The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-02

"
NA phase in the artistic develop
wv ment of this country-an
awakening to the common
place conditions that exist in
the majority of our homes. Leaving
architecture out of the question-in
which there has been notable progress
made during the past quarter century
there are vital needs in the interiors of
our houses that are inadequately met.
reaches a complete attainment; school
OF experience from which there is no
graduation. Reliable methods, estab-
Hshed forms, convincing rules, may be
carefully studied and well assimilated,
yet still be incapable of execution from
the differentiation of one home from an
other.
Perfectly appointed homes are not
enough in evidence. to reveal, by. con-
1or III type. The consciousness of I'M
successful achievement, therefore, must
come from another source, an enlight-
ened sense of the real needs of the
household and knowledge of the best
means of meeting them.
Many of the mistakes that are seen
in house furnishing may be traced to a
| misconception Of what is necessary and
vital for the home To some persons
| this is an accumulation Of objects with
out due regard to either use or beauty.
thlngs' is responsible for the some
what humorous, partly pathetic, rum
mage sales that are in progress in this
country; for over-tlled dwellings. like
shops too heavily stocked with goods
make recurrent eliminations imperative
Another error in providing what is
suitable and essential may be classed
as, misfit furnishing, denoting lack of
originality and paucity of ideas, and
winch, leaning upon certain good effects
observed in one home (the result of
selections made for its particular re:
qulrements) appears as much out of
Keeping when attempted elsewhere as
the custom made apparel of one mar
when fitted upon the next.
Comforts Overlooked.
Failure to accomplish the best in fit
ting up house can sometimes be traced
to disproportionate, ill-regulated ex
penditures. An oriental rug is pur
chased at high cost because cit wi
last forever.' and the rest of tn
room is set forth with cheap furnitur
that, makes the floor covering inhar
an undisciplined enthusiasm for an
tiques at bargain prices leaves tn
greater share of the furnishings in a.
J, homogeneous combination.
} g The choice Of the ornamental to tn
!. exclusion of the useful has not ende
with Rosamond and her purple jal
Such everyday comforts as table liner
bedding and bathroom fixtures are i
some homes set aside for the indu]
gence Of lace curtains, pictures, bronze
; and bric-a- brac.
Amidst much that is disheartenin
, in the field Of household art, there
an encouraging element in the increas
ing number of homemakers endowe
!, with natural taste, intelligence and
progressive spirit. With these attribute
even small proportion of moderat
income may be so wisely dispensed tia
i the entire house will develop in ha
monious ways, with every problel
nicely considered and the balance fal
ing to practical quality or artistic e
feet, according to the relative impor
ance of each.
!, Taking a rapid survey thru the hou!
y with an eye to things needful, and tt
. aim to present them in an uncostly ar
. pleasing way, the hall comes into fir
. consideration. Color effect is here tt
E most instant and insistent in giving
: hospitable or an inhospitable impre
:, sion. Red halls have been overdone
4 hotels and apartments where the col
s was applied to walls, floors and fur1
l. ture, but in the more elastic field of
e private house this color may be init
f duced in a more subtle treatment. T.
wall covering may be a harmonic