59 
May, 19 21 
the ounce. There are also 
the specially prepared 
stains, which are perfectly 
dependable. 
It should now be fairly 
obvious that stain can only 
be succesfully used on a 
floor which is in reason¬ 
ably good condition. When 
the floors are old, and poor 
in quality, with gaps to be 
puttied and holes to be 
patched, or when they 
have been spoiled by suc¬ 
cessive applications of bad 
old stain, then is the time 
for using paint. There is 
nothing new about this 
process. So far from 
wearing off, the painted 
floor is very much more 
durable than the usual 
varnish stain. It does not 
look odd; it lends itself to 
any scheme of decoration, 
and it is the most efficient disguise for de¬ 
fective flooring. Further, while it gives the 
“furnished look” that some people desire, it 
also does, in some degree, deaden the sound 
of feet which is one drawback to the bare 
floor. Certainly it costs more than stain, and 
(equally certain) it is not a speedy process, 
and cannot be hurried over with any prospect 
of success. First the boards must be cleaned 
thoroughly; all gaps between them must be 
filled, and nail-holes stopped, and any rough¬ 
ness should be planed away. Three, or even 
four, coats of paint must then be applied, and 
each coat must dry iron-hard before the next 
goes on. Finally, two coats of hard varnish, 
the second not to be laid on until not the faint¬ 
est trace of stickiness is 
left on the first. 
If these conditions are 
observed, a painted floor 
will keep in perfect con¬ 
dition for years. As a rule 
waxing is not necessary at 
first; later, the floor may 
get a little dull with use, 
and then regular waxing 
and polishing in the usual 
way will keep its lustre up 
to the mark. The test of 
a really bright floor lies 
in the strength and clear¬ 
ness of its reflections. Pale 
colors undoubtedly tend 
to get dirty after a time; 
when this happens the 
floor can be washed with¬ 
out any risk of damage. 
Soda must be used spar¬ 
ingly for fear of removing 
the varnish, for once that 
protection is worn off the 
paint begins to go too. But with soap and 
warm water, and plenty of clean rags to rinse, 
and plenty more to dry as you go along, and 
a good wax polishing the next day, your floor 
will be like new again. 
With regard to colors, the choice is entirely 
a matter of taste. Black, dark blue and yel¬ 
low are all very good and practical. 
Where the floor boards are in good enough condition stain is preferable 
because it makes a mellower floor. This is especially advisable when the 
wood has a distinctive graining that should show. In this room the 
grain of the deal boards is preserved by a deep, translucent brown stain 
