The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-09-21
To Saue Space in a Flat.
Rules for Space Economy That Are Also Applicable to
a Small House, Eliminate All Unnecessary
Articles of Furniture.
BY MARGARET E. sANGsTER:


Living in fiat in big city is be-
Ing packed like a sardine in box
with others packed equally as close
and equally requiring to save space.
You know how it feels to stand be-
side trunk that is wholly inadequate
for the number of articles that must
be forced within it's limits. The care
full packer folds and rolls and squeezes
and takes advantage of every tiny
vacancy until not an atom of room is
left. When the trunk is full to reple-
ton and the trays refuse to let the
cover fall into place, there is rear
rangement, perhaps more adjustment
and finally somebody having coaxed
the reluctant lid to approach the lock,
jumps ON it, stands on top, and, presto!
the thing Is done. THAT trunk is
packed" the owner cries, with bliss
full relief, turning to the next thing
to be done, with a comfortable assur-
ance that it will be what the boys call
"cinch" compared with the task Of
the trunk.
why do you take so many dresses
and cucumber yourself with SO much
luggage?' demonstrates a practical
aunt from the country, who cannot
comprehend the necessity of carrying
ones complete wardrobe away when
one goes on visit. "Why not carry
two trunks?" asks the good-natured
uncle who has plenty of money, and
does not see the sense of being incon-
venienced in the matter of boxes that
may be handled by express and bag
gage men.
The trunks owner cannot afford two
trunks, and she does not wish to omit
single pretty costume. Therefore
she endures the agony Of packing
without a murmur.
For the trunk substitute an ordinary
six or eight-room fiat in tall apart
ment house. If the householder is so
well-to-do that he can pay rent for
two flats, one above the other, or one
opposite the other, across the hall, his
problem will solve itself; but city
rents are formidable item of expense.
They are forever soaring upward and
growing higher. They eat a frightful
hole into the average income. To live
anywhere near ones business and near
ones friends one must be resigned to
putting generous monthly sum into
the landlords pocket. The landlord
cannot help himself, for in his turn
he pays tremendous taxes and has an
ever-increasing outlay in the matter
Of repairs. Workmen, from plumbers
to painters, from carpenters to roof
ers, charge what seem to those who
foot the bills extortionate prices. 1t
goes all around the circle. To live de-
Gently in any large town costs q lot
of money. This being. the case, house
keepers select the tat that offers the
greatest inducements in light and air,
and proceed to settle their belongings
as conveniently as they can.
The greatest benefit that could pos
sibly happen to a great many: fiat
jewellers would be to have big bon
fire near by in vacant lot while some
despoiler seized upon their goods and
chattels and threw them in. Every
body who has kept house over five
years owns more furniture and accu-
mulates more articles than are abso-,
lutely essential to comfort and lux
ury. Nobody can bear. to part with
single thing. This was a wedding
present, that was bought the day when
the baby had her, first birthday; the
other was brought, by a visiting cous-
In from Australia, Somebody has said,
was It Emerson, Things are in the
saddle and ride mankind They GER
tainly are In the. saddle, and ride man
kind with vengeance when the home
is in a fiat. -. Il r ), .Et: ri
:.2 - . - : :si u ~ pa 4. l4<a
The first suggestion az to h saving
space is the practical one o. eliminat,
ing sternly whatever can be spared.
The storage warehouse should accom-
modate every superfluous stick Of
furniture until time comes :: when
wider quarters and ampler environ
ment may be secured. i. Vii. H.. n 4s=..
A city fiat IS thing Of make-shifts.
Possibly in one or two rooms q bed
stead with springs, mattresses and
pillows, q bedstead 1, that announces
itself for what It IS and. starts IL full