New-York tribune., 1903-03-17
GIRLS AID THEIR ROOMS.
Tawdry Decorations Should Be BaniAhed-
Beautiful Effects Consistent With
Economy.

An obserVant instructor in ons Of the large col
ieges for women comments wisely and well on
the decoration OF college rooms and the comment
applies also with equal force to the room of the
average girl to-day. Some valiant spirit should
start league for the improvement Of decoration.
writes the observer, with the aim by example and
precept and ceaseless effort to Danish from rooms
posters, fish nets full Of photographs. unframed
casual pictures. second rate MadonnaS and taWdry
decorations of all kinds. We need some among
to teach US the beauty and value Of open
spaces walls. to help US to the appreciation
which the Japanese. with their inner asthetic
standards. have or bringing into relief single
beautiful object or flower. by letting 1t stand IN
significant isolation. 1t matters OF how little We
have In our rooms provided that little mas excel
lence and distinction. It IL to be expected, IN q
certain sense that college women shall form
part of the cultivated class in America that theH
shall set standards for others who have not had
the liberal training and refining Of intellectual
and spiritual fibre which advanced education is
supposed to give. But If the rooms of our COL
lege students at all index to the aesthetic
feeling of educated class, then they reveal
must be honest with ourselves-a barbaric de-
light in gewgaws. in cIashing colors, in wild pro-
Some one remOnstrates Many girls ear cs5not to1fa af
can at least keep their rooms from being glutted
with cheap things There is s9mefnins poo Pe
mains frankly bare. who has in it only the U rew
saVe PairIy ample ali aIoWances the exercise Of
little Judgment would show that 6eautfui M cs ene6es @
eide color scheme and keep her purchases 6d .b in
ions. Every girl can banish ali but three or, at
most four photographs OF friends: or put out dif-
ferent photographs in rotation. gince any consid-
erable array IS fatal TO room Every g1Ti gtia can
decorat1on-that a rug should run parallel to the
four lines Of the floor space, and should never
g couch. ugly shapeless with a Prodigai heap
Of cushions into something that shall have beauty
through its restraint and severity Of outline. Sc
verify of hue-that is the watchword for those
who care to give their distinction.
'NOur rooms are. in a way, the outward vestuEe
Of lives, and should be made to express the
things hold dear In dress make a stand
for certain things; will not take up the silly
fashions Of the street. Why take UP the fashions
OF the street in our rooms3 Why not put our per per-
sonaI impress with fastidous care and selection
on that which forms the background OF our 1fef
It always II really beautiful pictures help
live higher plane, as II 1t were less easy
to have mean and sordd thoughts IN their presence
We ought to bear testimony to our faith IN the
beautiful by having at least visible symbol Of
it in room to solace or admonish Us at our
need. If are poor and have but one thing
let it stand in the enlarged dignity IT viii have
by it's refusal. its unqualified refusal to mate with
commonness and tawdriness."