The Forrest City times., 1901-11-01
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMICS.

Edited hy the Household Economics Com
mittce Of the Cosmos Club
When you build aud furnish house Its
contents should be the 0GtgTOwih OF the
tastes, habits and occupations Of its own
ers Farm life in its broadeSt aspect IS
suggestive OF breadth, generosity, simpiiei-
ty. cleanliness, abundance of sunlight, OF
the beauty of nature and freedom from
stiff formality.
The furnishing and decoration OF the
farmers home should express the breadth,
beauty and freedom of his life. (ltfollows
that some pieces Of furniture and some
kinds of decorations which are offered in
the shops are quite out of place In far
mer's home.) On the other hand, city life
Is characterized by extreme limitations, so
far as nature is concerned, aud yet 1t Is
rich in opportunities for culture shd com
plicated with every kind of mechanical
convenience and device. However varied
the tastes apd habits of city and eounir.
jewellers, the domestic spirit is quite intor-
NAL. uncefemonious loves ease, privacy,
low tones. the old arm choir, children and
simple pleasure.
The first principle of house furnishing
Is therefore to have nothing which does not
contribute to the use and comfort of family
life. The first effort OF good houseSeep-
er is to keep dirt out of the house. From
this point of view carpets are unsanitary,
While they have the additional disadvan.
cage that they inYolye that periodic bug
bear. housekeeping. Good floors are now
TO be easily and eaeaply obtained. Even
when the floors are old and rather defec-
tive. the space around the edge Of the rug
may be puttied and painted so as 10 look
very well. Often the price of handsome
carpet wond better be spent in laying
new floor on top of the old one.
All furniture that is intended to be NOV
ed should be easily movable and easily
cleaned.
Wicker and rattan furniture, though
not so artistic, is lighter and much less
costly than antique wood. With good.
removable hair cushions, it can be made
as comfortable aud far more Clearly than
upholstered furniture.
Furniture should be chosen with these
simple principles in mind-freedom from
dust, minimum of labor for the housewife,
ease for those whoare to use it, and decora-
tive By lis graceful form, its color and by
the charm of the design upon it.
The floors are the basis, both of color
scheme and decoration. The walls, there
fore, should he white or some solid color,
as they form the prettlest back grounds
for ures-indispensable articles in any
refined home. The hall-a comfortable d.
van. few substantial chairs aud table;
a Fireplace and some living plant, as ferns;
rubber tree or palm, would be an ideal
one. We do not realize that growing
plants give to our parlors and diningrooms
touches of refinement that the most eX-
trayagant of purchases will fail to suggest
A concentration of study in color scheme
and select ion of furniture for the parlol
will produce a most pleasing effect.
Do not be in hurry TO fully furnish
your home. The furniture and decoration
OF bed rooms can scarcely be too simple
The dinngroom must have sideboard
china closet, chairs, upholstered in leather
seats, and the round polished wood table
The kitchen has in the past been looked
upon as the dark spot of the household
The architect has been partly to blame
anything was thought to be good enough
for kitchen. But at last he has awaken
ed to the spirit @! the age, and hencefortl
the kitchen will be room far differen
from the close, slow-ceiled, lily. yentilate
place We are familiar with.
But it is to electricity we must look fo
the real spirit in the domestic revolution
which is taking place.
This brings Us TO the all importan
question of ventilation. We ought t,
yentilate our own houses in way I,
make sure OF an abundance of air all the
time. 1t only requires tlue in ever!
room extending from the floor through
the roof.
The house of the future will no more b.
built without adequate ventilation than i
will be built without chimneys, drains ant
windows.