The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-21

~ NE does not need TO 60 TO
medical science TO learn that
certain hangings produce GER
tain impressions on the mind
A brain specialist Is said 10
have declared that a sensitive person
living I'm scarlet room will soon show
the effect In increasing irritability
which may end in madness. Dark blue
walls and furnishings. every one
knows. are distinctly depressing.
The choice of satisfactory wall nm
fish is more difficult matter than IL
appears 20 be. Many pretty room IL
spoiled because the tints are combined
unskillfully. Wall papers or wall fab
rics are intended TO serve as back
grounds for furniture and pictures. but
n frequently happens that walls are
covered with patterns that are either
inharmonious or too conspicuous.
In selecting paper the size of the
room. it's use and the position OF frieze
and dado should be considered. When
the walls are to be adorned with pic
lures. particularly with paintings.
plain finish is the most artistic. PAINT
ed or stenciled decorations may be APP
piled TO the frieze. the depth OF which
should be determined by the height OF
the room. Eighteen inches TO three
feet in width may be allowed a frieze.
When a frieZe narrower than the
height OF the room justifies has been
put on the walls. II may be supple
mented below by a plain painted band
The picture rod always divides the up
per wall decoration from the paper.
Dadoes are no longer the style ex'
cept in halls and on staircases, though
a dado takes the place of wainscoting
in rooms filled with dark furniture and
lined with light paper. for a striking
contrast between the outlines OF chairs
and tables and a wall is not pleasing
The adoption of dado permits the use
of dark furniture in a room finished In
delicate tints above the backs of the
chairs. Wood or imitation Of wood
makes the best dado. Lincrusta in
simple and unpretentious patterns also
looks well. A substantial wainscoting
dado WIN protect that part of the wall
which is most exposed TO hard usage.
When a family takes possession of a
new house. they often decide that cer-
tain rooms shall be papered i'm certain
ways because the colors selected Will
harmonize with the hangings, the cur
tains or the carpet or because certain
colors are fashionable. For instance
they may determine that the library
which is a south room, shall be papered
with bright red and hung with red dra-
peries. The sun pours into the win
dows all day. and the effect is unsatis-
factory. The garishness Of the coloring
is apparent even TO the least sensitive
taste and consequently the room is
Stunned. especially In summer. when
the apartment suggests nothing so
much as the interior of blast furnace.
Had the same red paper been placed in
an apartment having northern ex-
posure and a few windows through
which the sunlight casts only Indirect
rays the result would have been quite
different. for brilliant colors should
never be exploited In glaring lights.
The rule of the skillful decorator is 10
put no warm tinted papers or fabrics
on south or west rooms. White. green
and blue are most pleasing in such To-
cations. Rooms which face the north
may be lined with red, pink or yellow.
Large patterned papers do not look
well on small rooms For dining room
or library papers which have a dull.
subdued appearance are most satisfac-
tory. Plain tinted surfaces are best
for bedroom and parlor walls.