Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-03
PLAN DINING ROOM
LARGE AND CHEEKY
Modern Householder Looks to
Room as One That Can
Make or Mar Home.

1t has been said that room should
express in it's decoration and furnish
inss something of the individuality
and characteristics of its occupants,
and in an inarticulate way the kind of
person who lives there.
It must be confessed. however, that
any expression of personality which a
room is capable of conveying in this
way is not explicit, and may be mis-
leading-this is especially true of the
dining room-into which individuality
10 hard to inject. A short history of
this room may be interesting and
helpful in studying its various prob
lens.
As the dining room of the present
day is a room in which meals are
served, il answers no double purpose
In the early middle ages the nobility
observed festivities in the hall. The
feast was served on a long movable
table, the top of which was easily de-
tached from the supports, and along
which were placed lengthy benches
easily relegated 10 obscurity after the
end of the meal Thus probably our
present-day table manners originated,
although it is doubtless true their in
fancy partook more or less of the in
fantile uncertainty and freedom.
Views of the Romans.
We have not considered the Roman
in this connection, as his views on
these things were somewhat different,
and also because he is suspected of be-
zig guiltiess Of a close adherence to
fible manners in the seclusion of his
chamber. Prior to the setting aside Of
is room he must. as we have already
6ated, have eaten in the hall alto
fether, and there was no alternative
place unless it was the roof. At a later
period. when the subdivision of rooms
evolved the ante-chamber. II was one
- these which served the purpose of
che dining room. 1t not until
bbout the beginning of the eighteenth
century that room set apart for
Inc purpose of dining. and even then
II was for other things as we'll The
english realized early the advantage
-. a separate room. and the Elizabeth
an dining parlour" became a feature
Ct sumptuous planning of the times
re French. on the other hand. were
slow to adopt this new feature and for
. considerable period continued serv-
ing meals in rooms whose chief pur-
pose was something entirely different
the primitive colonial ate in the
kitchen, which was often Of consider
able size; he also used II largely as
living room. In the colonial house Of
the more elaborate sort the use OF the
oihihs fooH4 as sitting room WIS
1t will be easily seen from the fore
going that the exclusive dining room
IL comparatively new thing The de-
mand Tor a separate room is due TO
dinerinS conditions of living and social
intercourse Largely owing 70 the
growth and scope Of modern Inventions
there is little that the past can Offer
except In the way Of ornamental de-
sign and perhaps few scattered de-
tails.
Consider Rooms Size.
1t IL important that the size q, all
dining rooms should be considered T.,
reference TO the furniture. one that
is too small. being considerable
source Of annoyance. There is such a
thing. however. as getting II too large
With tho extension table pulled out
to its full length. there should he
ample room to pass completely around
It, pack OF the diners and free of the
wall furniture. Do not try to econo-
mize to the extent of cramping II
you DO the waiter or waitress will
surely come to grief Four feet is a
fair space to allow. five Is better, but
never make II less :han three feet
and that only at the ends of the table.
For good exposure the dining room
should face the south and east. and
II possible window or two facing
thc "tet. ne HAOIHjHR buH Is a very
essential feature, which we get from
the east and through the southern
windows In the summer. while the
afterglow OF the summer comes
through the west windows, thus in
suring pleasant room at all times
There is nothing so cheerless as eat
ing breakfast in a room that is cut
on from the sun in the winter by be-
ing isolated in the north or north
eastern part of the house-it con-
tinually exerts a depressing influence
on the family at meals.
The dining room should always ad-
Join the pantry which connects with