A Portion of “The Children’s Frieze” 
Furnishing and Decorating the 
Nursery 
By SARAH E. RUGGLES 
I T is only within recent years that the itirnishing 
of the nursery has received serious considera¬ 
tion. In many homes where the decorations 
of the living-room, dining-room and chambers were 
all that could be desired, the nursery was a room 
unworthy of the uses to which it was put. The 
theory that the environments of a child are of great 
educational value are undoubtedly correct and it is 
therefore highly essential that the child’s ow n room, 
above all others in the house, be furnished and dec¬ 
orated with great care. Poor art and bad taste 
should not be permitted in this apartment. In the 
days happily now passed, the nursery was supplied 
with a crib, high-chair and some odd and unlovely 
pieces of furniture which had passed their usefulness 
in the several chambers of the house. 
The high-chair was always a 
necessity both for the table and 
helping the little hands to reach 
the high shelves where his treas¬ 
ures might be stored In those 
days the general feeling w as that 
the child was too small to notice 
or appreciate his surroundings, a 
most mistaken idea, for it cannot 
be denied that bright harmonious 
colors in anyone’s surroundings 
will tend to greater cheerfulness 
and make for the happiness of 
the occupant. It is then a real 
debt of gratitude that the little 
ones of to-day ow e the designers 
who have interested themselves 
in the decoration and furnishing 
of their rooms. Most of the cleverly wrought 
w^all-papers and friezes are imported from England. 
Everyone knows and recognizes Kate Greenaway’s 
children, and the wall-papers of her designing are no 
less attractive than her picture books. The same 
charming little figures have been utilized by the 
manufacturers of chintzes and cretonnes. We are 
again indebted to England for Cecil Alden who, too, 
has supplied us w ith many f ascinating nursery friezes 
and panels. His children and animals fairly bubble 
over with life and joy. The accompanying illustra¬ 
tions will serve to give some idea of the quaintness of 
the friezes for this season’s work seen in the shops. 
"Eo the child w ho adores Maud Adams’ Peter Pan, 
is now offered a choice selection of Peter Pan posters. 
i hese may be set about as a paneled frieze or may be 
used directly above the low 
wainscot or chair rail. While 
we acknowledge our indebt¬ 
edness to England in this 
field of nursery papers and 
friezes, we have a home product 
m the line of nursery furniture 
which is unexcelled. One of 
the leading firms in New York 
has realized the necessity of 
supplying the nursery wdth furni¬ 
ture suitable to the needs of little 
children. Chairs, desks and 
tables of proportionate sizes, 
well and sturdily built, of good 
design, can be secured from this 
firm. All sizes and conditions 
are considered. A tiny crib for 
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