Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
VARIETY IN COUCHES
ETHICS OF THE COZY CORNER IN
THIS AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
French Understand the Art of Rest
ing, and Their Furniture En-
cOuragcs 1t.
Written for The Evening Star.


No nation in the world is so little skilled
in the art Of resting the American. This
ignorance may be observed in the house
holds of the land where men and women
alike dispose themselves in the most try
ing positions upon the straight uncomforta-
BILE furniture with which American houses
are furnished. Every housewife tries to
follow the fashion in furniture as much as
her means will admit. She buys one of the
so-called suits. and. no matter what room
may be ike. this, with a few trif1ing addi-
tons. is supposed to furnish it. The chairs
may be heavily upholstered, but they are
seldom comfortable. The backs are upright,
and the seats are shaped to look well rather
than to be easy.
A bolt upright position is the only one
considered proper in an American drawing
room. 1t is a fashion to appear as stiff
and straight perambulating ramrod
and only stern discipline on all occasions
will keep the spinal column in good working
order for such effect. Never for a mo-
ment must the hard-worked muscles relax.
Standing. walking, riding or sitting. the
muscles of the back strained to ho,d
In position the heavy trunk; hence the de-
Tand for vertical chair and sofa backs.
When Queens Reclined.
The queens of the French drawing rooms
whose grace and beauty We're the marvel of
erect carriage. One reads of the beauties
of the last century receiving their guests
gracefully reclining on elegantly draped
couches Nay. the great ladies' of that day
who understood the value of rest better
II an we are likely to do were accus-
toned to remain the greater part of the
morning in bed. and friends were admitted
to chat with them as they reclined under
the tinted silk hangingS of their stately
old-fashioned bedsteads. Their salons were
furnished with low couches, fauteuils di-
vans long chairs and dainty sofas. Chairs
were not numerous. for the woman who
had salon understood that conversation,
not mono'ogue. was what her guests prefer
red. and that chairs promoted only the lat
ter.
There are just as many styles of sofas,
couches and divans there are pieces of
furniture. and infinite variety can be given
to the appearance of room If they are ar
ranged with a little thought The French
call all easy chairs fauteuils and regard
them as intended for restful attitudes. Real
couches are large and made to accommo-
date from two to SIX persons
OId-Fnshioned Style.
The Chesterfield couch. long and heavy
and fashioned. is the most massive OF
this sort of furniture. The upholstering Is
usually done in leather some dark plain
rep. velvet corduroy. Where the frame
is of mahogany. walnut or birch the cost
OF the tntS'eEHelu Is great. bul Hldut Will
all-over cushoning it is much cheaper.
One sees more and more in private houses
the round center dvans which form so eff
fective a part of the furnishing of many
large public apartments. The middle of the
divan generally .ncloses pedestal. on
which a plant or statue may be placed.
The so-called chaise lounge of the French
is couch supplied with an upholstered back
and arms. 1t affords resting place for the
legs and fee, and a support for the back.
The feet need to rest as well as the other
limbs. indeed. more when consider
that they bear the weight of the rest of the
body for the day. Men who frankly place
their heels on the desks in their offices or
on the chairs at home only thus ac-
knowledsing that their limbs need repose
and as man is comfort-seeking animal,
and very Indifferent to conventionality, he
takes his ease in office. home or inn. no
matter what his women folk may say in
protest. The chaise lounge is a concession