The Editor will gladly answer queries pertaining to individual problems of interior decoration and furnishing. When an immediate reply is desired, 
please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. 
Electric Helps 
PROTECTION from fire may be secured 
by purchasing one or more (accord¬ 
ing to the size of your house) of the elec¬ 
tric thermostats, which cost fifty cents 
apiece. It is not difficult to connect them 
with an electric hell, and most household¬ 
ers can do so in a very short time. A num¬ 
ber may he connected in such a manner 
that only one bell and battery will he 
needed. There are also adjustable ones, 
which may be set to operate at varying 
degrees of temperature, and which are 
very essential for anyone who has an in¬ 
cubator or greenhouse, as they will sound 
an alarm in case the temperature changes 
to a dangerous degree. They cost some¬ 
what more than the fire alarm kind, be¬ 
cause of this adjustable feature, hut they 
often save the wages of the man who 
would be necessary merely for the warn¬ 
ing which this apparatus gives. 
It has been found best by the writer to 
specify a floor push button for the dining¬ 
room electric hell system instead of the 
“pear" push which is connected with flex¬ 
ible wires from the leg of the table to a 
socket in the floor, because with the flex¬ 
ible wire arrangement it is necessary to cut 
a hole in the rug or carpet with which the 
floor of the dining-room is covered. Do 
not allow such a style to be used. It is 
more expensive to start with, and there is 
no difficulty in using the other kind, which 
readily operates from a gentle foot pres¬ 
sure through the carpet or rug which 
covers it. 
Another attachment can now be pro¬ 
cured at a small cost which allows the 
street electricity to be used to ring all the 
electric bells in the house, thus dispensing 
with batteries which are so expensive and 
troublesome to maintain. These devices 
will soon pay for themselves. 
A Ten Cent Jardiniere 
r | 'HOSE who must needs furnish on a 
small sum will do well to make pil¬ 
grimages to the flve-and-ten-cent stores, 
for there treasures in the way of accesories 
for the home often may be found. 
The jardiniere shown in the illustration 
was bought for ten cents. It is pleasing in 
appearance and practical in its usefulness. 
The color of the jardiniere is not the terra¬ 
cotta of the ordinary flower pot, but a light 
pinkish huff that harmonizes effectively 
with the green of the trailing asparagus 
that fills it. The howl is drained, by three 
little holes, into the saucer, so that any 
excess of water soon evaporates. When 
the jardiniere was purchased there were no 
wires or chains by which to hang it, but 
It is not afways the most expensive that is 
the most serviceable. A jardiniere which 
may be bought for ten cents 
three holes had been bored in the earthen¬ 
ware for this purpose. A five-cent pack- 
age of gold picture wire was used to sus¬ 
pend it. Had brass chains been used the 
effect might have been even more impos¬ 
ing. 
Simple little dull green jardinieres can 
■also be bought for ten cents. These are 
not of the hanging variety, but are charm¬ 
ing for use on a dining-room table when 
fern-filled. 
Prospective purchasers at the flve-and- 
ten-cent stores must bear in mind that the 
greatest bargains are not kept regularly. 
However, those who will keep in close 
touch with the changing stock should be 
amply repaid for frequent visits by the 
treasures so often to be found. 
Some Suggestions for Old Jars 
RAID of tidiness amongst odd cup¬ 
boards and top shelves is almost sure 
to result in a great collection of old bottles 
and jars. Of course a certain number of 
these will be wanted, and can be put aside 
for holding home-made preserves and 
wines. It is not unlikely, however, that 
there will still remain a surplus stock which 
requires to be disposed of in one way or 
another. Instead of consigning these at 
once to the dust bin, it is worth while to 
turn some of them at least to good account 
after the manner here described. 
One does not readily become overstocked 
with flower holders, and though it may 
seem rather a far cry from a homely jam¬ 
pot to a vase, vet by the use of a simple 
process or two it is surprising what ef¬ 
fective results can be evolved. 
Of course it is not possible entirely to 
reconstruct the character of a jar or bot¬ 
tle or indeed to vary it to any great ex¬ 
tent. For this reason the vessels chosen 
for treatment should be principaly selected 
from those which have the best outlines. 
The articles being only roughly moulded, 
it will also be needful to see that they are 
free from flaws, either on the surface or 
in regularity of shape. 
Stone jars may be colored or decorated 
in any style which pleases the taste of the 
individual who handles them. Brush work 
seems to be specially well adapted for car¬ 
rying out simple designs and patterns. It 
may be quickly done and will give a good 
and clear impression, which will accord 
rather well with the severe lines of the arti¬ 
cle in question. It is necessary to remem¬ 
ber that anything involved or elaborate 
would be quite out of place in this connec¬ 
tion, and the patterns selected) whether 
floral or conventional, should be those 
which are plain and direct in appearance. 
A good enamel, suitable to stand water, 
may be used for the purpose, and the soft, 
clear shades, such as are generally used for 
china decoration, can be readily secured. 
( 114 ) 
