The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-05-05

the great eNpdiSt VI Oh ,O0ilIy
all invite the city dweller with siren
voice. And no woman in official
Washington, perhaps, hearkens to it
more joyfully than does Mrs. John w.
Kern. wife of the Senator ron In
diana, says the Washington Star. Her
whole being cries out for the freedom
of wood and vale, and, fortunate wo-
man that she is, she may indulge her
longings to the fullest extent by pack
ing off to Craven Cove, Va, where
stands Il house which she herself
planned and furnished.
II is most delightful TO hear her tell
of it-not only because the story of
the house itself is intensely interest
ing. but likewise because one feels in
the speaker a wonderful capacity for
enthusiasm and happiness in work
that many women would hesitate even
to undertake. But not Mrs. Kern, for
she is architect, interior decorator and
landscape gardener. not only happy
in her work, but capable as we'll.
As an evidence of this, she imme-
diately forsook Washington when one
of its early. premature spring days
invited Incidence and holiday to be-
take herself to Kerncroft to superin-
dent the planting Of a cherry orchard.
Behold. then, Mrs. Kern. lover Of
the wilds. playing aid to Mother Ma
Nuit Cd aSolStalIN q nc ~ Sh&
pastoral pantomime, ready to present
the most delightful tableau. Spring"
directing the planting of trees and
shrubs. laying out drives here and
there. placing rocks to form pictures
que stairCases to the Drinks of lily
laden poois-in truth. spending "a hol-
iday in Already and appreciative OF
the JOY that is hers,
IL was my own architect she said,
when speaking of her house. 1T is
not pretentious, by any means. but |
enjoyed planning it SO much. \ short
while after we began to build, we
decided that it would be cheaper to
install a sawmill on the premises and
cut our own lumber, instead of buy
INC il in town. We did this. and as a
result the houSe is constructed en-
tirely OF oak wood. This w God cost
Us about s. a thousand f eet-ridi-
o%ulously cheap for hardwood.
"a friend of mine whose husband
is ia the lumber business has FACET.
ousiy said that it actually pains hef
to think that we have used hardwood
for so many and paid 50 lit.
tie for il When / think of the
amount this same lumber would have
cost had we bought it in town and
paid fer having it hauled to our place
/ feet that the innovation Of the saw
mill is one that a great many people
might practice with economy.
1.-The house itself is two stored, il
low bungalow effect. My living Don
is very large. 1t has a great stone
open fireplace, with bookcases a
either side. Under the windows at the
also. to correspond with the others
This room is furnished in natura
willow. Large French windows opeI
out from it upon a wild porch furn
ished with swings and easy chairs.
French doors lead from the Twins
room into my dining room. Here
have white enamel furniture and tn
hangings n rugs are in old blue. Nj.
hin is of the willow pattern, to car
ry out the color scheme.
II spent much thought on the dec
orations of my bedrooms. One of m,
guest-rooms is in gray and Lavender
The furniture is gray enamel. Tn
hansings are of white c%retonne. wit
delicate lunches of wistaria, carry
ing out the lavender color scheme
The rugs are of lavender ground wit
wistaria flower borders, and upon tn
floor, painted to match the furniture
they give a very cool, inviting look.
My other guestroom is furnishe
with mahogany. Light green is tn
dominant color note of its decoration
The bed is NapoleoniC. The curtain
here are cream, with a delicate trace
ry of light green leaves and flower.
My W room has in it an ole
fashioned walnut set of furniture thu
] wished to keep in the family.
brought it all the way from, Indian:
rren ! have also an extra room i
white enamel.
But the most wondrous bedroom
all is my sleeping porch. never rea
lied VIA a JOY sleeping outdoor
could be until tried it in the countr
My two boys and / lie in our comfor
able bed hammocks and talk and tai
IN all sorts Of themes. To illustrar
how stimulative of Imagination pore
sleeping is just hear what We talke
sbou the last time we slept there. On
or my boys said: Mother, listen
ell of the voices of night speaking t.
gether. And We three listened. The
we tried to see how many differe
voices we could distinguish.
IRON far off came the cry OF a tr
owl ecu know the moCking hoo
fcot. nearby we heard the faint twi
ter of a restless mother bird. The