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connoisseurship。 One can generally detect the exact stage of
evolution such a lady has reached by the bent of her conversation；
the books she is reading； and； last but not least； by her material
surroundings； no outward and visible signs reflecting inward and
spiritual grace so clearly as the objects people collect around
them for the adornment of their rooms； or the way in which those
rooms are decorated。
A few years ago； when a young man and his bride set up housekeeping
on their own account； the 〃old people〃 of both families seized the
opportunity to unload on the beginners （under the pretence of
helping them along） a quantity of furniture and belongings that had
（as the shopkeepers say） 〃ceased to please〃 their original owners。
The narrow quarters of the tyros are encumbered by ungainly sofas
and arm…chairs； most probably of carved rosewood。 ETAGERES OF the
same lugubrious material grace the corners of their tiny drawing…
room； the bits of mirror inserted between the shelves distorting
the image of the owners into headless or limbless phantoms。 Half
of their little dining…room is filled with a black…walnut
sideboard； ingeniously contrived to take up as much space as
possible and hold nothing； its graceless top adorned with a stag's
head carved in wood and imitation antlers。
The novices in their innocence live contented amid their hideous
surroundings for a year or two； when the wife enters her second
epoch； which； for want of a better word； we will call the Japanese
period。 The grim furniture gradually disappears under a layer of
silk and gauze draperies； the bare walls blossom with paper
umbrellas； fans are nailed in groups promiscuously； wherever an
empty space offends her eye。 Bows of ribbon are attached to every
possible protuberance of the furniture。 Even the table service is
not spared。 I remember dining at a house in this stage of its
artistic development； where the marrow bones that formed one course
of the dinner appeared each with a coquettish little bow…knot of
pink ribbon around its neck。
Once launched on this sea of adornment； the housewife soon loses
her bearings and decorates indiscriminately。 Her old evening
dresses serve to drape the mantelpieces； and she passes every spare
hour embroidering； braiding； or fringing some material to adorn her
rooms。 At Christmas her friends contribute specimens of their
handiwork to the collection。
The view of other houses and other decorations before long
introduces the worm of discontent into the blossom of our friend's
contentment。 The fruit of her labors becomes tasteless on her
lips。 As the finances of the family are satisfactory； the re…
arrangement of the parlor floor is （at her suggestion） confided to
a firm of upholsterers； who make a clean sweep of the rosewood and
the bow…knots； and retire； after some months of labor； leaving the
delighted wife in possession of a suite of rooms glittering with
every monstrosity that an imaginative tradesman； spurred on by
unlimited credit； could devise。
The wood work of the doors and mantels is an intricate puzzle of
inlaid woods； the ceilings are panelled and painted in complicated
designs。 The 〃parlor〃 is provided with a complete set of neat；
old…gold satin furniture； puffed at its angles with peacock…colored
plush。
The monumental folding doors between the long； narrow rooms are
draped with the same chaste combination of stuffs。
The dining…room blazes with a gold and purple wall paper； set off
by ebonized wood work and furniture。 The conscientious contractor
has neglected no corner。 Every square inch of the ceilings； walls；
and floors has been carved； embossed； stencilled； or gilded into a
bewildering monotony。
The husband； whose affairs are rapidly increasing on his hands； has
no time to attend to such insignificant details as house
decoration； the wife has perfect confidence in the taste of the
firm employed。 So at the suggestion of the latter； and in order to
complete the beauty of the rooms； a Bouguereau； a Toulmouche and a
couple of Schreyers are bought； and a number of modern French
bronzes scattered about on the multicolored cabinets。 Then； at
last； the happy owners of all this splendor open their doors to the
admiration of their friends。
About the time the peacock plush and the gilding begin to show
signs of wear and tear； rumors of a fresh fashion in decoration
float across from England； and the new gospel of the beautiful
according to Clarence Cook is first preached to an astonished
nation。
The fortune of our couple continuing to develop with pleasing
rapidity； the building of a country house is next decided upon。 A
friend of the husband； who has recently started out as an
architect； designs them a picturesque residence without a straight
line on its exterior or a square room inside。 This house is done
up in strict obedience to the teachings of the new sect。 The
dining…room is made about as cheerful as the entrance to a family
vault。 The rest of the house bears a close resemblance to an
ecclesiastical junk shop。 The entrance hall is filled with what
appears to be a communion table in solid oak； and the massive
chairs and settees of the parlor suggest the withdrawing room of
Rowena； aesthetic shades of momie…cloth drape deep…set windows；
where anaemic and disjointed females in stained glass pluck
conventional roses。
To each of these successive transitions the husband has remained
obediently and tranquilly indifferent。 He has in his heart
considered them all equally unfitting and uncomfortable and sighed
in regretful memory of a deep； old…fashioned arm…chair that
sheltered his after…dinner naps in the early rosewood period。 So
far he has been as clay in the hands of his beloved wife； but the
anaemic ladies and the communion table are the last drop that
causes his cup to overflow。 He revolts and begins to take matters
into his own hands with the result that the household enters its
fifth incarnation under his guidance； during which everything is
painted white and all the wall…papers are a vivid scarlet。 The
family sit on bogus Chippendale and eat off blue and white china。
With the building of their grand new house near the park the couple
rise together into the sixth cycle of their development。 Having
travelled and studied the epochs by this time； they can tell a
Louis XIV。 from a Louis XV。 room； and recognize that mahogany and
brass sphinxes denote furniture of the Empire。 This newly acquired
knowledge is； however； vague and hazy。 They have no confidence in
themselves； so give over the fitting of their principal floors to
the New York branch of a great French house。 Little is talked of
now but periods； plans； and elevations。 Under the guidance of the
French firm； they acquire at vast expense； faked reproductions as
historic