Evening star., 1901-09-28
EASEMENT WINDOWS
BEST NOT ONLY FOR THE SUMMER.
But ALSO FOR WINTER,
So Easy to Keep Clean That They Are
a Decided Comfort Over
All Others,
Written for The Evening Star.

NfitleH loE 1ue EScu4Ok Stdr.
''Yes, since we've had our new French
windows we've decided that we never be-
fore knew what 1t was to be SO cool in
summer and comfortable in winter" said
the lady with the taste for making domes-
tic experiments.
'Indeed!'' her visitor murmured politely
And the effect is so charmingr'
Eyes. Don't you think SOP" chimed in
the enthusiastic one. I'VE wanted bow
windows when we moved into the house
but we found it would cost too much to
make the alterations. Then l heard how
fashionable easement windows were in
country. houses, and It occurred to me to
try them in our place. You see, we have
quite suburban surroundings, with our
nice lawn and shade trees
And how did you go about making al
terations, dear?' her friend inquired. She
was curious to hear whether the lady of
experiments had taken hammer and nails
and chisel and supplied the manual labor
required in making the change or had SIM
ply directed.
''Of course we could not have easements
in all the rooms, but l was determined
that they should go into the sitting room.
When the carpenter came l told him what
L wanted. He was a very intelligent man,
and he entered heart and soul into the
spirit of the idea. He advised me to have
the space between the two end windows
removed. Then he planned to have four
swinging sashes inside. Outside he erected
a frame to hold sliding sashes. There
were to be two sets of these, each set in
cluding upper and a lower sash to move
up and down on simple, easily adjusted pull
leys. In the spring the carpenter came and
removed the outer sashes from their
places We have them standing in the attic.
Probably in a few weeks we shall have
them adjusted again for winter. You can
not imagine how cozy We were last winter.
No cold air from the outside could pene-
trntn thn aDt yyh we
permitted it to do so for the purpose of
ventilation. When we wished to air the
room we would push one outside sash
down a little at the top, open one of the
swinging inside sashes-not the one in
front of the opening-and in a few minutes,
without any discomfort to us, the air in
the apartment would be thoroughly puri-
fed There was no danger of drafts blow
ing directly any one, and the result was
most admirable. The inside saSheS are
mulnoned. 1 have them covered with short
curtains of lace. They thus keep clean
much longer than loose curtains and are
to my eye much neater. Above the win
dow, you see, we have pole, and these
lined cretonne curtains at the side are
drawn over the windows at night when we
light the gas. In the summed, when the
outside sashes are put away, we can open
the swinging sashes, hook them in place
and benefit as much as If one end was
taken out of the sitting room. You see,
we have an awning over the window, and
that protects us during the day from too
much sun. When We do not care for Its
protection it IS rolled up. The sitting
room is long, you see, in proportion to its
width. The windows being at one end Of
the room it was at first perplexing to de-
eide just how to make it cheerful. Don't
you think it a cheerful room now?" asked
So Smart Too.
"It is, indeed, and so smart in appear
ancev' was the hearty response.
YES" from the,tewner of the easement
complacently; "it Us. had the idea from
my architect brotherIm-law. You see
Americans are more than ever copying pic
turesque details in building from the Eng
lish and from the French. Easement win
dows are found in all old French chateaus.
There are many pretty ways of decorating
them. Now, l have ANEW idea for this
winter. l am going to place inexpensive
shades on the outside sashes. Then 1 can
roll them up or down from the inside when
I wish to regulate the sunlight. On the
inside I shall run my sash curtains on met
al rods so that can push them back and
forward. as 1 wish. Under the window /
am going to have a wide seat cushioned
and upholstered in cretonne This will run
across the end Of the room. Piled high
with cushions and with a swinging book
shelf and low table covered with maga-
zines comfortably in It's neighborhood, can
you deny that it will suggest ease?'
But are not the opening and closing of
the sashes great deal of troubleT' the
visitor asked.
mo. You see, the frames are supplied
that fit into each other when they are
closed The lock on each window is a
good one, and a bolt on the inside Of the
left inner sashes holds them to the Win
dow"
1--WE are thinking of having part of our
house remodeled, and I don't know but
what 1 shall try the easements" the Wis
itor remarked on leaving.
A Small Conservatory.
IT am sure If you do you will not regret
1t, my DEAR" her hostess urged cordially.
Had we been building or making an ex-
tensive alteration to the house I could have
managed so much better. I should have
had the outside sash set so as to give me a
small conservatory between them. OF
course could not have kept any but nardy
plants there, but the effect would have
been very pretty. My vines did not grow
well, but by next season they will frame
the window. If l had the window set out
as wished, the vines would have covered
1t at the sides and overhead. Roses and
honeysuckles are what have set out. The
honeysuckle is doing very well. 1t is so
romantic to sit before the open window
in the starlight and have the scent of the
blossoms watt in. I often fancy myself a
character in one Of those historical novels
which are all the rage now"
Dear me! should never have dreamed
you could be romantic the visitor
laughed.
Pm not, but the mullioned lattices Look
SO antique and the secent of the old-fash-
ioned flowers is so overpowering that I
cannot help myself. Imagination will run
riot
Servants Like Them.
"And I am practical. My knowledge
Of historical literature is limited. 1 fear I
shall not be able to count on Illusion
There is one thing upon which you may
depend-your servants will bless the tnno-
walton. My girl tells me she never knew
that windows could be so easily cleaned.
In summer she has only the swinging
sashes In the winter she takes a pail of
water and a broom and washes the outer
set from the garden walk and rinses them
by casting a couple of pailfuls Of warm
water over the surface. Then she dries
them with white cotton cloths. While she
is at work we keepzthe inner sashes closed
and what water Comes Through does not
injure my carpets The Inner sides of the
sashes do not get very much oiled, and she
has only to wipe them down"
You should have mentioned that first"
smiled the caller
"Goodby." And the window lecture was
over. EDITH BATES.
Millinery ani7 Eairdrexsfnr