Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
THE KEEP COOL PROBLEM
ELECTRIC FANS, HAMGOCKS AND
OTHER SUMMER DEVICES.
Loads of Things Nowadays to Make
Living COmfortabIe-Shade
and Awnings.
Written for The Evening Star

Written for The Evening Star
The most difficult problem with which
housekeepers have to deal during the
months of July, August and September is
not how to keep the house cool, but how
to believe that they are cool. Self-decep-
ton is nine-tenths of the battle, no matter
what We may be striving to achieve. If
we lived in ice palaces or snow houses
during the summer the ina gnation would
have less chance of development, but we
might be more comfortable.
Screens for the windows bamboo shades
for the porch, lawn sprnklers. porch
chairs, electric fans. hammocks and tents
upon the lawn are but devices to cheat
the credulous soul of mankind, always
anxious to believe that things. even tenn
perature are not what they are, but what
he wishes them to be.
The American fashion of furnishing the
house in summer with diaphanous curtains
and substituting bamboo wicker chairs
and couches for the heavy wood furniture
used during the winter is a good one. The
wicker furniture is ventilated and there
fore cooler than air-tight or upholste cred
pieces. The wicker furniture of today,
unlike that of few years ago. is extreme
ly picturesque and affords great variety
in kind and quality.
OF armchairS there are patternS galore
Some of them have the long wicker valance
below, others are made with mere sugges-
lions of legs, while still others have orna-
mental supports, all of wood. The chairs
are always deep and wide-roomy, they
are calied-and afford plenty of space for
s1lken cushions. Some of the chairs are
supplied with wide rests al the sides for
arms, books, magazines, a cooling glass of
lemonade or comforting box of bon bons
root rests that can be pushed under when
not In use are attached to some easy
chairs.
Designs in Settees.
hn
and are capable of accommodating from
two to four persons. A fiat cushion las q
rule, ornaments the seat of the chair and
the side cushions are fluffy, soft-looking
affairs, covered with some light and airy
fabric Corner settees are very effective
In furnishing either the summer parlor or
the veranda One of the most picturesque
OF the settees is modelled on the little Tria-
non style, with high back and sides
Bamboo or wicker couches are a COM
paratively recent innovation. They are
made in many different styles and when
draped with gayly colored draperies and
cushions are very effective in the decora-
tive scheme. One of the odd designs is a
low. fiat foundation section, with a high
headpece and sloping Sides The low
couches with unprotected sides and those
with the low rail are very much liked for
porch use. 1t is a strange fact that the
couches. although larger, are less expen-
sive than the settees, the fancy backs of
the latter requiring much extra labor and
time on the part of the workman.
Wicker screens, though little adapted for
keeping off the sun. are a present fad in
summer furnishing; so also are wicker tea
tables. The tables are round or square and
are made with shelves designed to accom-
modate plates, cups and saucers too nu-
merous to find a place on the tray.
Hard Wood Painted Floors.
OF course, in furnishing the summer par
Tor, sitting room bed room hardwood
or painted floor is one of the important re-
quirements In the achieving of GOODNESS.
Mating on the floor is a sometime substi-
tute. but most mating soils or wrinkles
when much used. The hardwood or paint
ed floor covered with dark rug is eye
satisfying and serviceable.
No windows should be without shades
and awnings. Better a trifle less eXpend-