74 HOW TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 



every sort of decay, metallic and vegetable not 

 infrequently poisonous, at all events dangerously irri- 

 tating to lungs and throat. Both in furnishing and 

 in heating your house look out for dust creators and 

 dust catchers. 



When the house is done and well filled with your- 

 self, do not become a slave to decoration. Let the 

 beautiful wood which you have used be finished with- 

 out any paint or varnish, oiling only the floors. 

 There is every reason why your rooms should not 

 stand on exhibition, as specimens of art, where every 

 manufacturer may display his new varnishes, and 

 the whole house itself invite attention from the street. 

 On the contrary, the house should drop into the foli- 

 age with ease and grace, so that one's eyes shall easily 

 pass to the garden and orchard. 



No one can come near some of these high-toned 

 buildings without feeling that he must be in full 

 dress, instinctively dropping every thought of sim- 

 plicity and frankness at the gateway. For the out- 

 side of a country house a warm red with dark-green 

 borders is almost always acceptable to garden sur- 

 roundings. Run it all over with vines and surround 

 it with shrubs and roses ; you can hardly overdo this 

 matter of concealment. There is nothing quite so 

 homely and so homeful as the grapevine, and this 

 I would use very freely over a country-house. It 

 is not only beautiful in itself, but it is a great food 

 provider and an ozone breather; love it and praise it. 



Select sweet flowers, those giving delicious odors, 



