For the working girls — who are alone trying to make homes for them-
selves— though it may be only one room, rented or at home, as the case
may be, the above words are also intended. If able to have but one
room, have the divan couch for a bed, and with a box underneath to
keep the bed clothes in, none would imagine that the couch served a
double service, that of a lounging place by day and a resting place at
night. The ottomans or window boxes will serve as packing boxes for
clothes. If you have a wardrobe with glass doors, you can have cur-
tains back of it, or the closet door may be taken off its hinges and a long
loose gathered curtain put in its place, thus giving an appearance of
that great desideratum and which is so often lacking in a small house —
room. The camp foot-rest can serve for ottoman or chair, if room
must be utilized.
If there is an old fashioned mantel in the room that you don't know
what to do with, because it's ugly and ill-shaped, put in the fire-place a
fire-board (providing the 'fire-place is not used), and cover it with deep
red velvet paper; repeat this above the mantel shelf to the ceiling.
Put up the sides a band or wood or gilt molding. Valances of cotton
flannel at the window, laid in double box pleats, with the same
covering the mantel shelf are very pretty, either for bedroom or sitting
room. If the room has an alcove off from it, curtains of the same
flannel draped back are exceedingly pretty. A still greater improve-
THE FAMIL Y DINING ROOM. 165
ment is to place several shelves above the mantel, nearly to the ceiling.
These can be made of pine to imitate stained walnut, or ebonized, or
made of the natural woods. With the velvet paper background, the
effect is very pretty and the shelves have the appearance of a cabinet
and serve the same purpose. Or a curtain on a small rod may be put
below the shelf in front of the fire-board, with a mantel drapery to match.
The most simple drapery for a shelf is made by taking a straight
piece of felt or wool goods the length of the outside of the shelf, allow-
ing for width, the depth of the shelf, and about six inches beside ; trim
the bottom with fringe, put a band above the fringe or not, as you pre-
fer; lay it flat on the shelf, and where it hangs down at the ends lap it
with a pleat to fit the shelf ;' fasten at each end with two tacks and the
drapery is finished. (If you do not understand, take a strip of paper,
follow directions and you will quickly get the idea.) This shelf cover
is very convenient, as it can be laid on any shelf and removed when
ready to sweep, clean, or dust the room
But however the room is furnished, give it an individuality of your
own. Have a part of yourself in it, though you may not have followed
a line of art, or obeyed one laid down rule. Even this is better than
a room planned by line or rule, with its air of stiffness, like a furniture
shop.
THE FAMILY DINING ROOM.
Page 146
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
For the working girls — who are alone trying to make homes for themselves— though it may be only one room, rented or at home, as the case may be, the above words are also intended. If able to have but one room, have the divan couch for a bed, and with a box underneath to keep the bed clothes in, none would imagine that the couch served a double service, that of a lounging place by day and a resting place at night. The ottomans or window boxes will serve as packing boxes for clothes. If you have a wardrobe with glass doors, you can have curtains back of it, or the closet door may be taken off its hinges and a long loose gathered curtain put in its place, thus giving an appearance of that great desideratum and which is so often lacking in a small house — room. The camp foot-rest can serve for ottoman or chair, if room must be utilized.
If there is an old fashioned mantel in the room that you don't know what to do with, because it's ugly and ill-shaped, put in the fire-place a fire-board (providing the 'fire-place is not used), and cover it with deep red velvet paper; repeat this above the mantel shelf to the ceiling. Put up the sides a band or wood or gilt molding. Valances of cotton flannel at the window, laid in double box pleats, with the same covering the mantel shelf are very pretty, either for bedroom or sitting room. If the room has an alcove off from it, curtains of the same flannel draped back are exceedingly pretty. A still greater improve-
THE FAMIL Y DINING ROOM. 165
ment is to place several shelves above the mantel, nearly to the ceiling. These can be made of pine to imitate stained walnut, or ebonized, or made of the natural woods. With the velvet paper background, the effect is very pretty and the shelves have the appearance of a cabinet and serve the same purpose. Or a curtain on a small rod may be put below the shelf in front of the fire-board, with a mantel drapery to match.
The most simple drapery for a shelf is made by taking a straight piece of felt or wool goods the length of the outside of the shelf, allowing for width, the depth of the shelf, and about six inches beside ; trim the bottom with fringe, put a band above the fringe or not, as you prefer; lay it flat on the shelf, and where it hangs down at the ends lap it with a pleat to fit the shelf; fasten at each end with two tacks and the drapery is finished. (If you do not understand, take a strip of paper, follow directions and you will quickly get the idea.) This shelf cover is very convenient, as it can be laid on any shelf and removed when ready to sweep, clean, or dust the room
But however the room is furnished, give it an individuality of your own. Have a part of yourself in it, though you may not have followed a line of art, or obeyed one laid down rule. Even this is better than a room planned by line or rule, with its air of stiffness, like a furniture shop.
THE FAMILY DINING ROOM.