Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-10
PHILOSOPHY OF CORNERS
A Bit of Their History Leading Up to
Modern Days
Best Place for q Desk or . China
Closet - Pictures and
Flowers.
Written for The Evening Star.

cornerless room would be monotonoul
to most OF us. The appearance of greater
space in a circular room of like area would
| not by any means compensate for the loss
| Of variety that angles in a square or rec
tangular room impart. The breaking up OF
| the wall space by corners permits the in
| PRODUCTION of that constant variety, united
| with similarity. which is the basis of all
| opportunities for decorative beauty.
Probably the most difficult parts of the
room to finish OF suitably are these same
corners. All sorts of furnishing devices
in the shape Of oriental hooks and cor
responding absurdities have been intro
duced with view OF disposing Of I'M
slightly spaces; but, a rule, the result
mas been worse than the evil, for to the
eye OF good taste an oriental nook in a
modern room is an incongruity sadly con-
trary to the spirit of art. Oriental corners
are all very well in oriental rooms but
the spirit OF the best architecture has
been that g house, even in it's interior
decorations. should conform to the pre-
vailfng palmer idea For instance in the
cd Italian palaces there Is an abundance
OF slender marble columns, delicate marble
carvings, sumptuous marble steirways and
pfllared marble alcoves whose spacious
windows looked out on fountained rose gar
dens. This was well in the architect who
was striving after GOODNESS and beauty.
In the Cd England houses, with their dark
wainscoted halls and stoutly built rooms
whose design was comfort, there can be
round desire to shut out the cold win
ter blasts In the orient the aim was to
secure GOODNESS and secrecy. and the light
was allowed to simmer into the house
through delicately carved screams and lat
fireworks of wood or marble. 1t was not
the English shrinking from intrusion that
actuated the oriental but a Jealous horror
OF prying eyes. Throughout the more
princely domiciles there were everywhere
alcoves, curtained and latticed hooks. into
m oh ell and
family in a country where no one trusted
even his brother. The life of a land is
therefore the best criterion OF what will be
allowable in It's decorative art.
Little Things That Do 1t.
Most modern rooms are furnished with
out any thought of the corners II the
room is a small one and there is a desire
to make 1t appear larger. the best way to
accomplish this is SO to finish the angles
in its outline that they will not be noticed
A tall plant, q skilifully devised curtain,
cabinet, a small table crossing it. will
perhaps give the desired effect
A corner in library may be put to good
use by hitting 1t up with a small writing
table. This table may be nothing more than
triangular board fitted to brackets screw
ed to the wall. the outer edge being nicely
rounded off. The board should be painted
or stained and vanished and then covered
on the top with a couple of thicknesses OF
heaVy plotting paper. This should be fixed
oA WIN iist, bFaSS-headed tacks- A little
cupboard, into which writing materials
may be put or In which memorandum books
ana bills may be slowed. should be placed
In the corner little above the table. A
narrow; ornamental shelf for the taper
Win winch the wax is melted and similar
trliles may border one side of the table, A
calendar may hang on the wall opposite
me little shelf, with some photographs
uhaeF III: 10 hght the desk a lamp sus-
pended from a chain will be both useful
anu Ornamental. A small wastebasket uu-
ueIheatfl, chalr at one side, with tab
ouret' on Whlcn stands a flowerpot and
piaht' tof the o1her side, and the trouble
some corner is finished.
en-. IN me dihlns room the corner may be
LIEU Win one OF the triangular china clos
Is nni.u can pe purchased for so little.
i IN i 20 ene emma closet owned by the fam
corner and its height reI,eyed hy os 20, me
ornamental plates on brackets.
Photographs and Palms,
In the drawing room a table on which
china and a handsome unframed enoray,,.
or painting are arranged will give nret,S
effect to a corner, especially IL one stde i.
other with small water coIors ., 49,
- ~ wafer coiors OF piece
- uaI.;,o la CLINE
49, 3. lne pacherouno hlled In with
~ he So. os craving room corner
h., q .ebIo Va guinness When IL Is occupied
uttia hraeIeat -, Piah.s are arranged on
80 y. - ne.s 80 disposed as not to be no.
a. casual siahce
laroa urh. - - ne iooiii WHICH mas
ing planfs of The ba-d, oae corner, grow
bloom often will look well They give a
eoucn OF brightness and cheer to the prosy