ROOF-TREE 261 



mountains that makes an admirable finish. It is 

 usually called red or cherry birch, and it has a long 

 wave or curl that is found in no other wood. It is 

 very tough and refractory, and must be securely 

 fastened. A black ash door, with maple or white 

 pine panels set in a heavy frame of this red, wavy 

 birch, is a most pleasing chamber finish. For a 

 hard-wood floor, in connection with oak or ash, it 

 is to be preferred to cherry. 



Growing alongside of the birch is the soft maple 

 the curly species that must not be overlooked. 

 It contains light wood and dark wood, as a fowl 

 contains white meat and dark meat. It is not 

 unusual to find a tree of this species, the heart of 

 which will be a rich grayish brown, suggesting, by 

 something in the tone and texture of it, the rarer 

 shades of silk, while the outer part is white, and 

 fine as ivory. I have seen a wainscoting composed 

 of alternate strips of this light and dark wood from 

 the same tree that was exquisite, and a great rarity. 



The eye soon tires of sharp, violent contrasts. 

 In general, that which is striking or taking at first 

 sight is to be avoided in interior finishings or deco- 

 rations, especially in the main or living rooms. In 

 halls, a more pronounced style is permissible, and 

 the contrast of walnut with pine, or maple, or oak 

 is more endurable. What one wants in his living- 

 rooms is a quiet, warm tone, and the main secret 

 of this is dark furniture and hangings, with a dash 

 of color here and there, and floods of light, big 

 windows, and plenty of them. No room can be 



