Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-20
To Save Space in a Flat
Rules for Space Economy That Are Also ADpEcobEe 70
Snad House Ehnn nate All Unnecessary
Articles of Furniture.
BY MARGARET E. sANGsrER.

BY MARGARET Z. SANGSTER.
Living in fiat in a big city is be
ing packed like a sardine in a boz
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
Tor the number OF articles that must
be forced within its limits. The care.
ful packer folds and rolls and squeeze.
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 II. stands on top. and. presto
the thing is done. THAT trunk l.
packed" the owner cries, with a bliss
full relief. turning TO the next thins
TO be done. with a comfortable assur.
ance that II will be what the boys call
a "cinch" compared with the task Of
the trunk
Why do YOU take 50 many dresses
and cucumber yourself with so much
luggage?" demonstrates practica'
aunt from the country. who canno.
comprehend the necessity OF carryin
ones complete wardrobe away when
one goes on a visit why not carry
two trunks2" asks the goOd-naturec
uncle who has plenty OF money, an
docs not see the sense OF being incon.
venicAced in the matter OF boxes thai
may be handled by express and bag.
gage men.
The trunks owner cannot afford two
trunks. and she does not wish to omit
a single pretty costume. Therefore
she endures the agony Of packins
without a murmur.
For the trunk substitute an ordinary
six or eight-room fiat in a tall apart.
ment house. III the householder is sc
well-to-do that he can pay rent fol-
two flats, one above the other. or one
opposite the other. across the hall. his
problem will solve itself: but city
rents are a formidable item Of expense
They are forever soaring upward anc
growing higher They eat a frightfu'
hole into the average income. To live
anywhere near ones business and neal
ones friends one must be resi- sned Il
putting a generous monthly sum int
the landlords pocket The landlord
cannot help himself, for In his turn
he pays tremendous taxes and has ar
ever-increasing outlay in the matter
OF repairs. WOrkmen. from plumbers
TO painters. from carpenters 20 roof
ers, charge what seem TO those whc
foot the bills extortionate prices. II
goes all around the circle To live de
Gently in any large town costs a LOT
OF money This being the case. house
keepers select the fat that offers tho
greatest inducements in light and air
and proceed to settle their belonging.
as conveniently as they can.
The greatest benefit that could pos
sibly happen TO great many fat
jewellers would Re 10 have a big bon
IRE near by in vacant lot while some
despoiler seized upon their goods ane
chstteis and threw them in. Every
body who has kept house over fy,
years owns more furniture and accu
mulates more articles than are abso
lutely essential to comfort and lux
ury. Nobody can bear to part wit,
single thing. This was a weddin.
present. that was bought the day wher
the baby had her first birthday. ths
other was brought by a visiting cons
in from Australia. Somebody has said
was 1t Emerson. Things are in the
saddle and ride mankind" They Ger
tainly are In the saddle. and ride man
kind with a vengeance when the hom.
is in a fat
The first suggestion as 10 savin.
space is the practical one of eIiminat
ing sternly whatever can be spared
The storage warehouse should accom-.
modate every superhnous stick OF
furniture until q tire comes wher
wider quarters and ampier environ
ment may be secured.
A city fat is thing of rnake-shifts
Possibly in one or two rooms a bed
stead with springs. mattresses and
pillows, bsdstead that announce.
itself for what IL Is and stands in full
view all cay long will be tolerated
Ordinarily people who live in flats take
TO folding beds These masquerade by
day as bureaus. book cases, sideboards
and other contriyances. The folding
bed that successfully deceives the
elect has not yet been invented. I'll
looks like a bookcase on casual In
spcction. but the cloven feet peep out
and closer glance reveals the real
ity. Divans and lounges are less OBJ
)ectionable and more popular because
room with divan looks like a liy-
ing-room. library or a drawing-room