The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-03

| better give UP his idea for the present, as
the happiness of the family was far
more important than the qualification OF
his desire. no matter how worthy I be
lieve slight compromise was effected in
the installation of a sofa with a sofr
green velvet covering. but only after a
strong parental objection TO the SOM
breness of the coloring
The difference in point OF view be-
tween the immigrant and his Americana
ed and American born children is one
of the most difficult sociological problems
to approach; the failure TO recognize il
often brings about the most pathetic
family relation.
The principal reason why chairs and
tables on William Morris lines should
take the place of the present domestic
equipment is of course that of utility. OF
economic expediency. 1t stands 10 reason
for instance, that the elimination of IN
necessary and meaningless ornamental
ton from simple homes is desirable be-
cause the more pretentious furniture re.
quires greater care. The more solidly
! built lasts from three to five times al
long as the other kind and is alwaya
cleaner. The initial cost of the two
kinds is about the same, though as the
years go on the actual difference in worth
becomes more and more marked. An
other reason why the gaudier furnishings
are the more expensive lies in the fet,
tering conception of the set as the unit
A set OF furniture commonly consists OF
five pieces. four chairs and a sofa. The
subsection OF the poorer classes to this
idea is remarkable. To attain the dignE
~ that goes with the ownership Of ser
extremely one-sided transactions are en-
tered into with instalment sharks and
much misery exists until the final pay.
ment is squeezed out. With the introduc
ton of the common sense furniture this
tyranny viii be overcome, for the new
movement teaches not to buy any more
pieces of furniture than are absolutely
necessary.
THE same criticisms apply in the mat
ter of wall and ceiling decorations as III
the case of movable furniture. Cheap.
fiimsy bric-a-brac. garish wallpaper anu
other atrocities prevail One tenement
parIor that l once visited had its cell
ing covered with an unbeautiful collec-
ton of flying cupids. 1 appealed to the
occupant TO substitute a more artistic
decoration. which would cost at the mosl
about 3. He protested indignantly. de-
claring that the masterpiece had cost
him $15
More and more the observer may sec
the contrast between the city houses and
the country homes Of the well-to-do. The
city house is primarily intended for show.
the country house for comfort and rest
It is not strange. therefore to find the
less fortunate classes OF society initiating
the city model which they see rather than
the country cottages which they do nor
see. That, IN part, is Why quarters II.
tenements often resemble places OF
amusement rather than homes
There is A great chance 10 do good By
correcting this asthetic ard economic
stigma tism. Much indirectly has already
been done by the Nurses Settlement. the
Friendly Aid House. the University Set.
tiement, the College Settlement and other
institutions with the same common aim
The opening OF q shop with common
sense furniture in a thickiy settled dis
trict OF this city would. I have no doubt.
prove successful. II prudently managed
and begun on a small scale.
That a 1--we interest is being taken by
settlement workers in this project i
shown by a letter written to Charities
by Mrs. Mary Kingsbury Simknovitch.
who viii conduct the recently Incorporate
ed settlement in Greenwich village. Mrs
Simkhovitch says n part:
No one who visits tenement houses
day after day can help being struck With
the singular lack Of adaptation % ordf-
nary furniture 70 tenement house condi
tons. an sure that II azy benevoiently
inclined moneyed person wanted 20 try
an Interesting experiment. with no hop
for Interest on capital invested during the
inception % the unrdertaxiaE. no create
entertainment could Be obtained thas.
b setting up q tenement furnishing sho1,
on model lines Some ore with
ingenuity. ;asts. and practical sense
ought certainly 70 work out this l6ez. ?
believe Il couid Be made 20 pay after the
initial objections 70 novelty xsre over
come '-Ne~ YORK Evening Post