There has been a good deal of discussion among furnishers as to what style of picture should be hung in a dining-room. One de- clares that the stereotyped paintings and en- gravings of fruit, fish, and fowl are the only appropriate works of art for this room ; while another argues that it is enough to see the food in its prepared condition upon the table, without being forced to contemplate it in its 10 THE DINENG-ROOM natural state upon the walls. The wise course to follow seems to lie between the two. Keally pretty pictures of game birds or fish, or of fruit or flowers, are undoubted- ly in their place in a •dining-room, but there is no reason why every other kind of picture should be excluded. Pastoral or marine scenes, genre pictures, almost anything ex- cept family portraits, may fitly be placed there. Their place is in the library, the sit- ting-room, or in the large hall, if there be one. Nothing should hang in the dining-room that is not good of its kind. A cheap chro- mo, a poorly executed drawing or water- color, or an indifferent photograph annoys beyond words the unfortunate wight who has to sit opposite it for an hour or two each day. The furniture of a dining-room should be durable, even if its owners cannot afford to have it very handsome. Cheap chairs and table are out of place here. Even those who cannot afford leather-upholstered chairs and a heavy mahogany or black- walnut or oak 11 WHAT TO EAT — HOW TO SEEVE IT ' dining-table may get solid, durable substi- tutes. Cane seats for the chairs, and an un- polished top for the table, are better than showy — and cheap — elegance. A square table generally allows* more space to those seated about it than does a round one. Al- most any amount of money may be expend- ed upon a sideboard, but a good one may be purchased at no great outlay. In addition to this, if space permits, there should be a table, with a shelf or two above it, to serve as a dinner-wagon. This is almost a neces- sity when the vegetables are passed instead of being placed on the table, and it is also useful for holding relays of clean plates, etc. The amount of furniture that is useful and appropriate in a dining-room is of necessity limited. Besides the articles already named, there may be a china press pr cabinet, an easy-chair or two^ or even a .sofa. The last is a boon to an invalid or convalescent, who grows weary of a long seance in a high, straight-backed chair. The couch may be forced to serve a double purpose by being made in the form of a long box, broad and 12 THE DINING-BOOM low, covered with cretonne, denim, or any- other durable material, and provided with a hair mattress on the top. When two or three square pillows are added to this, behold a comfortable divan, that will at the same time be a receptacle for the table-linen. Some such coffer as this is almost a must-have in a dining-room, unless the china closet is pro- vided with drawers. A wall cabinet for choice pieces of china is a pretty ornament for a dining-room, and so is an over-mantel. The latter may consist of two, three, or more shelves, and should be solid at the back, as small hooks may then be screwed in, upon which to hang tea or coffee cups. These shelves may extend the full length of the mantel, or occupy only part of the space. In any case they are excellent for displaying such pieces of china as one may not wish to keep concealed in the depths of a china closet. Nothing very delicate that will be injured by dust should stand here. A corner cupboard adds to the beauty of a room, and may either be bought ready-made, or built to fit some especial corner. The 13 WHAT TO EAT — HOW TO SEBVE IT lower part of the cupboard may have a solid wooden door, while glass doors for the up- per part permit a view of the glass or silver stored there.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

There has been a good deal of discussion among furnishers as to what style of picture should be hung in a dining-room. One declares that the stereotyped paintings and engravings of fruit, fish, and fowl are the only appropriate works of art for this room ; while another argues that it is enough to see the food in its prepared condition upon the table, without being forced to contemplate it in its THE DINENG-ROOM natural state upon the walls. The wise course to follow seems to lie between the two. Keally pretty pictures of game birds or fish, or of fruit or flowers, are undoubtedly in their place in a •dining-room, but there is no reason why every other kind of picture should be excluded. Pastoral or marine scenes, genre pictures, almost anything except family portraits, may fitly be placed there. Their place is in the library, the sitting-room, or in the large hall, if there be one. Nothing should hang in the dining-room that is not good of its kind. A cheap chromo, a poorly executed drawing or watercolor, or an indifferent photograph annoys beyond words the unfortunate wight who has to sit opposite it for an hour or two each day. The furniture of a dining-room should be durable, even if its owners cannot afford to have it very handsome. Cheap chairs and table are out of place here. Even those who cannot afford leather-upholstered chairs and a heavy mahogany or black- walnut or oak dining-table may get solid, durable substitutes. Cane seats for the chairs, and an unpolished top for the table, are better than showy — and cheap — elegance. A square table generally allows more space to those seated about it than does a round one. Almost any amount of money may be expended upon a sideboard, but a good one may be purchased at no great outlay. In addition to this, if space permits, there should be a table, with a shelf or two above it, to serve as a dinner-wagon. This is almost a necessity when the vegetables are passed instead of being placed on the table, and it is also useful for holding relays of clean plates, etc. The amount of furniture that is useful and appropriate in a dining-room is of necessity limited. Besides the articles already named, there may be a china press pr cabinet, an easy-chair or two, or even a .sofa. The last is a boon to an invalid or convalescent, who grows weary of a long seance in a high, straight-backed chair. There may be a couch, which The couch may be forced to serve a double purpose by being made in the form of a long box, broad and THE DINING-BOOM low, covered with cretonne, denim, or anyother durable material, and provided with a hair mattress on the top. When two or three square pillows are added to this, behold a comfortable divan, that will at the same time be a receptacle for the table-linen. Some such coffer as this is almost a must-have in a dining-room, unless the china closet is provided with drawers. A wall cabinet for choice pieces of china is a pretty ornament for a dining-room, and so is an over-mantel. The latter may consist of two, three, or more shelves, and should be solid at the back, as small hooks may then be screwed in, upon which to hang tea or coffee cups. These shelves may extend the full length of the mantel, or occupy only part of the space. In any case they are excellent for displaying such pieces of china as one may not wish to keep concealed in the depths of a china closet. Nothing very delicate that will be injured by dust should stand here. A corner cupboard adds to the beauty of a room, and may either be bought ready-made, or built to fit some especial corner. The lower part of the cupboard may have a solid wooden door, while glass doors for the upper part permit a view of the glass or silver stored there.

What to eat, how to serve it