Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-01
A HARD WOOD FLOOR.
Directions for Staining or Covering
 Them in Summer Homes

Directions for Staining or Covering
 Them in Summer Homes.
 Now that country houses are be- ginning to require attention, a few words about the treatment of the floors may not be amiss. Of course, If mating is used (and closely WOW en India mating, with rugs, is all ways pretty and in good taste) the method of procedure is easy enough. One has only to go and buy the mat ting and have it laid down; but if it is a question of wooden floors there are many pros and cons on the sub ject, and it is often the case that the local painter, who is always insistent about his ideas knows nothing what ever about it.
 Unless the floors are new and we'll laid, stain improves them greatly, and even in a new house where the hard wood floors are fresh and clean, some rooms look better stained. For the drawing rooms perhaps the finish used on parquet floors is the best, i. e. white shellac and afterward wax, the first coat of shellac acting as a filler, the second as varnish. After this the wax is evenly applied with a rag, left to dry several hours(the longer the better) then polish with the heavy floor brush that comes for the purpose. Then 9 flannel cloth is laid on the floor the brush put upon it to give it weight, and the floor is again polished to give It lustre. After this the floors are cas- fly kept bright by being polished once a week with the flannel under the heavy floor brush, which slides along easily and dusted daily after sweeping with an-ordinary broom, over which Is pinned woolen cloth.
 Stains made at home are more satis- factory than those already mixed as the latter are apt to be too deep and
 pa1nty." Burnt sienna diluted with turpenttne makes a beautiful mahog any stain, and if it is gently wiped off with rag before 1t dries the grain of the wood shows beautifully. This makes particularly good stain for dining room or library.
 Raw sienna, which is also q trans parent color, gives either a fine. sum- ny yellow or an orange effect. accord ing to the amount of turpentine used for diluting, and is applied in inc same way For country houses this is the best color for halls, as it does not show the print of dusty or muddy feet as much as darker stain would do. TOT bedrooms, too, there is no better staln, as 1t accords with everything.
 Prussian blue has great possibilities as stain, but it must be treated with the greatest care, as it is most power Tul color. and very little goes a great way; but some of the effects produced Dy 1t are lovely. On a yellow nine noor especially if the wood is chosen TOT US grain. it gives the effect of wat CT. With blue and green shadows. and with peacock blue hangings, it is in perfect accord.
 Crimson lake is another effective stain. These are all made in the same way The ordinary mixed Daint is used diluted with turpentine-it can either be made very thin, which will render 1t transparent, or, if a darker enect Is desired, it can be put on thicker and rubbed off with rag 'Yandyke brown, although not trans parent color, may be applied in the same way as a stain It looks like black walnut and even white gives a soft, creamy effect that is very pretty.
 After they are stained, floors should be vanished. This is by far the best way to keep wooden floors. but q var nished floor will look well if wiped off with kerosene once week. Oil makes It sticky and darkens 1t. AIilk-which some people use-brings flies and wa ter ruins it.-Exchange.