Year: 1871

| BY MRS. II. w. REECHER.


It is the prevalent opinion among
hOuseke epers that the guest chamber or
''spare room" must, in every respect be
the best and most desirable room in the
house. We think this mistaken idea.
OF course the room shold be pleasant and
inviting, furnished as tastefully, and with
as many conveniences as can be afforded,
without curtailing the pleasures and COM
fort of the family, and with such regard
to comfort that guest, on entering, may
feel at once, not only at home, but as if
surrounded with kindness and thoughtful
care. All this can be accomplished with
out appropriating the largest and most
Commodious room for that purpose.


The chambers most used. and, next to
to the sitting room, most necessary to the
comfort and happiness of the family, to
whom the house is home, and not mere
stopping place, should be the best ven
tilated, the largest and most convenient
The mothers chamber and the nursery (if
there must be two apartments, thy should
be separated only by a door, that the
mothers care may be near at handy ought
to be chosen with reference to the health
and enjoyment of those who are expected
to occupy them for years.


The "spare room" should be a secondary
| consideration; for our guests are but tenn
pOraTy residents of our rooms. to whom,
to be sure, must be given all the time and
attention that family cares will allow j;
but to the permanent inmates the house is
resting place from hard labor, refuge
from outside care for some of the family {;
and to make it such to husband and chill
dren, the housekeeper has daily routine
| of duties which can be wonderfully light
ened by pleasant surroundings; and thus
for reasons having a bearing on every
member of the household, it seems to us
| very desirable that more thought, care
and expense be given to secure pleasant
outlook, a thorough ventilation, and at
tractive and convenient furniture for the
family rooms, than for the one set apart
for those who, however honored and be-
loved, can of necessity remain but few
days.


It is painful to glance into rooms in daily
use, and see no Indication that moments
thought has ever been bestowed upon their
adornment, or to fill them with objects
that, to the children's eyes, will unite
grace and beauty with usefulness for the
fami]y's every day use. "Oh, this william
swer! It's good enough Just for our oaon
fumily" But look in o the guests cham
ber, for which enough has been expended
to compel pinching in all that belongs to
home and family comforts, and all for the
ostentatious display Of hospitality! When
you see such incongruities and contrasts
between the furnishing of the family
apartments and the "slare room," you
will find the same rule runs through eve
rything connected with the family.


For everyday use the commonest kinds
of delf. with odd bits Of broken or de-
faced china, mismated cups and saucers, of
every variety and color, and the food,
careless]y prepared and of the poorest and
cheapest quality, showing the same un-
wise disregard for family Comfort. But let
visitor appear, and the table is dazzling
with silver and t-glass and loaded with
dainties over which the utmost skill has
should be first; company, of secondary
importance. LIT your family have the
best you can afford; then cordially wei.
come your friends to share the good and
pleasant things with you.


1t is not easy to teach children to love
home, and prefer its society to all others,
if they see that the good, and pleasant,
and beautiful things you possess are only
to be used when you have visitors. You
have no right to hope that your children
will have good manners or be refined il
they see only the coarsest Of everything
when alone with you, and arc called upon,
with company, to put on company man:
ncrs. Love of home refinement, and good
manners arc blessings that will rust out
and be destroyed, if not frightened by con
slant daily usc.-CAristian Union.