The San Francisco call., 1910-11-13
Observation-Disclosures

no YOU remember It, the old-fash-
ioned parlor? Does any one who
~ has ever seen it forget IL?
When you entered the room you saw
nothing at all at first, for the blinds
were tightly closed and the shutters.
II not barred, at least fastened ajar
with white linen ropes. This was so
that the sun should not harm the
beautiful insanitary carpet. with Its
large red cabbage roses on blue
ground. and a grayish buff border
all around. dotted with pink rose
buds. However. being Company" and
since 1t was $50 at least, the shutters
were grudgingly opened and you
were allowed to gaze upon the parlor
in all its splendor.
The organ. perhaps: was the first
thing that struck your eye. 1t was a
compact little organ. always we'll pol
ished, though its cherry case matched
absolutely nothing in the room;
and over 1t was thrown a salmon
colored belt drop with a stork
embroidered in gold thread at each
end and a wreath of brightly colored
cut felt flowers in the middle On
the other side Ii was mustard color,
and altogether it afforded the bump
lest of resting places for the china
shepherd and shepherdess. the always
unused white and gold china vase.
and the miniature wooden cabinet.
whose drawers had never held any
thing except the broken knobs as
they fell off All these were "orna-
ments,' serving a purpose purely es-
thetic; and they reclined in various
attitudes upon the organ. looking
down upon its screw stool. upholstered
in crimson plush, with mild disdain
Next to the organ stood a ''tete-a-
tete chair a charming bit of furni-
ture exactly like an armchair with
one arm off. and in which it was alb
solutely impossible ever to be COM
Portable 1t was very useful, how
ever. for seating the minister when
he came to supper This. and all the
rest of the upholstered furniture. was
in the same vicious crimson plush.
On the other side of the organ stood
a music stand. containing Gospel
hymns No. 1 and No. 2. Selections
from the Best Operas "Sacred and
Secular Organ Music and a few
type.
Further along. the mantelpiece leaned
confidingly against the pink and gold
papered wall. Over the mantelpiece fell
lamberquin, a charming bit of fringed
yellow china silk, with a despairing
droop of outraged color conventions.
Here stood the clock-under glass, with
a brass pendulum and striking at
tachment for every quarter of an hour.
On either side stood two tall blue glass
vases containing attenuated specimens
of alfalfa grass. and above hung a
framed coffin plate, with black crepe
mat, by which one might learn that
Jeremiah Dawkins was born July 16,'
1924, and departed this life September
%. ISL.
Then the sofal Not pillow in sight.
but the mahogany woodwork most in
geniously carved, and the stiff arms well
padded with the inevitable crimson
plush And beside this-in easy prox-
unity to the unwary visitor-stood The
side table. covered with a white lnen
cloth and bearing those two sacred
household gods. the photograph album
and the glass case OF waxed fruit and
flowers.
Between this holy spot and the door
there stood a cane-seated chair. gilded
all over and with pink ribbons tied to
its ears. Every chair was well
adorned with a neatly fringed tidy, with
running design in outline stitch in red,
and even this charming gilt trifie was
no exception. And flnally-opposite the
black iron register under the mantel-
ptece-was the double door. hung with
plush curtains. green on one side and