402 New Yoek at the World's Columbian Exposition. 



predominated in the couch and table covers, the only drapery in the 

 room. 



The couch was made of a canvas-covered cot bed, the legs sawed off 

 to make it comfortably low, and kept from sagging in the middle by a 

 wooden brace nailed across the ends. On it was folded a comfortable j 

 a pad made for the purpose would have been better. Over this was 

 thrown a curtain of the sort sold as Japanese. The pillow was the 

 ordinary bed pillow with a colcxred cotton cover. The cover and com- 

 fortable can be shaken out every morning and so is preferable to an 

 upholstered lounge which collects the dust. It can of course serve as 

 an extra bed. 



The pictures were inexpensive copies, either photographs or cheap 

 etchings, of good pictures and framed in plain wooden frames. On 

 the hanging book shelves were a few books as the beginning of 

 a little library. They included a Bible, Shakespeare, Uncle Tom's 

 Cabin and a volume of Dickens. The rose bowl on the upper book 

 shelf and the clear glass vase over the fireplace were as pretty in shape 

 as if they had been made of cut glass, and with the two or three 

 Japanese tea cups and other bits here and there gave the room a habit- 

 able air. The dining table was intended to be in the sitting room, 

 though the average laborer's wife would doubtless prefer to save steps 

 by eating in the kitchen. 



In front of the windows stood the large wooden rocker, in which the 

 man of the house could enjoy himself when the day's work was done, 

 and the smaller sewing chair where the wife could rock the baby to 

 sleep or darn the family stockings. Altogether the room was pretty, 

 attractive and suitable. 



Upstairs two bedrooms were furnished. In each there were two 

 single iron bedsteads, white, with brass knobs, with excellent springs,, 

 and good, short hair mattresses. The washstands, chiffonier and chairs 

 were of light oak. Before the beds were rugs made of single breadths 

 of carpet, with worsted fringe at the ends. 



The question arose as to whether it would be wise for a young couple 

 to spend the money to furnish two bedrooms. This may be a matter 

 of opinion and circumstance. If the woman has no sewing machine it 

 would be better to try that first and then perhaps one extra single bed 

 and whatever other furniture for the second bedroom the money allowed. 

 But as the family begins to grow it is more and more difficult to take 

 money for furniture, and it is good to have a comfortable supply to 

 begin with. The two single iron beds cost more than one double 

 wooden one. But once bought they will last a lifetime and can easily 

 be kept clean. Single beds are much more healthful and are particu- 

 larly desirable for hard-working people who need to sleep undisturbed, 

 as the restlessness of one will not then trouble the other. 



The third bedroom was unfurnished and used as a storeroom. This 

 room could be used as a source of income by being rented to a lodger, 

 at least while the family was small. It is unnecessary to comment on 

 the bedding further than to say that the comfortables, supposed to have 

 been tied by the woman herself, were made of figured turkey red 

 calico, at five per cents ^er yard, were little work to make, and 



