kneeling, that is all, but everything in it harmonizes, and it
harmonizes with the furnishings of the room, and my eye is often drawn
toward it.

One authority objects to portraits as a decoration. "Their presence,
if at all impressive, is too stimulating."

Picture frames should never be so gorgeous as to distract the mind
from the picture. "Frames are to protect the picture and relate it to
the walls."

Group etchings together and put engravings in the portfolio. Over low
bookcases pictures should be large, and in this form they give a style
to the room. Water colors look admirable if treated in this manner,
and if two bookcases are put together so as to form one, divide the
pictures by a bracket, on which place a jar of some unique pattern.

[Illustration: SELECTING PAINTINGS FOR HOME DECORATION.]

Small rooms require medium-size pictures, which can be hung one above
the other, and three may even be placed on line with good effect. For
an ideal head in oil the frame should be of broad gilt. Hang it in a
good light, and on one side group two small water-color pieces in the
fashionable white band frame. For an oblong picture a small sketch
under it looks well equipped.

A very large and beautiful picture sometimes sets the keynote of color
for the apartment. Otherwise, subordinate them as decorations to the
colorings of the room, as in the ivory and gold room.

In a room where there are to be many pictures, give rather a neutral
color to the walls, merely as a picture background. Where there are
finely decorated walls pictures are rather out of place, since one
decoration spoils the effect of the other.

Mottoes.

The motto, whose revival is noted in the above title, is the
expression in architecture of some sentiment suitable to the place to
which it is applied. It is more frequently and more noticeably in
domestic architecture than elsewhere that the motto is found. Scarcely
a country house of sufficient size to boast a hall and fireplace but
announces in script or text a welcome to all guests or some
appreciation of the comforts of its four walls. The favorite place for
this motto is over the fireplace, either above or below the mantel
shelf, and of all the old ones, "East or west, home is best," with its
variety of expressions, is the favorite. "A man's house is his
castle."

"Home is the resort
Of love, of joy, of peace."

"A man's best things are nearest him;" "Our house is ever at your