INSIDE THE 
HOUSE 
Timely Suggestions and 
Answers to Correspondents 
Good Reproductions in Brass 
ORTUNATE are we that somebody 
recognized the beauty and utility of 
brass and set about reviving its use. In 
the scheme of artistic possibilities for tbe 
bouse it has its value no less than silver 
and crystal, though its place is totally dif¬ 
ferent. Brass candlesticks are out of key 
on a mahogany sideboard, where silver is 
at home, but they may give distinctive 
charm on the mantel or table of the living- 
room. 
Many hand-wrought articles are faith¬ 
ful reproductions of old English pieces, 
just as we have the samovar copied from 
the Russian. The corn-poppers and chest¬ 
nut roasters, which are illustrated, are 
hand-made copies of their English fore¬ 
bears. They show fidelity of workman¬ 
ship in the minutest detail, which is note¬ 
worthy in this commercial age, when quick 
work is the rule. The designer shows his 
interest in ancient legend by the use of 
Mercury wings and the serpent to com¬ 
pose the handle of one of the roasters. 
One of the symbols also appears on the 
perforated cover of the roaster. There 
are few perforations in this cover, but 
usually the cover is full of piercings like 
the sides and bottom. 
The little triangular chestnut roasters 
are odd looking and interesting, but one 
rather imagines the large, round chestnut 
roaster or popper serving a merry party of 
youngsters who have just come in from a 
tramp in the sharp, spring air, and gath¬ 
ered about the blazing fire. Just before 
bedtime that same happy assembly will 
probably lift the lovely brass toaster from 
its hook and over the glowing embers 
there will be toasted marshmallows, done 
to a turn, just as they were at the erst¬ 
while college feasts. These brass toast¬ 
ers are wonderfully charming, some that 
suggest the far Orient in the design of 
bowl and handle; others of remarkably 
simple, but none the less graceful, lines. 
And there are warming pans like them, 
too, which, like the toasters, are a joy 
whether in use or not, because they are so 
decorative. 
Door porters, those silent sentinels that 
save our nerves from slamming doors, 
will be welcomed when warm days tempt 
one to stand every door wide open. One 
entirely new design is the Dolphin, hand¬ 
some, massive and heavy, which is illus¬ 
trated, and the very opposite of this is the 
Colonial style, plain, but with charm, as 
the true Colonial always is. Between these 
two, the one ornate, the other severely 
plain, there are many designs from which 
to select. One that is good is a claw- 
foot, evidently copied from the foot of 
an old davenport or highboy, out of which 
rises a twisted rod with handle at con¬ 
venient height. 
Some door-knockers that are the out¬ 
come of these tragic days are reminders 
of Rheims. One is a miniature faqade of 
the Rheims Cathedral, and two others are 
copies of gargoyles from that historic 
church. They may be interesting, but 
they are not cheerful. 
The “safety-first” slogan might have 
been responsible for tbe Cape Cod fire 
lighter, which recalls visions of Puritan 
New England. It reduces fire building 
to a feat of magic by its working, not to 
mention the quaint beauty of the device. 
There is a ball of absorbent stone clasped 
to a wire handle, and this stands in kero¬ 
sene, which is held in the brass container. 
The kerosene-soaked stone is thrust under 
the coal or wood, the match applied, and 
a quick fire is the result. No kindling or 
paper is needed. It is a blessing to the 
man who builds the furnace fire in winter 
and to mountain campers, who often need 
fires on chill summer evenings. 
Let not the thought of keeping one's 
brasses in order be a hindrance to their 
possession. Brass is more easily kept 
burnished and shining than silver, yet the 
care of silver deters no woman from own¬ 
ing as much sterling and fine plate as her 
means will allow. Our grandmothers 
were wont to keep their brass preserving 
kettles shining like virgin gold through a 
liberal use of vinegar and salt, which re¬ 
moved every particle of tarnish. Nowa¬ 
days there are all sorts of metal polishes 
that do the work, but when none is con¬ 
venient try rottenstone and oil. Any cot¬ 
tonseed oil product is good for this, and 
is inexpensive. 
I admit a leaning to the use of rotten- 
stone and oil for cleaning brass. It pro¬ 
duces such a rich, deep golden yellow that 
I use it on my grandmother’s brass kettle. 
No, I don’t make preserves in dear grand¬ 
mother’s brass kettle in this day of porce¬ 
lain and aluminum. But I hold such 
happy memories of scraping that jam ket- 
The old chestnut roasters have been 
faithfully reproduced even to the 
crudities of workmanship 
Nothing more than the utilitarian 
strainer, fashioned after the old pat¬ 
tern, with a semblance of artistry 
Toasters and fire irons of rich old pat¬ 
terns are as serviceable as they are 
decorative 
A product of "safety first" — a fire 
starter, with a stone torch to soak 
in oil 
270 
