The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-10
Living Room Is Shrine
of the American Home
Is Oasis in the So-Called Spiritual Desert
of Jazz Age

The living room IS the shrine o.
family life. the place for tho gath
ef.nx of the clans, the oasis In the
so.caled spiritual desert OF the
"JaEz" agc.
That is-lt Is an OF this II u Is
properly furnished. The ethical cfs
feet 81 furnishings is significant. To
illustrate. lrt US imagine a hving
room warming the winter night with
cracking FIRE. room that h. quiet.
airy, diguficd. charming. awnxing
with opcn arms the influx of the
family. For Il Is 10 tins room that
an the members OF the intimate circle
mlgrate nom work or play. Here u
Is they settle down 10 dream by the
flre. TO read. or for lelsurcly con-
versation.
During the evening, Il Is 10 this
piacc that the babies trot for a bed
time story. whether Il comes from
the lips OF father or mother. or nom
the mysteries OF the magic radio Il
Is here. perhaps. THAI the student
son will drift from his school books.
II II 20 this room that the birds OF
gay evening plumage viii flu 10 en-
jny the epiloguc OF a perfect day,
FIREPLACE CENTER or
INTEREST IN HOME
The point OF central interest In the
living room Is, OF course, the fire.
place. Today il Is fashionable 10 be
old.fashioned Fortunate Is the
mother OF the household II she can
have a real fire on her hearth. So
vital did the Roman OF old consider
The fireplace that he established for
the ancient city OF Rome central
hearth where the VcStal Virgins kept
burning the sacred fire In honor OF
NeSta. the goddess OF the home. The
mother OF the house can be her own
Nes,a II she can coax her family
about her 10 the fireplace.
IL the architecture OF the living
room permits real hearth fire. the
the effec, desired Is quaintness and
horncly comfort and this may be
accentuated BY the necessary equip.
ment for keeping the fire In trim.
Among these are the andirous. In
small room. they should be o.
simple design. and may be had In
plain iron. brass or copper. Along
with these come fircside sets. charm.
lngiy reminiscent OF the old English
inn where the frozen staEc-cuaeh
traveller would rouse the flames with
the bellows, or break the glowing
Goals with the poker.
MANTEI.s CAN BE
EASILY DECORATED
Whether the hearth fire be real.
Ized or not. the oid.fnshioned nuantel
Is coming into It's own. IL Is frc.
quenfly OF marble. but may be built
very charmingiy OF red bricks. plain
or designed. The modern hand has
ruthlessly swept all brlc.a.brac from
the nantclpiece, and permits. perhaps
two candleStEcks. one at either end.
With a clock or other larger piece
between them as the only decora.
tons This Is restful to the eye, and
detracts nothing from the attention
due to the hearth itself
In case architectural design has
forfeited the fireplace. the reading
lamp may be a colorful substitute
with similar social effect.
Regarding the selection OF furnI.
ture for the living room. the house.
wife must watch her background II
she can have her choice Of paper.
she will be wise In making her walls
neutral in tone so that she may set
off the character OF her furniture.
Paper or wall hangings must harmon.
lie with woodwork. just now. taste
In woodwork leans toward the an.
tique finish which is quiet and dig
nified. and suggests solidity Having
her walls in mind, the mistress Of the
house will purchase her furniture
with restraint as her guiding star.
DAVENPORT FIRST
IN IMPORTANCE
A few large pieces are so much
more restfal than number Of small