Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-11-12
A voLUNTEER REGIMENT.
PAPER UN THE WALL.
PATENTS DRIVEN NEARLY INSANE az
WEIRD AND INTRICATE DESIGNS.

WEIRD AND lNTRlCATG DESIGNS.
x1-~s IrresistAhiy Attract the Eyes From
TiOOr to Ceiling Headaches Result FRAN
'hs strain Suggestions tor Purchasing
tho Proper Wall Covering.
II is well established fact that chill
dren are often haunted at night by the
nideous objects they have traced in the
patterns on the wall Older persons are
familiar with the fact that certain pat
terms irresistibly attract the eyes from
floor to ceiling and from one corner OF
the room to the other
Endless headaches are the result OF
such straining OF the eyes. The writer
once occupied room. which had such
a paper upon its walls. II was a small
room and the consequence was sue
cession Of severe headaches that finally
took the form OF vertigo. and which
were not relieved until change OF
room was effected. The paper was
very pretty. but the amount OF activity
displayed by the pattern, which seemed
after 5riei scrutiny to be literally
alive. was impossible to endure.
II. thinking 1t a weakness. but they are
frequently subjected 10 much discom-
fort by walls that to the casual OBJ
server appear attractive | know of one
blue and silver paper that had to be
covered by plain pepper-and-sal sur
face before the mistress of the room
could be induced to return to IT.
Papers are frequently one thing in
the shops and quite another thing up
on the wall. In buying a plain paper
this discrepancy cannot occur.
For bedrooms plain papers with
roughly finished surface are the best.
These should be light and cheerful in
color. and can be relieved by a richer
border and contrasting woodwork il
desired.
In hall richly figured paper may be
used. but better results are invariably
obtained by the use Of plain paper of
some dark tone. A deep. old red is
very effective. With this the wood
work should be painted black and high
ly vanished The floors can be cover
ed with mating or with dark carpet.
On planning a room. the first consid-
Grafton should be the walls, the wood
work and the covering of the floor. Any
room will have some architectural fea-
lures that will assert themselves if it is
not swamped in unnecessary nick
hacks. The ends to be sought are. as
in dress, simplicity, use. good color. and
pleasing effect. The fewer materials
used the better. The trouble is that our
walls are usually so offensive that in
stinctively We seek 10 conceal them
beneath pictures. photographs, fans
and draperies which only serve 10 hold
the dust and weary the eyes.
A good wall needs very few pictures
plain wall will set of the few en-
cravings to which one may cling to es-
cape monotony. But if one has the
courage TO do without pictures alto
gether in bedroom one will save ones
eyes from detecting that this or that
frame is hanging out of plumb. and
will keep them for the parlor where
they belong. Ii may require some
heroism to simplify the bedroom in this
way. but the result viii more than
compensate.
There is space, freshness. a sense
OF cleanliness obtained in this way that
cannot be achieved by all the decora-
tion that could be crowded ON the
walls. Simple muslin curtains at the
windows, clean mating on the floor. a
plain wall with a pretty border. a
white iron bed with brass trimmings
and linen sheets-these things togeth-
er make bedroom that must be ac-
knowledged fauitless by the most fas-
tidious taste.
Yet these things could be purchased
for half the price of the useless decora-
tons with which we constantly dis
figure our homes.