The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-11

are there displayed in order to have good
taste. Nature provides an immense and
comparatively neutral background; na-
ture makes curves, rarely angles; nature
blends the most sharply contrasting col
ors together in the butterfy's wing. in
the yellow peoples in a green meadow. in
the feathers of the robins breast. The
greater part of the world is IN soft colors
browns and grays, greens and dull blues
The brilliant reds yellows, pinks and
puppies are found in very small quanti-
ties against a large neutral background
The most beautiful Oriental rugs are spe-
cimens both of rare handicraft and of an
exquisitely unconscious taste; for in them
vivid colors are mingled in such small
quantities on rich background that the
eye is satisfied rather than startled by
the contrast.
Nature, except in the very lowest or
ders, never makes q hundred or a thou
sand things exactly alike. There is a
type, but the individuals always show
slight variations. There are symmetry
and regularity in design, but not identity.
If this principle be applied to art in the
household we see at once that 1t is alb
surd to make household furniture in
pieces identical with one another. No two
individuals are alike in size and habit,
therefore the furniture and utensils pro-
vided for each should be adapted TO his
use; but since individuals vary within
general use may be made after type,
with only the slight modification neces-
sary to adapt them to the individual. The
artistic value OF handmade Things con-
sists not merely in the fact that they are
evidences Of human skill, but in that they
have the individual touch-no two Of
them can be exactly alike.
The three main considerations in house
furnishing are health, suitability and
beauty. The order of their application is
often reversed, to the permanent injury
Of the housewife The nTincjnle n
propriateness, when strictly Interpreted,
throws one back on hygiene. Nothing can
those who are to use il. AT the same time
the first principle of decorative art is that
nothing is beautiful that is not wholly
suitable. Whether the housewife must do
her own work, with inadequate help, or
whether she have an abundance of ser
vice, the greater part of the homework
falls on some woman; everything there
fore should be planned to economic her
strength. Heavy furniture &nd rugs are
wholly unsuitable, unless the>s is man
to handle them. Heavy draNeries can
cleaned; if proper provision cannot be
made for doing this they should be dis
pensed with. Exquisite cleanliness is the
primary essential of good housekeeping,
therefore domestic architecture and in
terror decoration should be conditioned
first of all upon this requirement. Every
additional elaboration in living involves
more labor or less .hygienic conditions.
This limitation should never be over
looked in furnishing the house
Finally, when wholesOmeness and suit
ability have been fully considered, the
sense of beauty may be gratifed. Simple
and inexpensive things need not be ugly,
but often are so because they are poor
limitations or have been designed by taste
less persons. or produced mechanically in
large quantities. Much is said of the ar
tistic things which can be made of very
cheap materials. Let no one be deceived.
All beauty, except the beauty of nature,
is costly, either in money or thought.
Only an artist can produce beautiful ef-
fects without money. Here and there are
people born with the sense of fitness and
beauty; to them such magic may be pos
sible, but in the majority of mankind the
sense of beauty is an instinct of slow
growth, developed only by careful cuIti-
walton
To summarize, then: The interior Of
the house is a background for the peo-
pie who live in it; it is a reflection Of
them; it should be the outgrowth of their
tastes and habits. However varied fam
lilies may be, the family is not public and
formal, but hOmely and unceremOnious.
The beauty of nature, when properly in
terpreted, is the best guide to the art Of
man. Subordination, symmetry with
variation, perspective, are some Of the
suggestions which nature lends to art
Health, appropriateness and beauty are
the motives which should determine the
kind and character of furnishings and
decorations in particular case. In the
following paper the practical application
of these principles will be discussed.