INSIDE THE 
HOUSE 
Timely Suggestions and 
Answers to Correspondents 
A Practical Flower Box 
HE reason why many people fail 
with their flowers inside the house, 
and even in window boxes, is because the 
plants are not set in a receptacle that per¬ 
mits sufficient watering and proper drain¬ 
age. Either they overwater and the soil 
becomes soggy, which leads to rotting of 
the roots, loss of plant food and conse¬ 
quent poor health for the plants: or else 
they underwater and the plants suffer 
from the lack of moisture. The most 
practical plan is to feed the water into the 
bottom of the box so that the roots can 
absorb as much moisture as they need and 
not be floated in a soggy soil, for roots are 
like the horse that you lead to the trough— 
they’ll drink their fill and that's all. 
There is being shown a box that is noth¬ 
ing more than a greenhouse on a small 
scale. It has a patented bottom which 
gives the plants perfect drainage, and at 
the same time does not leak. The water 
receptacle runs full length of the box and 
gives the roots a plentiful supply of clean 
water. It is made of galvanized steel, 
enamel dark green on outside, and will last 
for many years. 
It can be set on the window-sill inside 
or hung from the window on outside, or 
fastened to rail on any part of the piazza. 
It gives the perfect drainage so necessary 
for the growing of plants, and at the same 
time will not leak or drip and damage the 
woodwork. 
The Care of Curtains 
1 TH spring cleaning comes the 
necessity of caring for the cur¬ 
tains and draperies that have done service 
through the winter months and must be. 
made ready to store away until they are 
needed again in the fall. All draperies 
should be thoroughly cleaned before be¬ 
ing put away for the summer, for dirt and 
dust will rot even the strongest material 
if allowed to remain in it for any length 
of time. There are several easy ways to 
clean the most delicate curtains, but the 
most satisfactory method of washing 
white ones is to place them in a bag made 
of cheese cloth or mosquito netting. Let 
them soak in warm, “sudsy” water made 
with a pure, white soap for about thirty 
minutes; apply more Swap and rub the 
bag and its contents gently through the 
hands. Rinse in clear, warm water and 
again in cold water to which a little bluing 
has been added. Squeeze the water out 
with your hands; do not wring. Lacking 
a curtain frame, lay a clean sheet on the 
floor and stretch the curtains on it, pin¬ 
ning them at frequent intervals along the 
edge. Take care to pull the lace edges, if 
they have them, out smooth, and pin them 
securely to the sheet. When the curtains 
are dry they will look like new. 
Heavy draperies should be hung on the 
line on a windy day and beaten as you 
would a carpet, but not so hard. When 
the loose dust is out they can be laid on 
the grass and the spots removed by scrub¬ 
bing them with gasoline to which a small 
quantity of soap powder has been added. 
If they are badly soiled, wash them in 
gasoline and soap powder, rinse in clean 
gasoline and dry in the open air. Sprinkle 
powdered camphor balls between the folds 
of heavy draperies when packing them 
away for the summer, and wrap them in 
newspaper to avoid any danger of moths. 
It is said that blotting paper wet with oil 
of lavender is an excellent preventive of 
.moths. If this is used it will impart a de¬ 
lightful perfume that will prove very 
pleasing when the curtains are called into 
service once more. 
Decorated tin sconces, reproductions of a Colonial 
pattern prove both serviceable and ornamental 
A Revival of Sconces 
HERE are many occasions when the 
country dweller who cannot avail 
herself of the conveniences of gas or elec¬ 
tric lighting wishes for suitable wall 
brackets that are at once decorative, sim¬ 
ple and serviceable. For such needs come 
reproductions of Colonial tin sconces, 
shown in illustration here. 
They consist of an oblong back that acts 
as a reflector and shields from the slight 
draught; a semi-circular base with a sock¬ 
et for the candle; and above, a flange bent 
over at a slight angle to reflect the light 
further. All the edges are turned to a 
seam over heavy wire, giving a substan¬ 
tial, rounded finish. There is a hole in the 
back by which they may be hung on the 
wall; the base is sufficiently solid to per¬ 
mit their standing upright on table or 
mantel. 
Though painted in various colors, the 
most attractive is in black, with edges of 
green or dull orange, with the decoration 
on the top flange, employing the same 
tones. The design of these little decora¬ 
tions are supposed to repeat the design of 
the chintz used in hanging and covers in 
the room. Thus, one charming type _ is 
decorated with a green vase filled with 
vari-colored flowers, and, atilt on the edge, 
two yellow birds. Another is painted 
white and striped with green edges, and 
at the top a lattice basket overflowing with 
old-fashioned flowers. This is particu- 
larlv appropriate for a Colonial bedroom. 
Still another striking example has a white 
background, black-striped edges, and on 
top a large bird swinging on a circular 
perch. It is from the futurist designs of 
the new chintzes that many of these 
sconce decorations are taken. 
It must not be supposed that such 
sconces have only a utilitarian value. In 
a small hall they make by night an at¬ 
tractive temporary- light, and by day are 
invariably decorative. Again, a pretty 
group may be made by placing on either 
side of a black-framed mirror striped with 
colors, one of these sconces with the dec¬ 
orations repeating the colors on the frame 
of the mirror. 
Mostly Vanity 
E ACH season brings forth something 
new in the way of furnishings that 
are intended to add solely to the joy and 
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