The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09
House Decoration.

So many writers on house decoration are prone to indulge in sharpe criticism of results so far achieved, that 1t is posi- lively refreshing to find a writer willing 10 admit q showing of some improve ment at least Such a writer is Mabel Tuke Priestman. Her recently published book, Art and Economy fin Home Decora- tion" Is filled with hints useful to the home maker, but these suggestions, ex- cellent as they are, need not be touched on here. They are in the book for such as are interested.
 But what may be referred to is the authors generally optimistic attitude. She believes, with reason, that a great advance has been made in recent years as 10 house furnishings, and she has lively hope of even better things to come It has been a long and somewhat tedious process. this elevation of taste. but 1t has been pretty constant. and innumer- able homes show the effect of it.
 Some of the stages of this progress are summarized, not without humor, as fol- lows:
 We have lived through the hand painted craze, when nothing was safe from the would-be artist, whether in the form of a rolling-pin or a coal scuttle.
 Having survived this stage, the drapery epidemic overlook us; tidies' on the chairs, 'draperies on the mantel and throws on the furniture. Curtains of heavy texture, trimmed and looped, |, drained the pocketbook and were the tor ture Of discriminating minds.
 Next the cric-a-brac habit overcame us, Dreadful overmantles with cubby- holes were put on the market. They were naturally overladen with useless vases and imitation Dresden figures"
 To be sure, the author points out, the pillow epidemic is still in full sway, yet there are beautiful pillow covers to select from. WeI-designed furniture. appro- priate to the room where it is intended to be rlaced. may be had for the seeking, and this point is well emphasized. It is lot difficult, nor need to be expensive to carry out a good color scheme by choos- ing a suitable rug, and artistic draperias. Mora and more there Is recognition of the fact that harmony is essential. But, with harmony, the idea of simplicity must be kept in mind. The following words should be remembered by every house. wife:
 Homes are apt to lack simplicity be- cause the furnishings have been chosen without regard for one another. The Isc- lures on the walls, the ornaments on shelves and tables, the carpets and rugs upon the floors. the draperies at windows ana doors contend, as it were, for pre- eminence, and defeat the effect of har- mony. The first step toward i'm proving the home is then, to do away with what is bad. There Is more danger of destroying the appearance of a room by overcrowdng than by bareness We have all felt the futility of adding in or der to improve
 A few principles, the importance of which is clearly understood, and which are acted upon as occasion offers, will ere long, work a happy revolution in sur roundings. True home missionaries are those who, in their own houses, study to make the furnishings serve useful pur- poses, and at the same time, educate the taste. Not only are such environ ments satisfying in themselves, but they are examples, whose influence may be far-reaching.