Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/488

 WOMAN'S HOME 464 glorious sea ; while another and larger window commanded a different view. There were many pictures, mostly portraits, on the walls, the huge, deep chairs were in palest notes of satin and fringe ; trees of azalea — white and rose — stood out from the dark splendour of furniture finely spaced and isolated ; beyond showed another room, lined to the ceiling with books, with one glorious oil-painting over the fireplace. It is as impossible to cover all sorts and conditions of drawing-rooms in this article, as it was in that of " halls " to sing the praises of a corridor in a great house, made beautiful by carved chairs, cabinets of china, medals and curios, of tapestries on the walls, and pictures. Good Results can be Obtained Inexpensively The possessors of really beautiful old houses want no help from me; their ancestors have done it for them long ago, with their own tastes added. It is rather to that very large class of women who have taste, and only moderate means for gratifying the same, that T address myself ; and I confidently assert that quite as good results in the way of comfort and pleasure can be got out of simple, inexpensive surroundings, as if they were free to spend a great deal of money. For instance, you might furnish a white-walled drawing-room with chintz that is shaded from mauve to violet — that is, if you have blue eyes, not if they are green — and put a writing bureau, and any dark bits of furniture you may have in it, and every blue crock you can find fill with green boughs, if no blue or purple flowers are available. A white room, with chintz that has a lot of green and a vivid splash of rose colour in it, is even more charming. And when couches, chairs, and curtains are all of the same cheery complexion, the few pieces of furniture necessary really matter very little, so long as they are unobtrusive. I cannot insist sufficiently on a drawing- room carpet being kept as dark as possible ; a light one spells ruin to harmony. Aubussons are all very well when matched by furniture of that period, but an imitation one, with, say, Chippendale or Sheraton, or, indeed, any good English furniture, demoralises the whole colour scheme. There must be a table to hold books. A Chippendale oval glass looks best over the fireplace, but I have seen charming results from placing a Vene- tian mirror on the shelf, and hanging a portrait in a gilt frame above it, flanked by tortoiseshell plaques or pieces of Crown Derby, with ivory figures below ; any- thmg, in short, that is good, and spaced out properly. I must own to a weakness for a chintz oveniiantel and curtains to match the curtains and chairs. When drawn, they hide the yawning grate and inadequate fern or screen — unsuitable since neither ferns nor screens grow naturally in a place built for coal and warmth — and sometimes make all the difference that a mere detail often does. The Beauty of a Lacquer room Have you ever dreamed of or seen a lacquer room ? There was such a one at Carlton House, and the picture of it makes one gasp with sheer delight. The room was panelled in lacquer, the carpet was blue with smudges of lacquer brown on it, the shelf above the door and the one above the mantelpiece held china worth a king's ransom. Were I millionaire, I would build such a room to-morrow for the boundless enjoyment of the beauty lovers who under- stand it. TKE SERVANT QUESTION The Duties of a ** Between-maid ** -Work of a ** Tweeny ^'— Her Wages— Dress- fof Work -Time'table TThe between-maid or " tweeny " is usually a young girl who helps both the housemaid and cook. She should work under the former in the mornings and the latter after the kitchen dinner. Her duties are difficult to define, as they are so numerous and varied ; indeed, every mistress should watch that her little maid is not overworked. When in the kitchen, much of the work usually done by a kitchen-maid becomes hers. She helps in the washing up of pots and pans, the polishing of copper and tin utensils, peeling potatoes and preparing vegetables. She lays the kitchen meals, clears away and washes up afterwards. The wages of such a maid are usually from £^ to ;£i4. The girl is usually allowed to go out in the afternoon and evening every alternate Sunday, and one afternoon or evening every week, with one week's holiday every year. Daily work. Six persons in family. Servants kept : cook, house-parlourmaid and between-maid. Between-maid 's Time-table. 6.30 A.M. — Light kitchen fire. Clean doorstep, brasses, hall, and shake mats. Clean boots and knives. 8 A.M. — Lay kitchen breakfast. Have breakfast. Clear away and luash up. Fill coal-boxes. 9 A.M. — Assist housemaid with beds. Clean lavatories and servants' rooms. 12 NOON — Lay kitchen dinner. Have it. Wash lip. Assist cook. 4 P.M. — Get kitchen tea. Wash up. 5 P.M. — Help prepare dinner. 7 P.M. — Clean knives. 8.30 P.M. — Kitchen supper. Wash up dishes and tidy kitchen. 10 P.M. — Bed.