The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-26
Household Hints
The Family Step-Child
By SALLY E. DAVIDSON

| In few households does the man
of the family enjoy the rare priv
| ileCe of privacy which should be
his. In the entire house the big
arm chair ash receiver and reading
lamp are the only things definitely
his own and this only in homes
where the women are clever enough
to know that every human being,
even allowing and devoted husband.
must have comfort after a day dt
work. But in the majority of homes
the man is even without this much.
OF course he is given the free
dom of the entire house but he
cannot call one tiny nook his own
He must be satisfied with a. chest
of drawers and in some instances
his own wardrobe, but everything
else he not only shares with his
wife but the entire family.
1t never seems to dawn upon
many women that their husbands
would not only be more comfortable
with a cubbyhole of their very
own, but also happier, for it would
be one spot in the house where
they could do just as they pleased
without feeling guilty of having
caused their Wives unnecessary ex-
ira work.
Although the day of the den seems
to have passed, due most likely TO
the scarcity as well as rise in the
price of living quarters, nevertheless
many clever housewives regard this
room as in investment.
In fact, many turn their guest
room into a study and use a couch
bed which, on occasions, may be oc-
cupied by a guest. This unquestion-
ably is very sensible thing to DO.
Few people entertain sufficiently
to warrant the existence of a guest
room and besides good friend will
be glad of any hospitality the hosts
may have to offer. IT Is indeed Tar
better to turn such a room into
study where the man of the home
may retire whenever he so desires
and where he may keep all OF his
own belongings.
A friend of mine has made a most
comfortable study for her husband
out of a very small bedroom and she
declares his temper improved the in
'stant she showed it to him.
The success of her venture LED
several of her friends, myself in
cluded, to follow her example, and
nearly all of us have noticed definite
results not only in our husbans dls-
positions, but in reduction OF our
daily housecleaning, for now we use
our living room only when there are
guests or when we wish to enjoy an
open fire. The rest of the time we
snend with our husbands In the
study. sewing white they read or rest
after a strenuous day.
This friend who started this Drill
liant idea used not only good taste
in furnishing her husbands study,
but succeeded in producing 100 per
cent comfort.
The furnishings consist Of q fold
ing double daybed piled with Pill.
lows covered in attractive washable
materials which can be given plenty
of not too careful wear; big hat
top office desk and an old fashioned
leather arm chair which her nus.
band had bought and enjoyed In his
bachelor days. This latter she had
relocated to the attic after their
marriage, refusing to have the odd,
ugly BEAST as she called IT, where
anyone might see it.
She had two duplex electric con-
yenience outlets installed in this
room. Into one of these outlets Is
plugged the bridge lamp at the
head Of the bed To it also is con-
nected an electric cigar or cigarette
lighter which occupies a place on a,
taboret which also holds his
humidor.
The second duplex outlet is used
for the desk lamp, for her hus-
bands electrical trouser presser, and
for an immersion heater when
some time late at night he wishes
to make himself a hot drink or
warm the baby's bottle.
The bookcase Is filled with his
own books, and one shelf of this is
devoted to his rifle, camera, field
glasses, golf balls and other such
things dear to the heart Of man.
In one corner stands a tiny chest
of drawers which once served as
washstand and in this he keeps his
underclothing, a weeks supply OF
shirts; ties, gloves and socks. On
the top are his brushes, combs,
tray of manicuring implements and
an ash tray.
My friend intended that her hus-
band should use this room as a
study only, but he uses it as his
own personal blessing room and
the wardrobe connected with this