The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-27
Pullman Ideals.

A Philadelphia newspaper recently put
in gentle plea for more artistic meth
DDS in Pullman car furnishing. 1t was
pointed out that the plush and fringe Of
the average sleeping car are an offence to
good taste, and that not only are the low
ers of the beautiful who travel in these
cars tortured by such uncanny things,
but ignorant people, who have money but
no artistic education, are being trained in
the wrong way. 1t is stated on the au-
thority of this paper that lady wi b
more money than knowledge Of the re-
cherche in housefurnishing, recently or
dered her parlors furnished in exactly the
same style as that which she had been
taught to admire in the parlor car.
This is rather an interesting subject,
and suggestive Of a fascinating and in
structive train of thought. Many people
have wondered why, in summer, some
washable and cool material could not be
substituted for plush In the curtains Of
the sleeping car, and why II was SO much
easier to spend large sums of money on
the ugly than on the beautiful. They
have also reflected on the microbe and
dust gathering possibilities Of the plush
seats, and only the knowledge that, in the
common day car, they will find the same
plush, inhabited by microbes possibly less
aristocratic, has prevented them from
leaving their expensive seats and going
elsewhere.
1t would undoubtedly be conducive 10
beauty If William Morris instead of the
PuIlmans had designed the furniture Of
those cars, but he did not, nor did any Of
his disciples The same is true Of the ga
loon of the average steamer, and Of most
hotel parlors. One is moved to enquire,
IF these places are not made beautiful
when large sums of money are expended
on them to make them SO, why not?"
The fact is that these furnishings are
not designed to educate the taste of the
public, or to please the small minority
of truly esthetic travellers. They are
meant, primarily, to impress the beholder
with the fact that the owner of the ho-
tel, or car, or steamer has money and is
willing to spend it. All the plate glass,
gliding. and plush which can be put into
the place is not too much for this pur-
pose, and most travellers are imbued with
the idea that these things are far more
costly than simple wood, iron, and rattan.
II capitalists of this type have to spend
show. The part of the population which
can be thus induced to travel by a par
ticular line will then do SO, and the rest
of the public will follow the same plan
because 1t cannot help itself. And as a
rule, the owner Of the line himself thinks
he has reached the height of taste in fur
his patrons with plush and gid
ing and plate-glass mirrors.
Men Of the Pullman type are gradually
the people In art. They can do
it, because they have money enough to
dominate the travelling public and COM
pei it to travel in their cars. They are
gaining more and more power over the
commerce of the country. By the forma-
tion Of furniture and wallpaper trusts
they can impose their ideals on the en-
not like these ideals, but he cannot get
else without paying much money.
The merchant or small manufacturer may
like them no better. but what Is he to dc?
The chances are that under such a regime
the American home will gradually come to
be favored throughout with Pullmanism
Our volatile French friends are prepar-
ing actively to twist the Lions tail" by
giving an official and enthusiastic recep-
ton to ex-Presldent Kruger on the occa-
sion of his visit to France. President
Loubet and NJ. Delcasse may not think
that the scheme is altogether a safe one,
in view Of the rather shaky relations be-
tween the Republic and England, but they
seem to be taking to 1t with outward