Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-07-15
CHEER THE HOME.

CHEER In THE HOME.
Both for enjoyment and for health it
is most important that home should
be cheerfully lighted.
Families too often spend their eve-
nings together in kind of half gloom,
which small and imperfect lamp has
no power to dispel. The lamp for the
family room should have large recep-
tacle for oil, should have a very broad
or circular burner and brightly pol
ished glass tube or chimney. A porce-
lain shade in pale tints adds much to
the coy appearance of any room light
ed by lamp and relieves that glare re-
sulting from the use of the glass tube
alone. Indeed, nothing serves so to
transform "a room which has common
appearance due to the light from the
unlovely glass chimney as does the ad-
dition of shade which merely softens
and mellows the light without obscur-
ing its glow. A strong effect of refine
ment is gained by the addition of some
kind of shade.
But too much can scarcely be said in
favor of having the rooms thoroughly
lighted. In after years the memory of
a radiant home comes back upon other
evenings TO make the past seem more
lovely. And as there Is tendency to
do many things as one was accustomed
to have them in the long ago, other
homes will be brighter about those who
knew the value of such cheer in the
old home.
Aeertain house had a glad, radiant
appearance indoors at night because so
many and such effectual lights were
used. The members of the household
seemed to reflect in their happy faces
and manner the brilliancy of the lamps
about them. Always there seemed to
reign in that dwelling the spirit of a
guest occasion, and to spend an evening
within its walls was sure delight, so
powerful was the effect of the fine
lights.
TO return home was to experience a
feeling of forlornness and dissatisfac-
tion with ones own abode. Very little
thought was necessary to explain the
impressions.
In the home first referred to, the
cleaning metal lamps with wide burn
ers and bright shades shed glow
through the room that was like that of
house illumined for guests. A def
mite delight in the cheerfulness of the
place was thing of certainty. Nor
was one lamp deemed always enough
for one room in this coy dwelling,
although one lamp, if a good one, is
usually sufficient. The reflection of
the light on the clearly seen faces, the
power of its radiance to stimulate con-
versation and make it merry was most
noticeable.
The laws which govern plant life are
the same laws which govern human
life. Plants placed in dark places
grow pale and weak. Human beings
in poorly Illuminated rooms respond to
the same conditions in more or less
similar manner.
OF all places it is important that
there be full measure of light at meal
times. But never in any room should
faint, imperfect lighting be tolerated,
nor should dark shade be allowed on
the family lamp. Only those who are
i'll or those whose eyes are weak or dis
eased should be in room SO darkened.
The very best lamp may be spoilt in
effect of a heavy, dark shade.
Where color in the lamp shade is de-
sired red or pink gives pretty glow to
the room.
Yet the point most urged Is more
sufficient light, as has been before said,
there is tendency in many rural re-
gions to be satisfied with small, weak
lamp for the family evenings. Even
the use of a luttering ,nickering candle
is not wholly unknown at this day.
"It is a pleasant sight to see the sun, "
is sentiment which finds an echo in
every human heart. That similar
Joy is experienced in less measure
under the rays of good, glowing
lamp may be realized by all who use
first class lights i'm the farmhouse,
especially in the family sitting-room. -
Exchange.