Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-20
GUEsTR0OM COMFORTS.
Not So Much a Question of Money
as a Question of Thought.

From the Pictorial Review.
The so-called guestroom in many homes
recalls to my mind the old story of Blue
boards chamber. Many week ends have
been spent within four such walls in a
house which was presided over by a wom-
an who prided herself on being a sue
cessful hostess.
Are you one Of these well-meaning little
women who think ANY old thing is good
enough for the guestroom? It really Is not
so much a question of money as a ques-
ton of thought, with perhaps a little
time added to 1t.
The first thing to do is to go into your
guestroom and make an inventory of its
present possessions. Then make another
inventory of things it ought to contain
not so much to beautify it. as to make 1t
a comfortable hospitable room. | wager
that nine out of every ten women will be
appalled, at the articles lacking.
If the paper is spotted, torn, faded and
altogether desperate looking, nothing new
or old will look we'll in the room: so You
paper can sometimes be picked up at
from 10 to % cents a roll. That really
Is the big item Of the room: but the trans
formation will be marvellous. Select or
binary cheese cloth for sash curtains and
run them on little brass rods. II you are
willing to spend little more time on the
curtains, stencil some attractive design or
applique some cretonne flowers on the
corners.
Next look at the furniture in the room.
II the marble top Of your bureau is
broken. throw 1t away and have a car
penter cut YOU the simplest pine board
top to take its place. Then cover 1t
with a piece Of f1annelette the color Of the
other trimmings and over that put a
square Of cheese cloth. like your curtains.
Scrape up the furniture: varnish, paint
or polish 1t, as the case may be. II one
arm is off the rocking chair, take the
other one off and rivet the back firmly
onto the seat. Then polish it UP and 1t
will not look so badly. If the upholstery
is gaping in another chair cover 1t your
self. And be sure you have small table
by the head of the bed. For the bed
side table you must have a candle and
candlestick and a box of matches Don't
put broken bowl on the wash stand to
hold the soap, but get a neat soap dish
and incidentally put piece OF soap in II.
Guestroom cakes of soap cost only j
cents. and they are little nicer than
larger cakes
You will need penholder and ink for the
desk. and when You get home be sure to
put In few sheets Of writing paper and
envelopes. To or three postals are al
ways great convenience, too. Get a
Whtsk broom and hang 1t in a convenient
place, and leave 1t there. Buy something
to put combings in. Another thing-don't
AoIsel 10 put d CLOCK IN the room Tor your
guest before retiring.
A few necessary articles for the bureau
should be found, such as hairpins, shoes
buttoner and such small trifes, but comb,
brush and hand mirror will cost little
more. If you cannot afford a half-dozen
extra quality guest towels, the next best
thing to do is to take six from the gen.
eral household number and put them in
the wash stand Of the guestroom This
Will prevent their being used for rougher
purposes and prevent their getting stain
ed. as many towels are apt to do.
On the other hand. do not go to the
other extreme and fix up your guest
room so elegantly that 1t is all for show
and not for comfortable USE
Having finished fitting up your guest
room comfortably. keep 1t in order Have
the bed always made up, the room busted,
pins In the pincushion, hairpins on the
bureau, and a cotton crepe kimono on the
closet door. Be ready for your guests
when they drop In Unexpectedly, for that
Is true hospitality