The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-05

The question of the lighting of /
house is one that should be carefully
considered by all women who are plan
ming new homes, as if this important
question is decided rightly in the first
place, only minor alterations will be
satisfactory. Many Others, however,
must grapple with this problem, for
many mistakes have been made that
should be rectified as soon as discov-
cred. A bad light is not only bad for
the eyesiight,i but is likely to mar the
effect OF apartments otherwise quite
perfect.
Lille Hamilton French makes some
valuable suggestions on this subject in
her volume, ''Homes and Their Decora-
tion.' Miss French says:
For beauty and charm and softness,
there is nothing like a candle, It is
always becoming. It never takes the
color out Of room and always adds
a note Of elegance to it. A candle is
always picturesque, too, because it al
ways adds varieties Of darks and lights
people think to gain the same effect
with tiny lamps set with porcelain cyl
inders and shaped like candles. The
quality of the light is never the same.
They do not take the place of candles,
for with candle there is a vibration,
a color, a quality which nothing else
can emulate. Brass sconces and can
dies about the walls of a room, and
candles on tables and mantel Shelves
put a room at it's best at once. Turn
up a gasjet, protected by a white glass
globe, and all the charm is dispelled
| The color fees from sofa cushions and
| draperies and a favorite tone in a pic
ture takes another hue. Nothing is the
same, Next to the sunlight, indeed, the
most beautiful light is that Of the can
die.
! The aim of the manufacturer or de-
signer of any shade is to produce with
gas, lamp or electric light the softest
and clearest tones, those that will not
destroy the color Of room, affict the
eyes or clash with the general scheme.
To accomplish this they study to pro-
duce shad which will look as well
by day as by night, and which, for all
its beauty Of color and design, will not
prevent the light from coming thru
with clear and steady radiance. This is
done with choice of materials and by
many and careful experiments, and the
success Of certain women who have
made the designing of lampshades their
profession has been due to the fact that
they neglected none Of these points.
Present fashion demands that all
the lamps or lights in any room shall
IoAio" oIo SoHoI al oCleLHe LII DOIu COL
or and design. Variety is lent sim
ply by the difference in Sizes The
mixing Of two or three fashions or pc
RODS in shades is as bad as the mixing
of fashions anywhere else. . -
l., It would be idle to discuss with great
detail special patterns in lamp shades
since the fashion changes from year to
year. There is this thing only to be
said: No lampshade should be out OF
key with its environment, A shade OF
lace ruff1es and flowers is inappropriate
in a den or library. Its very nature
gives it an ephemeral value, and il
would never be appropriate except in
houses, the owners Of which are able tc
rid themselves Of it when shabby with
out thought Of the cost. Like all fadeC
fnery, these shades are Objectionable
the moment their first freshness disap
pears.
Altho the fashion may change from
season to season, the problem of color!
: never alters, and must always confron
the householder. On some bronze lamps
) cut metal shades are seen with coloret
| silk Innings. The plain linen shade
pleated and edged with silk fringe, ha
outlasted many whims and changes il
taste. Sometimes the linen is plain
again it is stamped with a floral design
These lamp shades suit many divers,
| conditions and prove the most satisfac
tory for everyday use.
A red shade is apt to Offend 1
lacks refinement. Yellow is the mos
satisfactory.
When there is electricity in tn,
house, candelabra are often utilized fo