The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17
':PERIOD" O
HI FASHION IN
FURNISHING.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIo-
Orientalism plays no small part in the
everyday furnishings Of modern housea tn
charm lies partly in the unconventional at
mosphere which It hreathss and partly IN
its restfulness. After the clean-cut pfias-
tered beauty Of . classic room or the mag
nihcently eilded delights Of . LSuis boudoiY
the luxury of the East Is soft and sooth-
ing.
Human nature crave, variety, sven IN its
dainty setting, and when grandeur pals and
daintiness grows q bit wearisoms the
piauant sensuousness spicily waited from
some Turkish seragio or an East Indian
senana. il 1t suits the individual mood. is
above the price Of rubies.
Oriental rooms are by no means reasona-
bly, furnished, II they are to be genuine in
detail much time Is required to gather to-
Eether the thousand and ono different pieces
which the habitu0 Of the East would insist
upon having.
| No East Indian room Is complete unless u
IL grsced by a hfdcous Buddha. From q
precious pedestal or a carved teakwood
stand the god looks down upon its little
transplanted world. The walls Of an Indian
room are hung with costly rugs and en-
| broideries ard woven stuffs. Sunlight sell
dom steals into It's draped hooks and cor
ners. Instead braEiers and beaten bra0
| lights cast a dim religious glow that 10 a.
soothing to the eyes and eenseS as the sub
: dued harmony Of colors seen in the furnish
| ings.
Al least one tall brass candlestick. meas
uring several inches across at the base and
standing almost shoulder high. with its
great socket filed with 4 fat. white candle,
should be placed in the vicinity Of the image
| Of the Enlightened One.
CURIOUsLY SHAPED COUCH.
Another characteristic Of the real Indian
| room. and one which IL not always found IN
modern Interpretations. Is the curiously
/ .A~-.J o-,,L -y-5 -SN6 o4pS I~.-, ~
| lows. 1t is neither semic rcu.ar nor straight,
/ nor has 1t any angles. but its outline comes
more nearly 10 being that Of a shallow let
ter IT, than anything else. though the ends
have an outward swing not usually seen IN
the familiar letter. With its covering Of
\ durable coiored dhurries. such q couch b.
comes one OF the main features Of an orr
entail room.
There will be bungalow stools, too, in the
genuine Eastern apartment. with their tiny
legs lifting them only . few inches from
the floor. yet far enough to enable one to
sit cross-leEyed on the soft cushions with
comparative comfort. Beside these typical
furnishings OF the Indian-room. there viii
be more familiar objects Of carved and in
| laid woods.
Tabourettes In scented sandalwood are Q
| charming addition. and the larger shape
with teakwood legs made to hold a Benares
| brass tray suggest cozy little afternoon
! teas, a delightful spot in which to have
after-dinner coffee or perhaps enjoy a quiet
smoke. Sometimes an ebony chair or stool
handsomely wrought. will be found IN such
a room. and the chances are that 1t viii
belong more to Persian periods than Indian,
| though it will take = native to distinguish
the difference.
While there are no freplaces in the Orr
entail zenana. it is generally found convent
emit in this country to make use OF the
modern heat supp!ier and have It decorated
| in Indian fashion. Sometimes the tiles sur-
! rounding the. opening are adorned with .
pettern Of vines. Almost invariably this II
10 II might be said. for the vine il one
Of the symbols Of the East. CoIored glaD
windows display this characteristic ornA-
! menta.ion, and frequently there are. bits Of
eanskr.t intertwinsd with the leaves and
tendrils. It IL quite the thing to have thses
: curious proverbs and sayings nom ne vi