New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-25

a dainty chic little person, alive, alert, never
missing trick" as she would put it. She saw
me. the song ceased and she smiled greetlng'
"Ten minutes late! But never mind, was
eniovinz the Grand Canal" Then, seeing my
ruz7lsd look she added: That's what l do
when | am kept waiting for any one. Just
TRANSPORT myself to some one Of the interesting
nlaces that ] have seen, and have such good
time that I am sorry when the tardy one ar
rives To-day / went to Italy because Italy
was uppernrost in my mind. We are going TO
look into the Italian styles Of interior decora-
ton to-day-particularly Venetian painted fur
niture. Hence was floating along on the
Grand Canal"
"Then won't apologize" ] said, "Pll just
step aboard your gondOla."
81 was thinking about Italian rooms" Letitia
went on, "and, as figure it out, there are two
distinct types. One is almost monastic in feel
ing-plain walls, ceiling Of plain beams or
plaster arches, heavy carved furniture and
very little color. 1t is fine sense of discrimi-
nation, something like the japanese, that keeps
these rooms simple and dgnifed and almost
bare. The rich brown of the carved furniture,
the old brass lamps and quaint wrought iron
candlesticks stand out against the plain plas-
ter walls.
"Few people, however, have the courage to
furnish room in this way, except 1t be per-
haps a dining room, and those who do use
the Italian ideas are apt TO spoil the simplicity
and dignity by the additional little Jim-cracks
and accessories not at all in character. have
seen an Italian room-which | am going to
show you later in the day-that has been made
into very comfortable living room without de-
tracing in the least from its Italian character.
'Just at present, however, we are on our way
TO see the wonderful Venetian painted furn-
ture which Ruby Ross Goodnow has collected.
"You must know" she continued, that Vene-
tian painted or lacquered furniture is just as
beautiful, just as popular, just as expensive
and quite as perishable in our climate as the
Chinese lacquer we saw the other day. This
lacquered furniture was one of the industries
of Venice in the seventeenth and the early part
Of the eighteenth century. The background is
usually lovely soft yellow, but sometimes it
is the Italian buey-green and sometimes soft
mellow red On this background designs are
painted in bright colors-ltaian scenes or
fruits ana UOWtfs. lou WIN SEC lOl SOuiSciis
for here is wonderful specimen And she
led me into small room where stood the tall
Venetian desk which is perhaps the gem Of this
notable collection.
II is built on the order Of the old mahogany
desk which is found in almost every old-fash-
ioned "parlor" but it is far more graceful and
shapely. There are three drawers; over these
is lid which lets down TO form desk and on
top Of this IL a long, narrow middle cupboard
with three small drawers on either side. The
TOD is surmounted by carved shell from which
two sprays Of leaves fall, one on either side
The background is soft yellow, and on this
pictures we're pasted resembling the old decal-
conoapias Of our childhood. with bits Of land
scspe painted in between 10 tie them together.
The whole WAS then properly lacqusred until
the eoiors wsrc softened and blended as w
80 than ....