262 ■ Missouri AgriciiUiiral Repor I. 



which produced the styles of other times and the conditions which sur- 

 round us in this twentieth century, and these new conditions demand 

 a new expression in keeping with our mode of living. We may go to 

 the old for inspiration and suggestions to help in working out our 

 present problems, but to attempt to graft sixteenth century styles on 

 twentieth century conditions is as incongruous as to build a Gothic tower 

 on a Moorish temple. Let us be "frank and straightforward" in ac- 

 cepting the conditions as they exist and endeavor to solve our own 

 problems in our own way, using all the advantages of modern inven- 

 tion, as well as the heritage of past experience to help us create a style 

 of our own which will be distinctive because it will be the expression of 

 new conditions and good because it will satisfy a real need adequately 

 and beautifully. 



If the first essential in creating a beautiful home concerns a defi- 

 nite purpose and high ideals, the next is the tasteful execution of that 

 purpose with attention to the fundamental principles of art in securing 

 color, harmony and pleasing divisions of space. A few principles of 

 general application may be profitably discussed from their practical 

 application to the various features of the house. 



The ideal floor from the viewpoint of beauty as well as sanitation is 

 of hardwood, preferably oak, but in any case the bare floor relieved by 

 rugs is greatly to be preferred to the carpeted floor. Small rugs are 

 easily removed. and easily cleaned and the tiresome sweeping of carpels 

 avoided while the housekeeper has the satisfaction of knowing that the 

 dust has been actually removed and not stirred up in the air to settle 

 again in a few -minutes. 



Taking the room as a whole the floor should hold the darkest tone, 

 the ceiling the lightest and the walls the connecting link between. The 

 floor itself, however, should not be dark enough to show dust easily. The 

 natural wood which mellows beautifully with age is generally most satis- 

 factory. 



In the treatment of the floor one coat of paste filler followed by two 

 coats of wax gives a good finish. The second coat of wax should be ap- 

 plied several days after the first and a good rule for proportions is — 

 little wax- and much rubbing. Old soft wood floors may be quite suc- 

 cessfully treated by scraping and sandpapering to a smooth surface and 

 then applying a paste filler stained to match the dark spots which will 

 appear after the sandpapering. A good crack filler should be used where 

 necessary before applying the paste filler and the floor finished with two 

 coats of wax as for hardwood. 



