The Washington times., 1906-10-18

A room without books is like a face
that is wanting in expression The fea-
lures may be good. Ii may even be beau
tiful. but il fails to please completely,
and the more one sees Of 1t the strong
ct grows the consciousness Of some
thing missing. Books that you may
carry 10 the fire and hold readily in
your hands are the most useful after
all. pronounced DR.. Johnson, and every
room should have its supply of such
books. some as temporary visitors, some
as permanent and honored inmates.
Even when the house has its library.
provision must be made for the housing
Of these literary friends. but in this case
the bulk OF ones books having their
local habitatiou definitely fixed the re
vOlving bookcase. the book trough. so
convenient for standing by the elbow
Of an easy chair. or, at most. low
bookshelf fitted into some convenient
corner viii do all that is necessary. 1t
Is when the size of the house does not
permit OF the books having a room 70
themselves that .he method OF housing
them becomes more OF less of "A prob
lem. The best way OF studying the ques-
tion under these circumstances IS from
its decorative as we'll as it's Unitarian
aspect Tor II The arrangements for stor-
ing books can be brought into line with
a particular scheme Of decoration, a
double object viii have been achieved
iu d most satisfactory way. that OF
themselves they add charm 70 their sur
TUundings is certainly sufficient induce
meut Tor giving them house room ia the
way that IS most pleasing TO the eye.
IL the hresldc Is the spot par excel
lence for the thorough enjoyment OF au
hour S reading, the window Is It's eQuiV-
alent In summer, especially II IL can be
thrown open To tEc Testful sights and
sounds OF garden or fields. Such win
dow In an unpretentOus suburban home
was by the ARRANGEMENT OF the book
shelves about IL rescued from The nope
leSsly commonplace and made into
delightful feature Of the room II was
just an ordinary window set flush
with the wall. and had no pleasing
deep window Sill. There were no hooks
OF TcCcsses in the long straight wall
space on either side Of ID. nothing, in
short 10 give a hint Of artistic uOssi-
ever. was book lover, and one of her
nrst considerations was as TO how her
books We're best 10 be disposed OF. The
length OF wall on the window side OF
teged obvious advantages OF position.
Du- straight, uniform bookcases 10 was
felt az Cnce would only emphasize the
tendency L. mOnOtOny already so APP
parent After careful thought IL was
decided 10 plan the bookcases so as. IN
tie first instance, 10 give a recessed
effect 20 the window. and this was done
by building them with hlgH ends at
either side of the easement, the sides
being pdneled 20 match the woodwork
below the window and ia other parts of
the room. A deep wiHdOw embrasure
was thus formed, which comfortably
cushioned and covered with quantity
designed linen, made truly inviting
looking seat The high ends OF the
bookcases formed useful cupb0ards as
/ they were inClosed below for the stor-
ing or music, portfolios OF eugravin gs
and such like DcCoratively. they were
a Eain. for the four wide boOksheiVes
which occupied most of the wall length
/ being considerably lower, the monot-
onOus effect OF long. uubrOken line
was avoided, while In all its parts the
bookcase was low enough To admit OF
/ the top being used as a shelf for china
and ornaments
Where the wal terminated AT the
[ door the low case was continued TO
I the end. but at the other side Of the
window Il ended with a three-cornered
/ cupboard of the same height as those
/ at the window ends. fitting into the
angle. and filled with blue china. The
| shelves were stained to the medium oak
I color OF the rest of the woodwork. and
/ the whole thing had the air Of being a
/ part of the room, which was "a delight
( ful large size sitting room. half boudOir,
/ half study, instead Of appearing as a
! sort of afterthought, added because
! the books had To be disposed Of. II was
AN acknowledgment Of the esteem in
/ which the books were held. and of thf
/ fact that they were looked upon by
/ their owner. not as accidental acCessO-
/ ries but as the principal item in the
contents Of the room.
/ In "a small room where ground space
/ is precious, the bookshelves can be run
all around the walls at frieZe or dadC
! height As books are never nXed
quantity with the book lover. but are
/ possessions that are always multiplying
! il would bc "a good plan In adopting this
/ idea 20 arrange the first shelf at sEcl
a height that one OF even two could
/ be added above IL as required. In this
case the deepest shelf should be at the
/ top The method has been successfully
: carried out with three b0Okshelves, auC
a cupboard above these the enect wa
! excellent. to say nothing OF the dengnt
4 ful amount Of room that was secured
/ There should always be books In
/ bedroom. where so many quiet moments