^ 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 livmg 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 



