The Washington times., 1919-11-06
By Loretto 9. Lynch.

TN planning that new home, are
you counting on q nursery for
baby? One of the criticisms our
English friends make about Ameri-
can homes is that they are built for
grown-up folks with never a
thought for the children And
justly do they criticise Us In this
respect It is the exceptional home
that has q nursery that has really
been planned in the building of
house. Oftimes, as an after
thought, some folks with an eye TO
children's rights, plan . make-shfft
nursery, but the average American
home sadly lacks q nursery.
American children have the repu-
tation of beng very illmannered.
One so often finds their play
things strewn about and the chill
dren engaged in the festive sports
of childhood while one tries, oh 20
hard to converse with the mother
of these same kiddies. But were a
place provided for these children
to indulge in the little pleasures
OF childhood, they would appear
quite as well-mannered, as for in
stance, the middle-class English
child, who Is busily engaged In his
But IL a home rally exists fer
the care and development OF the
child. no home, however sman,
should be without a nursery. And
kindly discipline should be exer-
cised to train the children to 70
main In this room when they wish
to play.
A nursery / saw recently In a
delightful California bungalow was
an inexpensive affair, yet 1T served
Its purpose splendidly. Because lit
tie hands are often grimy, gray
was chosen for wood work and
doors The wall was paneIed in
gray wood about half way up. The
rest OF the wall was tinted 4
brighter shade in a neutral gray.
This made a perfect background
for the bright and coIorfuI nursery
folk pictures in their narrow black
frames
On the floor was a plain sray
linoleum. There was a gray ce-
ment filling the tiny crack between
the linoleum and the basebosrd
This Is a sanitary precaution. for
insects are often attraced to the
tiny crumbs left behind by careless
little folkA
On either side Of the big window
there were q built-in chest of draw
ers in convenient height. These
were Also finished In washable gray
enamel They were roomy drawers
for story books and games.
One corner boasted the most de-
lightful sand box. And Daddy had
made it one afternoon during the
rainy season. It was just a shallow
box about eight inches deem. A
tinsmith had lined it II was nlIed
with sparkling white sand from the
beach. Where one does not liy,
near a beach this sand may be pur-
chased through any high-class toy
shop by the bagful for a small sum
or course. children have to be
taught how to play in a sand box
But il offers endless opportunities
to the little builders to deyeIon
imagination. Initiative and manual
control. BY sinking a boAl OF
water in the sand, the imaginative
little one may build q whole sand
village around a lake, and even set
to sail q tiny boat or two on the
lake.
There was a small gray table.
stoutly built. and several little
chairs to match. And IL was sur
prising to see how carefully little
Jane, aged three, handled her tiny
tea set when 1t came TO be dolly's
tea time.
Pin checked gingham was used
for the easement curtains at the
windows. 1t was inexpensive, bright
and very easily laundered.
The little ones learned neatness
and order. For while mother left
them for several hours alone in the
nursery, they never left it but that
her watchful eye saw to 1t that all
playthings were replaced and the
drawers carefully shut.
Where space is scarce the child's
bed may be put In the nursery. 7
saw a room in a tenement house In