Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03
Room for Grandma

all cares and worries incidental to the hur-
ried and restless life of the day were by
common accord left outside that door when
any one entered 1t. 1t was the abode OF
peace-rrfd calm. and its quaint furnishings
of bygone time but added to its pleasant
ness. He does not tell us exactly what
the furnishings were, but We gather that
everything there had its reason for being
in some cherished remembrance or in its
comfort and usefulness. 1t calls up pic
ture pleasant as 1t is unusual in these
days when all is for show.
In one of the finest mansions in New York
Is Just such room. 1t belonged to the old
Granddaughter who could never forget her
own simple life and It's calm delights. Her
son would never allow that precious room
to lose one of its cherished pieces of furni-
ture. The room was kept in order so long
aS he lived, and when weary of the stress
and storm of being a millionaire h would
go to this room, away up IN the BACK OF toe
house, where the sun came streaming IN
and the old style chimney gave its grateful
warmth cold days, and there he would
spend the only peaceful hours of his busy
day.
1t is not only quite possible, but COMPARE
lively easy TO create in any house of rea-
Sonable dimensions grandma ther
ROOM" which should be the haven OF peace
and quiet comfort for every member OF
family. y Dtu rOOHl no Hidllfi no" tSbiii7
tily it is furnished; parlor, no matter how
magnificently endowed, no library, with It's
conventional furnishings. can ever quite MI
the longing for simplicity in the hearts of
almost every member of a family, even the
ambitious mother or society devotee.
1t is just here that the grandmothers
room would be a comfort and a place Of
refuge where everything would speak OF
old DAYS and restfulnesS and simplicity. II
the grandmother is there to b.ess the place
with her sweet presence, so much the pet
ter for all: but if she has gone beyond, then
the hallowed associations of her life ana
love would make it still dearer.
To return to the room spoken of as eX-
listing in the New York mansion. 1t Is on
the top floor at the back of the house, so
as to be away from the street noises and to
have the southern exposure. The windows
have deep embrasures, and these are hlled
with pots of Towering plants. kept fresh
and bright all the year around. The win
dows have half curtains of white muslin
and there are also red moreen CURTAINS,
which reach the floor. On the floor is
faded rag carpet, which was seWed and
woven by those patient hands in their youth
before the son became a millionaire.
Between the windows is a great fireplace.
with a quaint white marble chimney piece
in the style of two or three generations
ago. There is spinning wheel and an old
three generations. = couple of clawfoot
tables and a funny little workStand, with
deep bag beneath to hold scraps, are there.
and fastened to one side is metal bird
with a spring. This is in such position
that it is just right to hold the work in its
beak, thus keeping the cloth smooth and
preventing the seam from pickering. On
the back of the bird is a little red velvet
cushion for needles. 7>N.e.
There is an old-fashioned low chair in
which the grandmother had rocked all her
own and her sons babies A bag for work
and incidentally for peppermints-hangs
at one side. In one corner is a high post
bed with a patchwork quilt over it. There
is a red moreen curtain all around but
drawn back to show the fat pillows
Chairs, an old-fashioned dresser and big
bureau of roomy drawers and solid make
are there. all speaking Of other times when
veneer was unknown and wood was sold for
just what 1t was.
BY the side of the chimney and oppo-
site the rocking chair is a deep arm
chair with a little hair-covered footstooi.
and by the side OF 1t Is a small table with
a whole array of pipes and tobacco jugs,
match holders and all that goes to make a
smoker happy.
There few families who cannot find
enough of the old and half-forgotten things
to furnish Of these deSra BILE places
The boys and girls too, would appreciate it.
Here they could pop corn and make tary,
things interdicted in the homes of most
wealthy people. Here is a coy place for
the daughters to sew and make the pretty
little Christmas and New Year gifts unseen
by the parents and friends for whom they
are intended.
If, however, there is no old shioned fur
niture in the attic. there are stores enough
where all sorts of old things can be found,
and rather than. have no grandmother's
room it would be well to purchase the nee
essary things.
The first is the tall clock, the next the
spinning wheel and then the rag carpet
and even this can now be purcha sed, for
there are many demands for rag carpet
II the house Is not very large let one of
the girls arrange her room after this fash
ion. and ii is certain that every one In the
house will find it a favorite place.
If there is no money with which to buy
antiques OF the dealers in those things a
clever boy can make the tables and chairs
and also big settle. Bureaus and other
fancful things which require too fine work
manship can be dispensed with. Space and
comfort should be the first considerat ton
1t is quite possible for boys and even girls
to make deep and coy armchairs from bar
re!s; it is not so difficult as 1t appears. To