February, 1923 
59 
Panels of paper in a Louis XV design are 
especially gay against custard yellow walls. 
Decorations by Nancy McClelland, Inc. 
scenic paper that adorns the room was 
“The Adventures of Telemachus in the 
Island of Calypso”, and in the most 
prominent place, between the cross- 
barred windows, was the episode of a 
sumptuous repast proffered to the son 
of Ulysses. Small wonder that the eyes 
of the poor little pensionnaires strayed 
from the food they were condemned to 
eat to the highly colored and alluring 
viands in the picture. 
As yet, no New York hostess that I 
know of has tried this 
vicarious method of pro¬ 
viding sustenance for her 
guests, but a large number 
are beginning to realize 
that the decorations of 
their walls will add a 
certain zest to their din¬ 
ners, just as flowers and 
music and soft lights con¬ 
tribute to its success. And 
a few have succeeded in 
finding very unusual and 
beautiful papers to use 
for wall decorations. 
In the dining room of 
Mrs. J. Watson Webb, at 
Westbury, Long Island, is 
a fascinating old French 
paper with tossing waves 
and boats that seem to 
bring the sea into the 
room. Over the mantel, as 
This sailing vessel flying the American flag 
with thirteen stars is part of an old French 
scenic paper painted in tempera about 1796 
the scene wanders on without repetition, 
is a sailing boat flying the American 
flag with thirteen stars. 
Many and merry have been the dis¬ 
putes at the dinner table over this flag. 
The question is always raised as to 
whether it was painted especially for 
the over mantel decoration, but Mrs. 
Webb convinces doubting Thomases by 
telling them the history of the paper. It 
was found in a little town near Verdun, 
where it has been on the walls of a cafe 
ever since it was made. 
This was about the time 
of the French Revolution, 
as the Liberty caps on the 
sailors and other person¬ 
ages in the paper show. 
America had already won 
her independence, and as 
a compliment, her flag was 
painted on one of the 
vessels in the picture, and 
has never been touched 
since. 
This old paper, with 
its blues and greens and 
touches of bright color in 
the costumes, is a lovely 
(Continued on page 94) 
Yellow chairs with fat 
blue cushions tone 
charmingly with the 
colorful paper panel in 
the dining room of Mrs. 
Louis Ranger 
