The Parlor Carpet. — The parlor should, of course, have the best carpet in the house. In rooms of ordinary size avoid large iigures. They cause a carpet to cut to waste and make the room look small. Also, avoid glaring colors. That so many such carpets are made shows that taste in the masses needs cultivating. The manu- facturers are not to blame. They simply cater to the demands of the public. House-Plants, etc. — Flowers and plants are in order everywhere, inside the house and out. The parlor, however, unless it be the living-room also, is not the place for their cultivation. We do not believe in dark parlors, yet in these rooms there is hardly sun enough admitted for the best growth of plants. Place such as may be easily moved in nice vases, and use them when in their best condition to ornament the room ; those kept in wardian and other glass covered cases will also do well. The illustration of Glass Case for House- plants on page 727, shows a pretty design that may be kept in the living-room, and is easily moved from one room to another as may be desired. Ferns are admirable; none are prettier, in a collection, than the walking fern, shown on opposite page. Ferns will not bear the sun nor live in a dry atmosphere. For house culti- vation they are usually kept in glass cases. An aquarium is pretty anywhere; especially so in AQUARIUM. ^j^^ dining-room. All these we have mentioned may, with proper care, be freely rolled along a carpet from one room to another. IV. The Dining-Room. The dining-room requires little furniture, but that should be good and as hand- some as you can afford. Stuffed furniture is out of place here, even if the dining- room is also used as a living-room. A sideboard, with proper conveniences, should be had if possible. The carpet ought to be bright rather than dark, and correspond to the other furniture, and the pictures in harmony with the surroundings. Here ao-ain the skill of the housewife may be used to have the proper closets for china and table ware oonvenient. In these days of inexpensive and excellent plated ware, a very litMe money, comparatively speaking, will add largely to the comfort and economy of HOUSEI-IOI.n ART AND TASTE. 345 the table service. Do not overdo tlic matter, though here and in the kitchen one may WALKIXG FERNS. be pardoned any reasonable expense that will add to the I'cal comfort of the family. PINEAPPLE AND FKUIT. fASJ.; ov FKRNS. What Taste may do. — The dining-room is an excellent place to display taste, 346 TWENTIETH CENTURY HOME COOK BOOK. and this is especially the case if it be also used as the living-room. Let some of the pictures be suggestive of good living, game-birds, tish, fruit pieces, etc. An aqua- rium, plants, etc., as described in the section relating to the parlor, will also be appropriate for the dining-room. In the South, fruits not quite hardy enough for growino- out of doors may be used. Among a collection we once saw was a grow- ino- pineapple as a dining-room decoration, removed from the greenhouse. If one has a greenhouse many beautiful things may be grown for temporary removal to the dining-room; if not, some of the fruit-bearing house-plants may be used; such, for example, as Solanum or Jerusalem cherries. Among table decora- tions bouquets of flowers, or at the least some green thing, always suggest refinement. The fern case shown is appropriate for this purpose. The dining-room should be WINDOW-PLANTS IN DINING-ROOM. well lighted and cheerful, especially so when also used as the living-room, Break the glare of the sun, when necessary, with curtains. The illustration of Window-jilants in Dining-room shows a pretty effect. To produce this costs little besides the neces- sary care of the plants, which may be made a labor of love as well as an educator to the children. V. The Kitchen.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The Parlor Carpet. — The parlor should, of course, have the best carpet in the house. In rooms of ordinary size avoid large figures. They cause a carpet to cut to waste and make the room look small. Also, avoid glaring colors. That so many such carpets are made shows that taste in the masses needs cultivating. The manufacturers are not to blame. They simply cater to the demands of the public. House-Plants, etc. — Flowers and plants are in order everywhere, inside the house and out. The parlor, however, unless it be the living-room also, is not the place for their cultivation. We do not believe in dark parlors, yet in these rooms there is hardly sun enough admitted for the best growth of plants. Place such as may be easily moved in nice vases, and use them when in their best condition to ornament the room ; those kept in wardian and other glass covered cases will also do well. The illustration of Glass Case for Houseplants on page 727, shows a pretty design that may be kept in the living-room, and is easily moved from one room to another as may be desired. Ferns are admirable; none are prettier, in a collection, than the walking fern, shown on opposite page. Ferns will not bear the sun nor live in a dry atmosphere. For house cultivation they are usually kept in glass cases. An aquarium is pretty anywhere; especially so in AQUARIUM. ^j^^ dining-room. All these we have mentioned may, with proper care, be freely rolled along a carpet from one room to another. IV. The Dining-Room. The dining-room requires little furniture, but that should be good and as handsome as you can afford. Stuffed furniture is out of place here, even if the diningroom is also used as a living-room. A sideboard, with proper conveniences, should be had if possible. The carpet ought to be bright rather than dark, and correspond to the other furniture, and the pictures in harmony with the surroundings. Here again the skill of the housewife may be used to have the proper closets for china and table ware convenient. In these days of inexpensive and excellent plated ware, a very litMe money, comparatively speaking, will add largely to the comfort and economy of HOUSEI-IOI.n ART AND TASTE. 345 the table service. Do not overdo tlic matter, though here and in the kitchen one may WALKIXG FERNS. be pardoned any reasonable expense that will add to the I'cal comfort of the family. [illustration: PINEAPPLE AND FRUIT. CASE OF FERNS.] What Taste may do. — The dining-room is an excellent place to display taste, and this is especially the case if it be also used as the living-room. Let some of the pictures be suggestive of good living, game-birds, tish, fruit pieces, etc. An aquarium, plants, etc., as described in the section relating to the parlor, will also be appropriate for the dining-room. In the South, fruits not quite hardy enough for growing out of doors may be used. Among a collection we once saw was a growino- pineapple as a dining-room decoration, removed from the greenhouse. If one has a greenhouse many beautiful things may be grown for temporary removal to the dining-room; if not, some of the fruit-bearing house-plants may be used; such, for example, as Solanum or Jerusalem cherries. Among table decorations bouquets of flowers, or at the least some green thing, always suggest refinement. The fern case shown is appropriate for this purpose. The dining-room should be WINDOW-PLANTS IN DINING-ROOM. well lighted and cheerful, especially so when also used as the living-room, Break the glare of the sun, when necessary, with curtains. The illustration of Window-plants in Dining-room shows a pretty effect. To produce this costs little besides the necessary care of the plants, which may be made a labor of love as well as an educator to the children. V. The Kitchen.

Twentieth century home cook book