ts even an educated person who can select a good carpet, a
wall paper, and a ceiling, and have them in harmony." There is too
much of a temptation to adopt beautiful things simply because they are
beautiful, without pausing to consider the weightier matter of their
eternal fitness, or remembering that a thing intrinsically beautiful
in itself may become hideous by inharmonious proximity or combination
with another beautiful object.

Home of the Soul.

A mystic German writer calls a house, properly ordered, the "home of
the soul," carrying out the idea that the house in which an orderly
soul lives, is only an expansion of the body built and adorned out of
her passing experiences. "All sorts of delicate affinities establish
themselves between her and the lights and shadows of her abode; the
particular picture on the wall; the scent of flowers at a particular
window until she seems incorporated into it."

In other words, one's environments, as one's dress, must be in
harmony with their individual type, or a permanent discord will
result; for instance, Emma Moffett Tyng speaks of a "pond-lily type of
woman, soft color, gray blue eyes, pale brown eyes," appealing to her
as to the "effect" of the gorgeous, redecorated interior of her home,
with flames of color in hangings and rugs, and "her Egyptian gown with
its glow and glint of purple and gold. All these things were artistic
and beautiful, and perfect in their relations to each other," but in
their relation to her nothing could have been worse. The woman,
herself, was eclipsed, obliterated. "A Cleopatra, dark and flashing,
would make the picture complete. But such a colorless woman needs
repose in her surroundings; the low tones of blue and gray, the palest
flush of the sunset heavens."

Some Lovely Rooms.

Edmond Russell has treated two rooms exquisitely. A gold and ivory
parlor, tinted, walls and ceiling in a grayish white with a greenish
tinge, and this is mottled with gold flecked lightly over the surface.
The broad frieze is adorned in free, simple style with leaves and
blossoms of magnolia. Everything in this room should be light and
delicate in color. The soft gold and ivory would be nullified by heavy
walnut window casings; red and green carpet, red or blue plush
furnishings, or vivid hangings would ruin the effect. Pictures in such
a room should be preferably water-colors with pale gray mats, and gold
or white frames. Oil paintings are only permissible w