San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01

the principles underlying all the
arts.
All large pieces of furniture (grand
piano and chaise lounge exceptedl
should be parallel with or at right
angles TO the walls. This arrange
ment accentuates structure dignity.
The living room and the library
are usually one, except in the more
formal house; the old-fashioned par
lor. thank heaven, has passed; the liy-
ing room frequently serves the pur-
pose of all of these. Its manifold
uses mean manifold requirements. No
room is harder 10 achieve artistically,
but like all hard things to achieve
it brings proportiOnate results. Use
a plain rug, unless one is Immediately
ushered into the room, in which case
footprints would show. Rug and
walls and upholstery may be in the
same tone, and draperies of bright
chintZ or cretonne over cream or ecru
net or marquisette. The chairs and
davenport or settee must not only
be artistic, they must also be com
Portable. There should be bookcases,
Of course, built in or portable, a sec
rotary or spinet or other form of
desk, furnished: table or tables where
required. The lighting should be by
table lamps, wired Tor burning alco-
hol or oiD and by drop lights for
desk or writing tables, with a floor
lamp if there is a piano. The center
of interest of the living room should
always be the fireplace in winter, a
group of open windows in summer.
The other units must relate TO this
one to make the picture, but not so in
timately as ito interfere with reason
able privacy at desk or piano or read
ing table.
Nowhere does the Koran's line
"If / had two loaves of bread I'd
sell one and buy hyacinths, for
hyacinths feed the SOUL" apply
with such force as to the living
room. Always try to have flowers
or a potted plant or both in this
room.
The Dining Room.
And HE him home at evenings
close
To sweet repast and calm repose."
Gray may have had in mind q
calm repose separate from that fol-
lowing the sweet repast. but it is
safe TO say that unless it accompa-
MES nothing can induce it to follow.
Above all things, then, the dining
room should be one in which TO eat
in peace and quiet, and as its func-
tons are few and definite so should
its requirements be. Rugs in sub
dued tones, figured. that the sooner
or later inevitable (or certainly
probable) grease spots may not
show; table either oblong or
round, according 10 the rooms d.
mensions; the necessary chairs, not
too different from the other pieces
Of furniture; buffet; serving
table near the pantry or kitchen
door; screen at the door-nothing
else is necessary. A cabinet i'll
there is space for it and if one de-
sires 1t. closed unless it is to hold
real museum or cabinet pieces. 1t
would be quite as good taste to dis
play ones clothes in glass cabinet
in the bed room as it is to display
ones wors-a-day china and glass
in the dining room. A tea cart.
muffin stand. fern box all these
may be added but are not neces-
sary. Needless TO say. the table
should be cleared between meals.
with only a centerpiece or some
flowers or fruit in the daytime and
the extinguished candles in the even
ing. The walls should be paneled
where possible, with piece Of tap
estry, maybe, or a painting in the