The record-union., 1897-02-12
IN THE SOCIAL WORLD.
4 Yeranda May be Made a Winter
Living Room.
English Frankness That Shocks
Americans-Utility Screens Be-
coming Very Popular.

-
The veranda used to be thought Of as
distinctly an outside belonging to the
house, almost as much SO as the arpor
In the garden or the grounds them
selves. In the summer few chalrS,
and perhaps a hammock, were all mat
were deemed necessary in the way OF
furniture, decoration being never at
tempted; and in the winter it was lett
to the four winds of heaven, being used
only occasionally for a constitutional IN
bad weather. OF late years it has come
to be a part of the house both IN WINTER
and summer. In warm weather, win
its awnings and rattan shades, mating,
rugs, wicker furniture, gay coioreo
cushions and other pretty accessories,
it assumes an Importance equal TO that
of the drawing room and is even more
used. In the winter, incloSed IN grass
comfortably heated, and filled WIN
palms and Towering plants. the noof
covered with rugs and we'll suppiled
with tables for tea and periodicals ana
easy chair, 1t gives an air OF trop1cai
beauty 10 the plainest house, ana to
come into such an oasis from bleak,
bitter, wintry world is delightful.
For an. inclosed veranda, heat is the
first essential and the second is plants.
If there is no possibility Of carrying the
heat ont from the house furnace-and
often that is impossible-a small porta-
BILE furnace can generally be arranged
under the porch and made to connect
with some chimney. Stoves, of course,
hut tbaNr
slightly and do not give a sufficiently
uniform tempera ture for plants, which
should line the walls of the veranda.
As a background, evergreens do very
well. but tropical palms, india rubber
plants and gay Towering shrubs should
be placed in front; while on the other
side. next to the windows boxes hlled
with bulbs, aquaria and hanging cages
for birds have a charming effect.
A lovely country house on the Sound
has such an inclosed veranda, the mar
roWest part of which, carpeted with
gaily-colored rugs, and the walls COM
pletely concealed with palms, large in
dia-rubber plants, etc, forms tropl-
cal alley to the southern end, which
Widens out into the dimensions OF a
good sized room.
This opens with folding glass doors
into the dining room, on one side, and
on the other it's glass front shows a
stiff1y terraced Dutch garden. pretty
and quaint in winter: its box borders
and old-fashioned vases standing out
clear against the blue water Of Long
Island Sound.
Within the glass incIosure is summer
warmth and beauty and sweetness. A
15x15 foot japanese umbrella nearly
covers the ceiling, the woodwork and
walls are concealed with tropical YER
dure q swinging japanese sofa Is piled
up with gay-cOlored cushions, large
center table is covered with attractive
books and periodicals, the comfortable
wicker chairs are upholstered in chinZ.
the floor is entirely covered with rugs.
while hyacinths and crocuSeS in boxes
a against the glass, with here and there
a glass aquarium filled with interesting
specimens of the ffnny tribe and bril-
liantly colOred gold fish, is Illuminated
by the bright sunlight which streams
through the windows. the glare being
subdued above by colored shades. In
this case the heat is supplied by steam
pipes. and the temperature is of de-
lightful summer uniformity.
Where an Englishwoman is absolute
iy frank about her affairs. an American
is apt to be very reserved; and there is
something quite shocking TO the sensi-
biHties Of the latter in the facetious
way English people have of trotting
their skeletons out of their closets for
the edihcation of the public Family
misfortunes and even disgrace are
I fff at sv,1v, nov
sonal manner that is incomprehensible
to the more thln-sklnned Americans,
who would rather die than be pitied
or discussed by acquaintances. On the
whole, the English way is probably the
better. 1t does not do to be hypersen-
ssitive in the world. and a thick epider-
mis- that is impervious to the pin pricks
OF public comment and criticism is a
blessing.
II an American society woman is
poor she tries to conceal it. or at least
to cast the mantle OF conventional liv-
ing over her makeshfts. so that the
public may not suspect how strait
ened are her resources; whereas an
English woman Of the world in like
case. would be quite frank about every
thing You know We are beastly
poor" she viii tell you on first ac-
auaintance. a statement which she
deems a sufficient explanation why her
gowns and her household arrangements
are shabby, and why she ought not to
be held responsible for either. Il know
we are paupers, Ella" said a British
attache. who had married for love on
nothing. but | do think We might have
clean antimacassars. This was before
a number OF smart people, who had
been asked informally to partake of a
leg 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 oil?" With an Amer
lean couple in like position such a