ace heat to all but one room, and in that room build upon an ample
hearth a glowing fire of hickory logs, and in the presence of that
genial blaze, upon the bare floor of that unfurnished room, will
gather the united household." The broader this family hearth the
better. The old English baronial halls with their mighty fireplaces
and their great stone hearths had more of light and beauty than all
our modern improvements.

[Illustration: ARTISTIC FIREPLACE.]

Next come the broad, open windows. Better one window five feet wide
than two of two and a half feet. Better for light, warmth or interior
furnishing, and better for the illuminating effect, upon the whole
apartment.

Stairways.

Stairs are a necessity, and their comfort and sightliness depend on
several features. Steps must be broad and deep, landings wide and
windowed, if may be. If they must be crowded into a narrow hallway it
is better that they be made deep and sloping as space permits, and
then inclosed with an archway and curtain at foot instead of a door.
This also saves heat. But where the great square reception hall can be
devoted to them they may be made a thing of beauty.

[Illustration: THE LOVER'S TALE.]

Woodwork.

Says one writer, "There is a widespread illusion gone out through the
world that to have everything in a dwelling 'finished in hard wood
throughout,' as the advertisements say, is the only orthodox thing.
Paint smells of turpentine and heresy." In this respect it is useless
to deny that there is solid comfort in the permanency and genuineness
of oak, walnut, or ash, that paint is powerless to give.

But the natural color of woods in many cases may fail to harmonize
with the scheme of color to be carried out in the furnishings of the
apartment.

In such case, the woodwork should be subjected to delicate,
harmonious, painted tints, or polish or gilding, as the case may be.

[Illustration: WINDOW DECORATION.]

There is a great variety of woods from which we may choose, but to
obtain from them the finer shadings and combinations of color is
difficult, not to say impossible.

There is no necessity for making the woodwork that is to be painted
unnecessarily substantial or elaborate. Woods such as white maple,
holly, poplar, for the light effects; black birch, cherry, mahogany,
for darker.

"One fallacy among people," says an architect, "is an immovable faith
that the first duty of a human apartment is to look as high as
poss