HOUSE AND GARDEN 
October, 
1914 
223 
again. So much for the broader lines of generalization. 
To be more specific, let us make a brief review of the leading 
families, so to speak, among the rugs, those which embody the 
latest and most attractive ideas and sturdy virtues. And let us 
note the adapta¬ 
bility of the va¬ 
rious types t o 
particular floors. 
At the outset it is 
proper to say that 
the Oriental is 
now, as always, 
the .aristocrat 
among rugs; it is 
always the best. 
Nor is it neces¬ 
sarily the most 
expensive, in view 
of its wearing 
qualities. It has 
come to be almost 
a requisite for the 
reception room 
and living room 
of a well-equipped 
home; and, in¬ 
deed, there is 
scarcely a room 
for which it is not 
suitable. In no 
other rugs are 
such superb designs to be found. The variety and play of colors 
render them adaptable to decorative schemes. American in¬ 
fluence has increased this adaptability, because the distant makers 
are now far from indifferent to this market and its tastes. We 
might go so far as to formulate a maxim: When in doubt, buy 
an Oriental rug. 
Still, it must be admitted that a wish is one thing and a pocket- 
book another. The spirit may be willing while the purse is weak. 
In such case the domestic replicas of Oriental rugs come almost 
as a boon. They claim to be nothing other than what they are; 
they are, frankly, replicas. There is no deception. But they are 
actually so good that they have won a high name for themselves. 
They have the 
same kind of col¬ 
or and pattern ap¬ 
peals as the Ori¬ 
entals, fit similar¬ 
ly into decorative 
schemes, are ap¬ 
plicable 10 the 
same class of 
floors, and, like 
Oriental rugs, are 
always correct. 
Among foreign 
products, the 
Scotch rug occu¬ 
pies a prominent 
place. It has 
much to recom¬ 
mend it. For one 
thing, it is all 
wool and thor¬ 
oughly depend¬ 
able. A Scotch 
rug is generally 
The position of rugs is the secret of much of their effectiveness. This view of living-room and dining-room shows 
the variety of straight and diagonal arrangements of small rugs 
guaranteed not to 
fade. These rugs 
come in all sizes, 
from small to large, but they adhere to the conventional oblong 
shape. The Scotch are proverbially conservative; if they were 
not conservative they would not be Scotch. The designs of the 
rugs are attractive. The centers are generally plain, with orna¬ 
mental border. There is an appealing precision and detail about 
the border that might suggest French inspiration, and yet the 
rugs are quite distinctive. In these rugs also blue appears to be 
a present favorite, though pink, yellow, etc., are in evidence. 
liiiPiPi 4 
IIP! 
An American-made silk mosque rug of the pronounced 
colors that are in vogue at present 
A Tabriz full of contrasts — old ivory field, Indian red 
outer band enclosing the medallion 
A Kazan prayer rug copied in America and sold at low 
price. Suitable for hallways 
