Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-17
THE FEBRUARY FURNITURE SALE
By MRS. CHRISTINE FREDERICK
Author THE New housekeeping

desirable 3-pIece suite" perfect re-
productions of period furniture elegant
mahogany rocker onlJ," so run the ads,
that all who read may run and purchase.
The February furniture sale Is a stand
ard institution with most OF the better
stores. and few, indeed, are the home
makers who cannot avail themselves of 1t
for q purchase. large or small.
Buying furniture Is perhaps one of the
last kinds of shopping for which the
housekeeper is trained-although some
women have q "knack" about this, as
others do for cooking. 1 like to think of
furniture from the investment point of
view-not as a temporary bit of my house,
but as part and parcel of II, of me, and
OF my individuality-if 1 can recognize
II! IL I have this pernanency viewpoint
shall be more inclined TO buy quality in
stead OF number, and value rather than
show.
II costs money 10 make good, substan-
tlal furniture. Wood is increasingly
scarce and dear; workmanship and crafts
men cost more today than ever before
One cannot expect. therefore. 10 buy both
good wood and good workmanship cheap,
No high standard OF workmanship can
be encouraged In this country unless the
American homemaker learns to know
quality. sincerity and craft In the fur
nlture she buys-and be willing to pay
for Il.
What We may buy today will depend on
what we have already bought, and what
pieces are already in our homes. Lucky
indeed Is the woman who has carefully
thought-out plan In buying. She will not
be swaysd by any supposed fashion" but
viii adjust her furniture TO her needs
and the kind OF establishment she Is
living In. l never forget the home of a
little bride who was living In a pretty
Auf Ts1a ri hna afa aA a
piece. set, beautiful mahogany and green
velours. costing perhaps 500, But II didn't
MT It was just as out OF place as ball
dress IN a simple home tea. IL needed
more room. more space. higher ceilings
aud a totally different setting to show
it on 1t made the little room seem
study and hot, ana lacked ali the coziness
that such small, intimate rooms needed TO
make them attractive.
While impossible 70 make furniture
digest ID this short talk, these things can
be- azrepted as general principles:
2. Large pieces. like davenports. divans
ana armchairs need both floor and wall
space % show them on, ana prevent them
from giving the room a crowded appear
anee. They are suited only 20 the larger
rooms
suites ana diatlnet period fur
nItura should Be chosen most carefully
ard should always preferably bo placed
tl zeom OF corresponding styie-they
are not suited 10 the small modern apart
nent with little wall space and monde
SCRIPT WOODWORK OF unrelated trim and
tpleH-the 'JAeohsan' dining room Hlth
14Eefed walls ana low ceilings
small rooms are most charmiHgly
treafzd ~ q coiiaetion Of odd pieces. each
hszas good lines. but or such undlslinc-
t|Ez zxEea fhaf they harmonize vel.
4hf Foraf effects result from
|sHa#s Of Hnas Of Bocd and hnish- as
sao4euy arm ehair "A aak dszk.
CNzzs pIaro cabinet aud nIssion cigar
ais# tiermaas "a Anish IS mole impoF-
tnf aen hsfnanF of hne
- hisalf polished soeds IKE the