The record-union., 1898-01-02

The delicate tints of the average ex-
pensively furnished parlor are apt 10
be coloriess unless there is some reilei
to them. One sees so many rooms with
soft pearl-gray Wilton carpets, walls
of very much the same shade, hang1ngs
of silvery plush, furniture largely IN
white and gold, even the sofa cushlons
of the palest hueS in costly fabrics.
The curious set expression of Such a
room, as if it We're arranged for an
exhibition parlor of upholstery, is en-
hanced, usually, by the lack of any sort
of center Every room to be success
full needs some sort of focus-an open
fireplace, a reading table, anything that
suggests a drawing together of the
rooms occupants. 1t is this lack OF
suggestion of life which makes one
stroll thrugh one of these perfectly ap-
pointed rooms and come with sigh
of relief into the next apartment, Whlch
the family really use. Occasionally
a house is entered, whose mistress bold
ly banishes the so-called parlor, letting
it be simply an extension of the IL
brary Books line its walls, a long ta-
BILE with chairs drawn around it Is
piled with fresh magazines, the latest
books and a writing service. All these
may be as elegant as ones purse ad-
mits, but their very presence confers
a charm and effect by their suggestion
of use that is not found in the hand
soonest stretches of upholstery and
woodwork.
Pencil protectors in sterling silver are
to be had, copying those of cheap metal.
One or two candied cherries on the
halved grapefruit, which is seasonable
for a luncheon's first course, contrib
ute pretty touch of color as we'll as
an agreeable flavor
In using pretty flowery French papers
for the walls of city bedrooms. they
are often found most effective without
dado or frieze. They should run
straight from ceiling to Dashboard, and
be finished at the top with narrow
molding, preferably of wood. There is
a growing disposition to transplant to
the city in winter many of the pretty
effects tried in country homes for the
sumner season. City houses, set in
solid blocks and kept at a summer tenn
perature by means of powerful heat
-
and heavy furnishings than the su-
burban cottage, and often not so much
Only the parlor floors now are apt to
be fitted in the conventional winter
trim, and there are inroads even upon
this plan The family sitting room is
much more easily kept free from dust
if the wicker or very light wood fur
niture, made comfortable with pillows
or easily turned cushions, replaces the
heavily upholstered chairs and sofas
once deemed necessary. Artists say
that colonial rooms are growing more
and more common in town, and no one
who enters the suite in the new Asto-
ria that is finished in this simple ar
tistie style can fail to applaud and en-
Joy it much more than the stuffy Turk
ish room of its twin hotel. Every ar
tistic decorator is preaching simplicity
and cIlasteness of style for the home.
Even the masses are becoming educat-
ed, and fresh cottage draperies at the
windows of low-priced city apartments
often replace the imitation point and
applique atrocities that are still to
much the rule.
Somebody recommends a piece barrel
in lieu of bag or basket to hold nee
essary remnants. Such receptacle
takes up less room in a closet than
either a bulging bag or a large basket.
The barrel should be lined with some
glazed cambria to prevent the catching
of materials on the rather rough wood.
To fit two or three bags or deep pock-
cts around the brim of the barrel, to
hold special trimmings, braids, en-
broideries and the like, is another good
suggestion in the plan.
Another game, that of goose cut
ting" has been added to the long list in
vogue at social gatherings. The hostess
provides a well-drawn outline of a
goose, which is usually of red cloth, or.
If made of paper is colored red or
black This is merely for the purpose
of distinctness. Two pairs of scissors