Evening journal., 1900-03-07
HOMES OF COMFORT
THE ART OF MAKING A FIREslDE
ATTRACTIVE.


Rather In Using the Things One
Has Freely-Why Men Like the
club-Drftins Apart.
NO wonder a man enjoys his club"
remarked one woman to another as
they We're taking advantage Of LA
dies Day to inspect a new club house
fro mthe roof to the swimming pool
in the basement IF were n member
I'd be here every night. wouldn't
you?"
"Not IL had nice home" retorted
the other.
l listened and pondered.
/. too. had been reyelling in the
perfect appointments, feasting my
eyes on the exquisite rugs. admiring
the lovely woods and rare marbles.
and, In fact. absorbing the artistic en-
semble to my utmost capacity. Were
member, thought. the temptation
10 90 often would be a very strong
one
This club house which is representa-
tive Of the best New York can offer.
not only because of the wealth but the
intellectual attainments Of its mem
bers, seems to me to typlfy two things
merely comfort and congenial COM
panionshlp.
From the instant the servant holds
back the entrance door. the sense Of
comfort is pervasive. A cozy fireplace
beyond a columned lobby suggests
warmth and good cheer. Red. the mas.
culine favorite. is the keynote of the
decoration and furnishings of the
building. various shades being used
for the different rooms and the warm
tones suggest welcome. All is bright
and CHEEKY No lace curtains keep out
n ray. Of light and the glare Of the
electric lights are softened by brilliant
silk shades Some of the walls are
frescoed. others hung with leather or
Xxx or burlap or panelled from door
TO ceiling with costly and beautiful
wood.
Rare and valuable paintings adorn
the walls. but there Is not single SUI
perfiuous ornament; none Of the little
NnNNAA~
tial to the cosiness Of room. Every
where are smoking parties for there
is no woman around TO object and the
non-smokers have a room to them.
selves on the library floor. In the read
ing room and library, are books. pa
pers and magazines. and all are so
conveniently arranged that even the
ordinary reader OF books longs to sink
into an easy chair and to be let alone.
with such attractions as these it is
little wonder that many husbands use
their own homes merely as places to
eat and sleep. OF course. there is not
so much Of this In the country and
/ am wandering from my text. But
the point is. If homes were more com
Portable, using that word in the sense
OF being more easy. they would be
more attractive to the male members
Of the family.
/ fancy that one of the strongest at
fractions of the club is the fact that
there is nothing too good in it to be
used every day. This is not the case
I'm many homes. We make ourselves
nd others uncomfortable In trying tC
,p rooms and furniture for com
ny The guest has a right to YOU
ST. but nothing in your home SHOULD
too good for you yourself to enjoy
If you have anything that is too gooC
to use. 1t is too good to have 'Be i
ever so humble. there is 20 place lik'
home" but be II ever so fine there ar
many places better than home.
Then again. some of us like Mrs
Jellyby. are so occupied with move
ments for the alleged advancement o
women in general. that we lose sigh
of commonplace duties. forget tha
Johnnys stockings need mendlng, o
that Mary is backward in her arith
metic, or that poor dear william ha
dyspepsia and needs care in the choic
and preparation of suitable foods TIL
other class goes to the other extreme
and while Johnny's stockings may b
darned and the house kept spotles
and shining. there is no intellectual
olimmer in the home, and husban
and children seek companionshi
wherever they can find 1t.
A young wife came to me the othe
day heartbroken because aside fror
their material interests. she and he
husband had not a single taste In con
mon. 1t is usually the wife who fall
behind in the race, and her husban
finds no intellectual enjoyment in he
companionship. 1t is for'the most pal
after the children are partly grow
that the mother or father realizes tha
the cares of one or the other hay
caused them to drift apart.
AGNES OLCOTT.