TRANSACTIONS OF CHAMPAIGN CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 249 



they look cold and lifeless ; their exteriors look bleak, and their interiors make one feel 

 homesick. It is singular, and painful sometimes, to observe the manner in which some 

 people build their houses — square and angular. Like themselves, they have a sort of 

 set-down methodical, awkward look, as if the least departure from the ordinary old- 

 fashioned method of house building, would be a sin. To them, a bay-window, or a dor- 

 mer-window or even an arched window, or a verandah ornamented with a little filigree 

 work, is a very useless expenditure of money. In-doors, the furniture has the same ]mm, 

 stiff look ; the hard chairs are placed squarely against the wall ; not a picture or book 

 can be seen. In fact, so vacant and homesick does every thing appear, both in-doors and 

 out, that one feels loth to ever enter the house again. 



Perhaps I may be weak on this point ; but if there is any thing I desire money 

 specially for, it is to gratify my taste for pretty things for the house. I would not care 

 for costly furniture for the parlor, but plenty of luxurious easy-chairs and lounges, instead 

 of these hard, stift' parlor suits, which are so fashionable, and which make you feel so 

 awkward when you sit down. I would have a few choice ]iictures and books, besides 

 numberless little valuables and conveniences, which tend to make the parlor and sitting 

 room charming and homelike ; a carefully trained iMiglish ivy, over a choice oil paint- 

 ing or chromo ; a window full of thrifty plants, with Clod's beautiful sunlight gilding 

 their fresh, green leaves and gay flowers ; a hanging basket ; an arjuarium ; and a few 

 mosses and ferns from the woods, to gladden the eye. All these, to my mind, can beau- 

 tify our homes, and furnish them far more ex([uisitely, than simply elegant velvet car- 

 pets, stiff sofas, cold marble-top tables, ajid five hundred dollar pier glasses, in a dark 

 and unused parlor. The dining-room and kitchen need not be devoid of taste and 

 beauty ; for here it is that we housekeepers spend most of our time, and we need things 

 comfortable and convenient. The dining-room table, and what is put upon it to eat, 

 speak plainly of the habits and tastes of those who sit about it. It is said that " coarse 

 food makes coarse people ; " and if this is true, we should t)anish coarse graham gems, 

 made after the water-cure system (not the light, delicious ones, made with yeast) from 

 our breakfast tables. There is a good deal of expression and home-like look in a well 

 set table — not so much in the great variety and quantity of food upon it, as the artistic 

 arrangement of that which we do have. I advocate the every day use of the silver we 

 may possess, and not have it stored away, to use only when we have company. The 

 cake-basket and napkin rings give an air of refinement, and a pleasing look to the table, 

 and have a refining effect on the children ; and, with a spotless white cloth, and nap- 

 kins, and a vase of flowers, will often make a simple meal very relishable. Let our 

 tables, then, be atttractive — not in the luxurious appointments which wealth can give, 

 for that we do not possess, but in the cordial welcome we give the stranger who may 

 chance to dine with us, and gladden the hearts of our friends who visit us. 



There can be much taste displayed in the kitchen, without leaving out the idea of 

 beauty. A picture is not out of place, even here; and I would choose an engraving of 

 " Shake Hands," taken from an oil painting, and representing an Irish girl, just taking 

 her hands from the dough, and laughingly offering to " shake hands " with you. 1 think 

 I would hang it over my kitchen table, that, when vexed with jiies and puddings, I 

 could look up and meet the responsive, sympathetic laugh of Bridget. If unable to have 

 pictures, rows of bright tinware, which any one can have, would do well for adornment. 

 The kitchen needs to be ample and convenient, and the stove and jiantry so located as 

 to save time and labor. 



The sleeping-rooms should be large and well ventilate<l, and so attractive in their 

 surroundings as to invite to rest your tired body at once. To do this, it is not necessary 

 to have a costly suit of rosewood or mahogany. I have been in a friend's guest cham- 

 ber, which looked so comf(jrtable and cheerful that I forgot to notice the absence of 

 rich and elegant furniture. The wash-stand and toilet-table proved to be home-made; 

 but so deftly and tastefully were they concealed by mu>.lin and lace, and many other 

 tasteful conveniences, that they were quite charming in appearance. A well made bed 

 with generous looking pillows and a snowy counterpane, is the very essence of comfort. 

 In fact, a little taste and ingenuity will make almost any house both home-like and com- 

 fortable. 



