The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
SLEEPING IN sPL d
Magnificent Beds Used by American Women
OF Wealth.

Magnificent Beds Used by American Women
OF Wealth.
The most splendid bedroom In all New York
city is considered by both her feminine friends
and enemies to be that Of Mrs. Ogden Mills.
Her sleeping apartment Is an exact copy of an
eighteenth century French state or royal cham
brc d coucher. The room itself Is one OF tho
largest in her spacious New York home. In
that room This leader of fashion pc, forms the
one and only function Of sleeping, and the bed
Is, with the exception of n couple of small gilt
chairs and a clock, the single piece OF furni-
ture. This is n long. broad downy nest, in
which four persons could rest comfortably,
and, saving the headboard and top of the canopy,
not a scrap of woodwork shows anywhere about
1t. Every inch Of the bed proper Is hidden by
magnificent draperles OF blue brocaded satin,
further embellished with heavy embroidery Of
gold thread.
Quite complete, this throne.like affair was
made In America, because after examining big
beds for sale in the Partisan bric-a-brac shops.
Mrs. Mills decided they were all lacking-in the
conveniences and comforts the modern Ameri.
can woman demands for her sleeping hours. SO
she came home. and of very plain oak her bed
was built, the lofty canopy frame put up,
the embroideries, ordered from an American
needlewoman, hung, and then the great cur.
tains and coverlid we're edged with forty pounds
of bullion fringe. These requisites for a perfect
Marie Antoinette bed brought the price of 1t
up far into the thousands, but the end was not
yet. A wonderful foundation of spiral steel
| springs first lined the inside of the couch, on the
top or this u thin felt mattress was placed, and
then onstop a hair bed, slipped in n big silken
cover, before sheets or blankets could BIO laid
brush Of an American artist was put into
place, and lastly. the electrician was called In
to give the finishing touches. The good offices
nf the AIRnfFinian xVaA mt nm nrityinaI fHna IN
the, part Of Mrs. Mills, for ali the ne v beds.
built for comfort as well as beauty, have first Of
low can easily reach up, touch, and turn on the
light IN a group OF bulbs artisSically arranged
OF gilded Cupids in this board hold each a spray
of lights that shed their radiance down softly
over the pillow A. the exact angle needed for
comfortable reading. To make the light per-
fectly agreeable and easy for the eyes. the
globes OF glass are first ground and then treat
ed with a varnish that subdues tho hard cleo
Beside this arrangement runs a little row of
summons the lady's mpaid.' Another sets the
front door bell a-ringing and SO acts on any
house9reaker as a most %effectual alarm, and a
third key sets In movement an electrical cur
rent that warns the bed. The bed warmer Is
really a white bag, incased in pink flannel, and
to perfection all the purpote Q, Of a big hot. water
bottle or an old'tsshio9ed warming pan, o,3
cagoan, is another woman who possesses a big
the room itself Is used excirsively for sleeping.
century ago. these fair Americans, who can a.
ford the luxury, believe that a bedroom shoulA
have great space, q lofty ceiling. and all day
long a current of air should sweep over the pill
lows, uncontaminated by human lungs. No
furnace heat 10 used or gas lights burned In
these sleeping apartments. A half hour before
madame ~retlresa fire OF dry logs Is lighted, to
take the chill on the atmospheric; by candle or
electric light the LADY goes 10 bed, and all these
precautions are taken In behalf OF health, to So
cure sound sleep and good compilations.
Mrs. Letter OF Washington rests from her la