72 G BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



IiaiuiL'd. suiTuuiuliii^' it. A li'W clioit-f trcus, L'Vt.'r;;ivi'ii ami sliado Irccs. 

 some shruhs and a iiiMUTous supply of liowers, including rosi's. especially 

 the choice roses of fall, and surrounding each of these a carpet of blue 

 grass, will make a pidurcsciue scenery of the yard. 



Having completed llie ctutsidc of our home, let Us pass over its 

 threshold and see what is found on the inside. It is nei'dless to say tlial 

 cleanliness is noticed throughout, for It is an essential to beautj' at all 

 times. We can well apply the foildwing (luotatioii from Shakespeare in 

 furnishing our home: "Costly thy habit as thy piuse can buy." The 

 •furniture need not be costly. It should harmonize with the outside con- 

 dition and appearance of the house. Neither should there be an over- 

 sup])ly of it, for that only makes more work to kt-ep it in a preseutalile 

 appearance. Pictures should be few and well chosen. .Many pcoijle 

 have yet to learn that beauty does not depend upon comiile.vily and 

 prodigality, and that it has nothing whatever to do with the fashions. 



Savages and half-civilized ]iPO])le delight in multiplicity: the more 

 tattooing, the more earrings and nose rings, the greater the beauty in 

 their judgment. "Oh, but we want to change the pictures aliout." s(jme- 

 body says; "it is so monotonoxis to have always the same things in the 

 same place." If the room is once really beautiful it ought not to be 

 changed. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Teojile change their 

 parlor furnishings simplj- because the decorative effect is never (luite 

 right. Walls are decorated for the sole purpose of enhancing their beauty. 

 It would seem unnecessary to add that whatever is placed upon them 

 should be beautiful. The suljject of a picture may be uninipeaclial)le, 

 but unless the picture itself is a thing of beauty it has no place upon tlie 

 walls of our home. Allow me to suggest a few good pictures for use in 

 the home decoration: Sistine Madonna, Christmas Chimes, The Gleaners. 

 Pilgrims Going to Church, The AVater Carriers. Washington, Virgin. In- 

 fant Jesus, St. John, and I^)^trait of His Mother. (Omissions.) 



Pot flowers is another aid in beautifying the inside of a home. Have 

 a palm or two. some ferns, a begonia, choice chrysanthemums, etc., placed 

 at the Avindows or on the table in soiue appropriate part of the room. 

 These are especially helpful during the gloomy winter months. AA'e may 

 have all the things spoken of in this paper, Imt if we have not cheerful- 

 ness in our home it is not really beautiful. 



Last? Yes. but not least. Cheerfulness is like a sunny day; it sheds 

 brightness on everything around us. No trait of character is more valu- 

 able or more productive of happiness than is cheerfulness; it lightens our 

 burdens, multiplies our friends, and promotes our health. Cheerfulness 

 makes the air seem more balmy, the sky clearer, and even the sunshine 

 more beautiful; while gloominess is a mildew that blights oui- talents, 

 blasts our hap]iiness and liedouds our life. 



