The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-30
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

That it is not only what one has to
wear, but how it is worn, not only what
furniture there is in a house. but how the
house is kept, that makes a person or a
house look attractive or unattractive, is
a truism. And yet how often we seem TO
forget this fact.
We had been calling at a lovely new
home the other day. The happy bride
had proudly shown us all over it. She is
was beautiful. Dull, rich mahogany IN
the fine old lines, marvelously grained
Circassian walnut, brass beds of exquisite
dull finish and chaSteSt of design, fragile
gold and white china, heavy silver in the
severe antique pattern, beautiful pictures
and wonderful oriental rugs-indeed,
everything that the heart of man, or rath-
er of woman, could desire, seemed to be
in that house.
AS we walked towards home my COM
panion sighed enviously, Wasn't 1t love-
ly? Oh, it just makes me sick to go into
my house after that"
A vision of her home came before my
eyes. The furnishings are good, though
not expensive. The house is pleasant ami
has fine possibilities, and yet 1t is dis
tinctly unattractive home-far more I'M
attractive than it has any reason for be
ing. For the mistress of the house ig
noreS the truism that it is not only what
is in a home, but how it is kept that
makes it pleasing or not. Take her bed
chamber, for instance. With its pretty
dainty cretonne hangings and comfortable
wicker chairs it would be a very pleas
ant room if it were kept perfectly clean
and in good order. But when I last saw
it, the hangings were awry, the dresser
was Uttered and one drawer pulled q lit
tie way out, the covers on the wicker
chairs were soiled, the beds were care
lessly made and one of them was marred
by long scratch which might have been
easily remedied by bit of enamel Nat
urally the erect was not pleasing She
evidently attributes the unattractive
pect to the lack of fine furniture. But il
she had the finest furniture, the most ex-
pensive mahogany or Circassian walnut.
and kept the room so carelessIy, and was
so neglectful of details she now is /
maintain that the effect would still be faa
from pleasing.
certain young married woman envies
her girl friends their pretty clothes and
sometimes feels aggrieved, because she
cannot have two suits a year and all the
other dainty costumes and accessories
t!lat they buy for themselves. Apparently
she Is very ambitious to look well. Ana
yet she often goes about the house with
out collar or belt and with a gown
which has been simply thrown on The
finest clothes worn in this way would be
unattractfve. The cheapest machine made
housegown, if it is of a becoming make
and color and carefully and neatly put
on, would look better
We may not all have beautiful furnish
ings or expensive clothes. But we may
all wear our clothes and keep our homes
in a way that shall give us their fun
value in attractiveness.
Mahogany, dirty. scratched and in dis
order, is not SO attractive as oak kent
neat and orderly and unmarried
A SILK gown carelessly put on, and worn
without belt or collar is far less effective
than Bingham dress in proper condi-
ton.
The woman who not only Acknowledges
cally sure Of an attractive person and d
pleasing home.