The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-09-11
ga FAIR FACE MAY PROVE A FOUL BAR
GAIN" Marry PLAIN GIRL IF SHE USES
O 10
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENT.
4 GIFT of Magic Possessed by Some

"
A GIFT of Magic Possessed by Some
HOusel<eepers.
Most women have domestic tastes
and a genuine love of home which en-
able them to bring out the hidden
possibilities in things and create a
home from the most meager begin
nings. A kind of magic gives them the
power to give to any place where they
may dwell, for however short a time,
the air and atmosphere OF home. No
one but a woman would have evolved
q comfortable chair out of a cast-off
barrel, stuffed out with the excelsior
of packing and covered with simple
cotton cloth. No one else could have
created with a little paint n stand or
bookcase from a deal packing box. Yet
many an army quarters or settlement,
SO distant from civilization that the
furniture van never reaches it, has been
temporarily fitted up with these ma
t~erials, which were left from unpacl1-
ing. A few prints have been hung on
the bare board walls, n few womanIy
triies scattered about by way of dec
grafton, and, behold, the lares and
penates of home have found q resting
place. The rude surroundings have
eco domestic. A bit of drapery has
been hung here, and the light shaded
there, and a certain air of elegance has
been impaired t. the rough frame
work from which the entire picture is
built.
Because a wise woman can evolve an
orderly arrangement for a distant post
from these rude materials it does not
prove hat it is economical or wise to
employ them when, with a very little
exertion, anyone with ordinary ability
can earn money enough to buy good,
serviceable furniture. Such makeshifts
are only excusable in the wilderness,
where time often hangs heavy on ones
hands, 4 there is no other furniture
to be had. Many a woman has pounded
her fingers and wasted much valuable
time In the effort to make a barrel into
a comfortable chair, when, with the
same amount of exertion, she could
earn money to buy a much better chair
from a dealer. When comfortable, pref
ty chairs can be purchased at rs cents
each, and other furniture at equally
low prices, it does not pay to spend
much time in using up barrels and old
boxes for furniture.
It does show a lack of sterling good
sense and a lack of self-respect to be
content with such makeshifts, when it
is SO easy to procure substantial furni-
ture at a price which any American
workman can pay. 1t is foolish to feel
disturbed and ashamed because your
house is simple and unpretending. Get
the necessary articles of furniture first,
and get them of as substantial char
acter as you can. Show and shallow
p%retense are always expensive. No re-
fined woman, with the womanly "gift
of arrangement" ever tolerates sham.
The camping furniture described, made
from the crude materials on hand, has
a certain rude grace in harmony with
the simple surroundings of frontier
life. In its place and way it possesses
a dignity which is utterly wanting
when 1T is introduced where it is not
a necessity. A barrel fashioned to imi-
tate an elaborate upholstered chair.
with materials hat cost more than the
price of a good chair purchased out
right of a responsible dealer, is a vulgar
thlnQ-N. Y. Tribune.