The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07

Copyright, 1908, by W. M. Butterhelo)
 The discussion over the summer nome, which always opened with the nrst appear nnce of warm weather, only to be closed when the leaves sifted to earth in the fall, com menced early this year In consequence or the warm weather in March. The Browns had long wanted a home in the country, where the summer months could be spent Tn ease and comfort, but batter familias had never been in financial position to listen to these discussions with that degree of Interest which would warrant their coming to sub stantial and satisfying conclusion. rms year, however, he displayed rather a sur prising desire to enter with the family inso these house talks" With this snow ol III. terest sundry envelope backs were brought intd requistion, and after numerous col umns of figures were added and reaodeo, 10 the dlscomfiture of the surprised ana eApec- tant household, 1t was announced that 1T tne family were willing to locate upon hait acre in Westchester county he could spare $2, 600 for the house and the furniture.
 Assured that at last the summer home was to be theirs pandemonium reigned. Instantly each member of the family discovered latent abilities in house engineering and decoration undreamed of before. Originality, or, rather, unconscious imitation, was a demon of the air filling each head with suggestions that must be heard and considered. All must be embodied in the new house, Tom Is an archi- tect and before the summer home loomed a surety on the horizon was looked upon as an authority In house construction; yet. as Is usual in the experience of all architects at this stage of house building, any suggestion which he advanced was received coldly.
 Mabel who is an artist, buys all sorts Of odd and curious things, with the result that her room looks like junk shop. She pleaded earnestly that each room of the new house should represent distinct period, citing the Newrich house as m example. And besides this remark was intended for Tom--these people have lots and lots of money and should know how to build and furnish a house You see, Tom had nothing to do with the Newrieh house. Clara, who Is older than Mabel, mnin- tained that a person who made an English basement house look like a curiosity shop was not one who should be taken as an au- thority on house furnishing. Why, there were a Flemish dining room, Turkish corners, Louis XVI. drawing room, Q Japanese hall, Colonial bedroom. and goodness knows what else in that English basementl
 NO BRACKETS OR FRILLs
 Tom. finding an opportunity caused by the astonishment at this outburst, said that con siderable dissatisfaction was freely ex- our suburban houses The architects de- pended in most cases upon startling effects us proof of their ability in house construc- tion Several styles of architecture were often used in the same building, while in other cases no style of any sort could be traced in the hodgepodgy, gingerbready refructures This he knew was not always the fault of the architect. bat, although the fault might occasionally lie with the patron, it was in most instances Q lack of good Judg- ,rcnt and tnstafrl feciing in the nrnfeSs'onal