Home Makers^ Conference. 319 



of their usefulness, which gives a sense of litness and repose entirely 

 lacking in a room where a place has obviously had to he found for 

 everything, as in a drawing room." 



The idea then, upon which we are to base our plans for furnishing 

 and decoration is to be drawn from the purpose which the rooms are to 

 serve. That purpose is a personal matter of individual choice, but in 

 the expression of it we may look for help from others. 



A glance over a few modem house plans reveals one feature in 

 which this idea of use has worked at least one revolution. The older 

 plans all provided for parlors and drawing rooms, while the newer ones 

 have a living room instead, and the chiange is most welcome. The word 

 parlor suggests the stiff and stately arrangement of the most ornate 

 furniture the house can afford, selected not with a view to comfort, but 

 for display ; a room darkened and close shut from dust and fresh air in 

 summer, and cold and cheerless in winter, into which the formal caller 

 is ushered for a brief stay, and in which the distinguished visitor is en- 

 tertained, but into which the real life of the home never enters. We 

 put on our most formal manners when we enter the door, we seem to 

 have lost all the bright thoughts we had before, and talk in our most 

 stilted language on the driest of topics; and we would not for the life 

 of us disturb any of the carefully arranged furnishings of the room. 

 If, in a moment of boldness, we do pick up a book from the table, we 

 are careful to return it to the same spot and in the same position ; and 

 w^hat a relief it is to get out into the sitting room or the kitchen, or 

 whatever part of the house is warmed and cheered by the daily life of 

 busy people. 



The very name, living room, calls up a much more delightful pic- 

 ture. It is bright and eheerj^ at all times, and even when deserted, one 

 feels the warmth of recent occupation. At its best, it is large enough 

 to permit all the necessary furniture without an effect of crowding, and 

 this furniture is plain, simple and strong in its construction, suggesting 

 use and comfort. There is always a table large enough to allow the 

 whole family to gather about the low light upon it when books and 

 papers claim the hour. There is generally a couch with an inviting heap 

 of pillows, and its crowning glory in the winter is its cheery open fire; 

 and it is well if the fire place is flanked by a cozy settle which invites 

 heart-to-heart talks while the last log burns to coals and falls apart. 

 There are convenient book shelves, and perhaps a piano; there are a 

 few well-chosen pictures on the walls, and soft draperies at the windows. 

 Whatever the predominating color, the tones are soft and restful. 



Do you live in such a room? If not, why not? for the essentials 

 depend not at all upon the size of your bank account, but upon the pur- 



