The Detroit times., 1911-10-25
fBy EVELYN MARIE STUART.

Thy EVELYN MARIE STUART.
Copyrighted 1911. BY j. Robinson.
One OF the hopeful signs OF the
lines is the Improvement in taste TO
be| noted In the American home of
today over that of few decades ago.
TIE keynote of this happy strain
y simplicity. the substantial. unpre-
tentious, honestly made and sparingly
adorned In all things. replacing the
horid, illy-constructed and over-ornate
fets, which enjoyed a passing popn-
+ laNty from the day when the perfec-
ti4 OF machinery made elaboration
of*detail easy, to the day when good
ta4te began to demand, in place of
the facile, machine-made adornment,
thu simpler. hand-wrought designs.
Perhaps because America is the
laid of invention, where mechanical
cdUtrivances OF every kind have been
most abundantly perfected, IL was the
American home that suffered most
from the ease with which machinery
could construct decoration. Thus 1t
was that the revolt against red plush
and machine carving. pink and green
rose garlanded rugs, silver massed
with intricate flower designs, and
other exhibitions OF a taste for all
that glitters was here most marked
resulting, at first, in a reversion to
the heaviest and most crude effects,
which gradually took on grace and
ightness without losing simplicity.
Il would be difficult to single out
the individual. or individuals. to
whom belong the laurels as cham
pions OF the new order of things; for.
ASSN all other revolutions of popular
taste or sentiment, II was not the
leaders who created the ideal, actual
Ing the masses, but rather growing
Ideal among the masses that brought
forth the leaders, urging them for
ward as representatives.
b William Morris is, OF course, gen.
orally recognized as the greatest
B prophet of day of growing grace in
home building and adornment, and
Riiskin, with those of the elect who
haze received and understood his
message. has foreshadowed a time
when the aesthetic should play a
greater part in our daily lives.
The arts and craft movement in
America, and the new art movement
In Germany, both had the same end
In view--a general improvement in
public taste TO a point where only
b well-designed houses, furniture. hang
ings and rugs could be tolerated
There is difference OF opinion as
10 the American and German claims
+ of priority in this thought, but, at any
rate, Ii Is apparent that relation
exists between the arts and crafts
movement abroad
IL Is Interesting TO note how the eff
forts of the craftsmen have affected
machine-made furniture. silver and
rugs, which now equal craftsmen's
work I'm all the essentials or tasteful
design and chaste simplicity, while
cxcelling IL In general practical util-
ify and reasonable price
That a school of American archi-
focture and decorative art is now in
the process of formation is apparent
to anyone who studies the pretty cot
faees and bungalows erected within
the last ten or fifteen years, and the
rather low. wide-spreading type OF
house, favored at present even by the
WEHfthy builder.
Period decoration has It's friends
and prophets. of course. and many are
It's nndeniable charms and ad-
vantages; yet TO other students OF
home.making the connection between
a Francis |. or Louis XIV. interior and
40 American family. of Anglo-Saxon,
f}crmanlc or HibeTnian descent. is
not readily apparent Some archi-
iects. indeed, go so far as to design
houses 10 az the appearance and
character OF the occupants, even as
one might thus design wearing ap.
rarol. and. after all. though a trife
extreme. the idea is far from illogical.
Many OF the older and well-defned
I<1ofnfive periods. however, offer a
<<Iiinr quite generally suitable TO the
a<rra9e American family Shereton.
|1IDrcndaie. Adams. Happelwhlte
and william and Mary designs. in fur
I|[0rf are - such delightfully."-
<<4rffoI and simple character as to
- almost unlVtrsaIIy acceptable. Colo