INTERIOR DECORATION OF VESSELS. 



By Harry B. Etter, Esq., Associate. 



[Read at the twenty-third general meeting of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, held in 



New York, November 18 and 19, 191S.] 



As civilization grows older, we become more refined in our modes of living — 

 it is necessary to have our surroundings pleasant to the eye and thereby restful to 

 the mind. This education has been going steadily on until to-day we take great 

 pride in having things in our own homes correct as to line and color as well as for 

 comfort and utility. The time has passed, let us hope for ever, when any old thing 

 for wall covering or any article of furniture was placed in our homes without any 

 regard as to combination of color or period of decoration, just because it answered 

 the purpose of use. 



So much for our permanent home. How about our temporary home? If we 

 wish to stop at a hotel, it must be a fine one or it is passed by for one that is fine. 

 We travel on land by Pullman car where we usually have beautiful scenery to gaze 

 at from the window to amuse us. But the ship is a somewhat different proposi- 

 tion. We tire in time of looking at the sea after the shores have faded in the dis- 

 tance, so we must turn to her. The comfort and beauty of her interior must take 

 the place of mountain, river and distant hills. 



I have heard it said, "Oh, who ever looks at it? Not one in a hundred;" when 

 it is more than likely the other way about — one in a hundred .who do not notice it. 

 Utility is not the only thing to be considered, for a barn-like appearance soon palls 

 on even the most crude. 



The traveling public of to-day demand and are willing to pay for pleasant sur- 

 roundings and comfort whether by land or sea. True they get it on most of the 

 trans-ocean liners, but with the American coast-wise steamers, with some notable 

 exceptions, they are not so fortunate. I do not wish to criticize these steamers too 

 harshly, but they are for the most part ugly from a decorative standpoint. The 

 writer has been on board of some of them where the interior was an eyesore, when 

 a really fine effect could have been made for a very little if any additional cost. The 

 joiner work has to be made to suit the vessel, and it could just as well have been 

 made to follow some good design instead of a riot of meaningless panels, mould- 

 ings and pilasters. The joiner work of most of these vessels is very often of the 

 same design from end to end, bottom to top, and bad proportion at that. It must 

 be trying to one of refined taste to have the same thing staring at him every place 

 he goes for a week or so. 



It seems to be a mistake when a new passenger vessel is to be built if some 

 scheme of decoration is not worked out. Of course this has been done for some of 



