April, 1914 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
XIX 
Tiik SLEia>iN'(;-R()()M. Darmslailt, Ger- 
many : ^*erlag Alexander Koch. Darm- 
stadt, Germany. Boards. Tall Hvo. Co- 
piously illustrated. Price M. 111. 
The Dining-Room. Darmstadt. Germany: 
Verlag Alexander Koch. Darmstadt, 
Germany. Boards. Full 8 vo. Copiously 
illustrated. Price M.KI. 
The two volumes. "The Sleej)ing-Room" 
and "The Dining-Room’’ in the series of 
"Handbuchs neuzeitlicher Wohnkultur,” 
issued by a German publisher are, neverthe- 
less of great value to the home decorator 
and home-maker in any land. Both volumes 
are picture-books of their subjects and the 
pages are given over to very fine half-tone 
plates, many of them full-page in size. 
From the hundreds of illustrations of the 
most characteristic examples of the finest 
work in decoration of modern German 
artists and decorative-architects the Ameri- 
can home decorator and home furnisher will 
glean many highly useful hints, for Ger- 
many to-day is the acknowledged leader in 
the decorative arts. Both these volumes arc 
beautifully printed and will prove a verit- 
able mine of helpful suggestion to everyone. 
Colonial Architecture for Those 
About to Build. By Flerbert C. Wise 
and Herbert C. Beidleman. J. B. Lip- 
pincott Company : Philadelphia and Lon- 
don. 1913. Cloth. Large 8 vo. Illus- 
trated. 269 pp. Price, $5.00 net. 
In the many books on Colonial buildings 
the writers soon stray from the fabric to 
the parts the owners or occupants have 
played in history or genealogy. The scope 
of “Colonial Architecture for Those About 
to Build” differs from this order of things 
inasmuch as the text is confined to the build- 
ings themselves. The book is beautifully 
and copiously illustrated and presents many 
beautiful phases of Colonial architecture, 
which are not to be found in other books by 
reason of the fact that they have been more 
concerned with history than architecture. 
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. 
By George Frederick Kunz. Philadelphia 
and London : J. B. Lippincott Company. 
1013. Cloth. 8 vo. Gilt tops. Illustrated 
Color plates. 406 pp. Price, $5.00 net. 
As the author of “The Curious Lore of 
Precious Stones” says in his ]>reface. the 
object of this book is to indicate and il- 
lustrate the various ways in wliich precious 
stones have been used at different times, 
and among different peoples, and more 
especially ex[)lain some of the curious 
ideas and fancies that have gathered around 
them. The author, as possessor of a very 
fine library on the subject of gems, has 
had at hand practically all the source-books 
of gem lore recorded by writers and 
observers for several centuries. The au- 
thor generously acknowledges his indebt- 
edness to these writers, though his con- 
scientious use of foot-notes of attribution 
which appear on nearly every page is 
somewhat distracting. A general bibliog- 
raphy appended at the end should have been 
sufficient, reserving for important refer- 
ences foot-notes below the text. Those 
who have not had access to the original vol- 
umes upon which Dr. Kunz has drawn will 
find this volume on precious stones a -veri- 
table quarry of curious lore; fully covering 
gem superstitions and their subjects, the 
Now you can have walls and ceilings of 
beauty, plus a wonderful durability hither- 
to unknown to wall coatings. 
LIQUID VELVET has made it all possible. 
Here is a finish with an oil base. Made 
by The O’Brien VARNISH Company. 
Applied like any other. Dries flat. Dries 
enamel-hard. Can be Cannot 
crack, crumble, blister, peel or rub off like 
calcimine and other water coatings. 
And I.IQUID VELVET can he used for 
all interiors - from handsome drawing 
rooms to remote corridors and basements. 
O’BRIEN’S 
Over Wall Paper 
III papered room>, LIQUID VELVET can be 
applied over tlie paper PenetrateN to the wall 
forming one hard, durable, vva>hable coating. 
Twenty-four Shade* 
Comes in white and 24 shades. Adaptable for 
any stencil, decorative or color scheme. Does 
not shine or glare. Diffuses the light. Presents 
a pleasing “velvet” surface, restful to the eyes. 
Great “Spread*” 
LIQUID VELVET is economical. Works 
easily. Dries slr>wly. Has a great “spread” — 450 
to 800 sq. ft. to the gallon. More than o«r coat is 
seldom retpiired— more than two, never, 'riiat 
is because of the unusually heavy body— weighs 
nearly 18 pounds to the gallon. 
Choice of Architect*, Contractor*, etc. 
LIQUID VEl. VET is known as “ The Specified 
Brand " among leailing architects, decorators, 
contractors ami builders. It cnlunccs and per- 
petuates their best work. 
Write for the Book 
A very interesting hook has been writtcti on 
LIQUID VELVET. It is free, Write for it. If 
tells how LIQl’ID VELVET makes the house a 
home how and why it is the oi e all round 
;u S 4 - lu iw finish for every interior. 
THE O’BRIEN VARNISH COMPANY, 71 John*on Street, South Bend, Indiana 
Manufactur^f of FUxico WhiU Enamel and the Pyramid Floor Ftntth (7) 
PRECAUTION 
All ordinary wall papers are 
affected by the sun’s rays. 
To S A VEU/all ppnAf Expense 
From Fading TTdII V Q]}K\ Worry 
INSIST UPON 
Majert Lightproof 
Wall Papers 
Of the best German manufacture and newest 
design*. Exclusive patterns at moderate price*. 
EMIL MAJERT CO.. 
Your dealer should have the latest Majert 
Sample Book. If he is not supplied write 
direct to our New York Office. 
TINDALE 
MUSIC CABINETS 
Q A new idea 5n keeping music and a 
decided improvement. "/I place for e^-ept 
piece\ enjery piece in its place. _A simple, 
satisfactory index system is furtiished with 
each Cabinet. Variety of designs, sizes and 
finishes, S17 to #8.5. Style F illustrated is 
$35 in mahogany or #32 in oak. 
Write today for Folio of Designs No. 19. 
TINDALE CABINET COMPANY 
No. 1 West 34th Street, New York 
innwimniniiiaiintiiiiuiiiiHiiiiitniinnifnDiiinniiniiinunHuaiittflnii^ 
