SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
. M aFOR THE HOU3E AND GARDEHi £ 
iiSi 
THE HOUSE 
I T is in June, as Eowell has said, that the “rare 
days” come—the perfect summer weather— 
bright and sparkling, warm and halmy, life- 
giving and delightful, and it is then that the outdoor 
world becomes seductive and the indoor world ceases 
to attract, d'he piazza takes the place not only of the 
living-room, hut the drawing-room, and its furnishing 
becomes the thing of paramount importance. 
There is bewildering variety to-day in porch 
furniture and endless opportunity given to indulge 
one’s taste and fancy. No furniture, of course, is 
more attractive than that made of rattan and in 
durability little is as profitable, hut plainer kinds 
involving less initial cost are to he had and will he 
found acceptable—the chairs and settees with plain 
wooden frames and split bottoms are extremely cheap, 
comfortable and not unattractive, when painted and 
cushioned. I'he hist three things to be remembered 
in selecting chairs for piazza use are comfort, dura¬ 
bility and appearance. Many which are pictur¬ 
esque are tortuous resting places, and some appar¬ 
ently well made will not outlive a single season. 
In purchasing rocking chairs it is well to observe 
whether or not they are properly balanced and do 
not tip unduly forward or hack. And the question 
of paint and varnish should he cautiously investi¬ 
gated, for nothing is more annoying than a chair 
which in damp weather lays hold on one’s clothing. 
Eor solid comfort as well as convenient arrange¬ 
ment the rattan arm-chairs with cushions and hack 
rests and without rockers are the best. If the house 
is dull in color and the piazza deep and shady, green 
chairs and Turkey red cushions will prove very effec¬ 
tive. The color of the house and the location of the 
piazza should, however, always he taken into con¬ 
sideration when the covering for the cushions is 
selected as these accessories really make or mar the 
general effect. If the house is light in color and the 
piazza sunny, cool shades, greens and blues, will 
unquestionably he found most agreeable, hut even 
here strong dull colors are better than delicate light 
ones. 
It goes almost without saying that awnings and 
shades must he provided for the piazza as well as for 
the windows of the house, for nothing is so disquieting 
as a glare of light, hut again care should he taken 
that they should not be hung in such a manner that 
they cut off the free circulation of air. The split 
cane and matting shades appropriately placed are 
attractive and can be made to serve not only as a 
shield hut as background for a picturesque outlook. 
Why not make use of the outdoor pictures which 
Nature provides and occasionally give them setting 
or frame ? 
A table is a great adjunct m the furnishing of the 
piazza. Eet it have both an upper and a lower 
shelf if possible and not he too high. A howl of 
flowers set upon this, with some hooks and the 
current magazines, will give the piazza an appearance 
of cheer and an air of real hospitality. Such little 
touches make the distinction between the house and 
the home. 
A square wall pocket made of denim of an incon¬ 
spicuous color, fastened at its four corners and pro¬ 
vided with a broad upper flap, placed against the 
side of the house, will prove an excellent place for 
the newspapers which customarily are left in the 
seats of the chairs to frolic ruthlessly about the 
piazza and finally escape to the lawn and walk, 
d'hey can he had in matting but are not difficult to 
make. 
If the piazza is very roomy and the furnishings 
somewhat sumptuous an agreeable touch may he 
added by placing upon the floor a few fibre rugs, hut 
these are decidedly to be numbered among the non- 
essentials. 
Hammocks and swinging seats are enjoyed by 
many and if space affords can well he given place. 
It is in June, commonly, that the city dweller 
takes possession of his country home, and under 
these conditions there is work indoors to he done as 
well as out. Curtains must be put up, bedrooms 
made ready, pantries put in order, and coat closets 
prepared for occupancy. Window seats in the liv¬ 
ing-room made in the form of chests to hold extra 
cushions, shawls and the like, will he found well 
worth the cost and trouble of construction. 
But there are those who do not abandon the city 
for the seaside or the mountains—who have neither 
country home nor piazza. In the eyes of many they 
are much to he pitied, hut in truth they need not he 
commiserated. The city house is not of necessity 
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