Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-06-01

'c'i'''iiiiNo S-iNAl SltdHItIS DdSSiHS Oh
their way across the ocean. into which
the bay poured its waters. The at
mosphere of the place was permeated
with repose.
When one is obliged to thread his
way gingerly through a drawing-room
that is filled to the overflow with
easels and statues and busts and spin
dle-legged tables and fragile chairs
and obtrusive footstools, in danger
every second of stumbling or knock
ing something over. things are wrong
with that setting.
Another mistake is to have too little
light Why darkness and gloom
should be sought in any portion of
house where people must live, has al
ways been to me nunsolvable problem
Mysterious corners are in order in
cob-webbed attic or an underground
cellar, but they are seriously out OF
place in pleasant room into which
visitors are ushered and which is sup
posed to be ralIying spot for me
family.
Light does no harm. Although the
strong rays of the sun may somewhat
impair the first freshness of uphol-
stery, yet they tone down crudeness
of color, and in the end are an i'm
provement Throw open the windows
and glorify the Toom,' was the cheer
full order for the day of Sydney Smith
Ones spirits are apt to so down in a
dull, dark crypt-like room; they rise
to sparkle and effervescence when the
sunbeams come dancing in, and the
house looks glad and gay.
1t is wonderful how ones things re-
spond to ones mood. Certain easy
chairs welcome you to their embrace
when you are tired out and rest you
almost as if they knew they were do
ing it; they seem to have caught the
spirit of the house, and have a per-
sonality of their own.
Certain chairs and footstools belong
to certain people. ] knew a dear old
lady, blind tor years, who always oc-
cupied one corner OF large and com
Portable sofa Children and grand
children were careful not 10 usurp this
throne of the serene and beautiful
matron, who dwelt in the dark, but
liked TO have everything CHEEKY about
her. Sometimes stranger. not know
ing the traditions of the home, would
install herself in the mothers place,
but was always gently conducted TO
another seat. The setting of that
house was not perfect unless the moth
er took her accustomed place. When
she was gone forever, the mistress of
the house reaTranged every room, and
carried that sofa to another part of her
domain. She felt that, for awhile at
least, no one else could sit there; the
old sofa in her thought was sacred and
would almost feel profaned if used by
others than the one to whom il had
belonged, through so many pleasant
seasons.
All this Of course is sentiment, and
Mr. Gradgrind does not understand it;
with his incessant demand for facts |
and statistics, he cannot enter into the |
joy that comes from feeling. Yet feel
ing is the chrism of life
1t is possible JC make too much of |
life's setting. as ! have said, and to |
spend 50 much labor on eXternals that |
there is no time for satisfaction in the !
inner life, but while women continue |
to be queens regnant in their homes, |
they will take pleasure in having the |
homes beautiful, neat, harmonious,
and to some degree sumptuous 1t is
their privilege thus to do. 4 home is
not penitentiarys nor a counting |
room, nor a shop; it is, as | said at
first, the background whence we issue
into the open for business or pleasure. !
1t is our fortress against all invaders.
our refuge in distress In the day of
AMI disaster. we hide our
selves at home. In the day of triumph
and good fortune, we invite our friends
TO rejoice with us there We are with
in the bounds Of reason in making the
setting of a home as beautiful as we
can.