The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-24

BOGUS ART
IN MANY HOMES
How Women Can Make Hav-
oc in Waste Places.
Fantastic Decorations, in the Name
of Ornament, Disfiguring the
Dwelling Places of Maidens.

Again we are on the verge of our sea-
son of discomfort We grow year by year
more grotesquely picturesque. That's
our trouble. If we could only pin our de-
sires, our aspirations, our hopes to a
common-sense level we should not be
found. long before spring is here, in a
state of mental collapse
Just look through the rooms i'm which
we have wasted our dollars and our en-
ergies. Why. il took the better part Of
fall and winter TO get them into shape
Just look at them They are enough 10
make their mistress register a string of
resolves a mile long never to attempt the
artistic again.
Here is the trouble; the inartistic home
maker is doing her best to follow the
lead of her artistic sister. Result-a
blind grouping together of fantastic eff
fects. Chaos. not art. has captured our
senses as Wen as our homes.
We cannot cast our eyes about the
house that we do not run up against reg
ular conscience-prickers. Articles never
worth the preverbal song are simply
fighting it out with articles that drained
the exchequer dry
Eagerly we listen for the first robins
note. watch for the yellow head of the
first daffodil to give us an excuse for hus-
thing our mistakes in household decora-
tions out of sight and, As we mentally ar
que. never. no never again allowing our
selves another chance to commit such
blunders.
/ envy the sisters whom a kind Provi-
dence has placed quite beyond tempta-
tons reach. Their souls are never tor
mented by glimpse Of glories which
they cannot possess. In their quiet coun-
try homes far from the whirl of the city $
strife they can laugh at us for being
creatures of impulse Ne go bargain
mad just many times month; we are
eternally shopping and consequently eter-
nally in a remorseful state
our city garrets are museums of would
be art. They are curiosity shops. So un-
like the garnet Of the farmhouse, Of the
village home, where under its caves are
garnered fascinating household stores. On
the rafters are swung dried fruits ana
delicious. Notwithstanding herbs. HeIe
and there under the slanting roof are
quaint treasures about which most prec-
iOus memories hover.
Only the bitterest memories lnger about
our city garnet crannies. From every
nook silent reproaches. barb-like in their
sharpness pierce our hearts. We are tor
mented with useless regrets because of
abandoned draperies, discarded orna-
ments, the gathering together of useless
trash. cali it. in our saacr mo-
mentS. Time was when We were mad
enough To- think the entire collection
art.
Art indeed, The trouble is we, IN the
cities and towns are moved by = iris of
unrest to commit wretched mistakes.
Change. the everlasting longing for
change. Is the trouble. Well out 81 it are
the women who are content with the
things that were their mothers. their
grandmothers. their great-gra ndmoi IL
ers'. Little know they Of the strires, the
| iealousies aroused because of our aping
with modest means the ways of those
| who could buy and sell us.
Life's duties may be many and they
| may be heavy 10 bear bat at hast feart
| burnings repinings are spared those of
nv sex who live 10 be comfortable, not
/ artistic.