312 
young mistress were 
occasionally invited. 
Cretonne of the 
same design was 
used for the cover- 
ing of a broad win- 
dow-seat, and the 
numerous __ pillows 
scattered about in 
chairs and ham- 
mocks, while full, 
straight curtains of 
the same design 
hung at the win- 
dows and bookcases. 
The walls of the 
playhouse, which 
were of unpainted 
boards — simply 
planed smooth 
were adorned with 
a great variety of 
unframed _ sketches 
in pencil, ink and 
water-colors. These 
pictures were the 
work of the young 
owner of the house, 
who was artistically 
inclined. 
A child’s _ play- 
house which is 
somewhat out of 
the ordinary is situ- 
ated in Andover, 
Mass., on the estate 
of Mr. William M. 
Wood. The large 
two-story building, 
which has been 
given over entirely 
to the young peo- 
ple, is located on the 
edge of a beautiful 
artificial lake, and 
the board piazza, 
built out over the 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
Playhouse built by Mrs. Frank E. Peabody 
August, 1909 
water and shaded by 
large willow trees, 
is a delightfully cool 
spot on a warm sum- 
mer’s afternoon. 
On entering the 
building, one dis- 
covers that it is 
indeed a playhouse, 
but of a sort quite 
different from those 
already described. 
The whole lower 
floor is a single 
large room, at one 
end of which a little 
stage, equipped with 
a drop-curtain and 
footlights, has been 
arranged. The 
decorations of “‘Ar- 
den Theater,” as it 
is called by the chil- 
dren, are in Japa- 
nese style, and all 
the furniture is of 
bamboo and wicker. 
Comfortable loung- 
ing-chairs and con- 
venient little Eng- 
lish tea-carts are 
set about here and 
there; and saueeae 
house gives a touch. 
This is designed for 
afternoon fétes, and 
adds an Oriental 
touch to the room. 
Here the children 
are allowed to give 
all sorts of perform- 
ances and amateur 
plays, which they 
enjoy. 
The photographs 
show other interest- 
ing playhouses. 
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