin-pricks of public
comment and criticism II blessing.
~ an American society woman is poor she tries
TO conceal 1t, at least to the mantle of
veniional living over her makeshifts. that the
public may suspec, how straitened are her
resources; whereas English woman of the world,
IN ike case. would be quite frank about everything.
You know We are beastly poor" she will tell you ,
on nrst acquaintance. n statement which she deems
sufficient explanation why her gowns and her
household arrangements shabby. and why she
ought be he'd responsible for either. Il know
We are paupers, Ella said a British attache. who
had married for love on nothing. but do think
might have clean antimacassars." This was
before number of smart people. who had been
asked informally to partake Of a ''eg OF mutton"
Why. my dear boy. she answered, composedly,
how can keep them clean. when cook and nurse
are obliged to do all the washing. and you will use
hair o?' With American couple in like posi-
ton such complaint and rejoinder would be i'm
possible
The way the members OF English family dis
cuss each others failings and failures with
strangers is incomprehensible TO country peo-
pie. who. whatever might be their private opinion.
would be prevented by pride. il not by loyalty,
from exposing their relatives adverse criticism.
81 have four sisters said ncwl, arrived English !
man at dinner. "and although the mater has
tried her level best she has not succeeded in
getting one OF them off, Have you any
brothers," asked his neighbor. One he
swered promptly. but he's gone 10 the bad he's
regular sponge. too. and I'd advise you to look
for him If he comes to this country for he
never pays up How can you speak that way of
your own brother?" exclaimed the young lady.
quite Mortified. why shouldn't L. he answered.
quite mystfed ''f II is true?"
THE SOFT ANSWER
There Is a soft answer" which does not by any
means turn away wrath" On the contrary. 1t
exctes an impotent rage that is all the more
intense because it cannot be expressed How
very quiet and dull this winter has been?" said
Mrs. Hlghfyer. from Chicago. who had in her
estimation. successfully conquered New-York |
society ''Oh you won't find 1t dull or quiet when
you really know people" answered her friend and
rival. sweetly. You have got new gown" said
the wife of partner to the helpmeet of
other. whose smart friends gave the former enemy
secret OF envy ION. exclaimed the |
latter, who did not wish to seem extravagant. 81
have had II all winter" But / have never
you wear it," said the other incredulously Il dare
say not DEAR" replied her friend. goaded at length
into the soft answer" IL have only 1t at the
AS and the Ms"
A UTILITY SCREEN"
The economizing Of space board ship is
matter OF pride and II Is wonderful In how small
a s,ateroom be comfortable and have all
the convenences Of life. In small houses. and
pecially houses with small rooms. the prin-
csple might be carried out to advantage A screen