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and refractory, and must be secifrfefy^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 decorations, 

 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 endur- 

 able. What one wants in his living rooms is a quiet, 

 warm tone, and the main secret of this is dark furni- 

 ture and hangings, with a dash of color here and 

 there, and floods of light, big windows, and plenty 

 of them. No room can be cheerful and inviting with- 

 out plenty of light, and then, if the walls are light too, 

 and the carpets showy, there is a flatness and garish- 



