HOUSE AND GARDEN 
May, 1911 
The rosewood sofa and chairs of long ago are still grouped around the fireplace. It is 
interesting to notice the simplicity of the mantel and the modeled iron fire-back 
chilly backs and shoulders. (Under one of the chairs is pasted a 
label dated 1796, describing how “all kinds of Windsor Chairs 
and Setties” were made in New York on “Catherine Street above 
the Tea-Water Pump.”) Doors were tight shut against the cold 
of the hallway; a vista wide open from 
room to room would have been dearly paid 
for by logs and close attention. The open 
fire was naturally the center of interest— 
notice in the parlour how the rosewood 
chairs and sofa are grouped about it; the 
modeled iron fire-backs were in some cases 
the only architectural ornaments in a room. 
However, in the back-parlour it is differ¬ 
ent, for this room is used in part as a li¬ 
brary, and the windows and table become 
the more important features. The pedestal 
of this table is particularly interesting; un¬ 
fortunately it is obscured in the photograph 
by tbe dark paper behind, a visible criticism 
of dark wall paper in an old house; for the 
wall papers here are not in character. One 
might safely guess that tbe walls were for¬ 
merly tinted or in sanded plaster only, and 
the delicate mahogany carving showed in 
strong silhouette. Notice the modeled legs 
of the china-cupboard against the white 
paneled wood; the silhouette of all old fur¬ 
niture has evidently received great atten¬ 
tion, and perhaps the light background ex¬ 
plains the reason, for with our dark wall 
paper, silhouette is not of much importance. 
But let him who contemplates light walls 
in the old manner beware of one thing: that they will exact ex¬ 
treme care in arranging his furniture, for each piece stands clearly 
forth and what was 
not noticeable with 
Originally the walls of the hall were probably finished in tinted or sanded plaster only. 
Papering was rarely found excepting in important formal rooms 
A very curious piece is the tall china cup¬ 
board, holding the china and cut-glass of 
past generations 
dark walls is a fault with light. Farmhouse 
walls were washed with something re¬ 
sembling kalsomine, and delicate shades of 
pink, blue and buff are common. The stair 
hall of a neighboring house is painted grav- 
white with an irregular gray stippling sug- 
