Now why should we deliberate and puzzle our brains in choosing between the use of the sterling, home-like furnishing of England and America, the elegance of France, and the gaiety of Southern Europe? Let us have all. Or, rather, be it drily remarked, all that the furniture-manufacturers and the state of our pocket-books permit us to have. The supply of English and American styles is abundant and as cheap as any - no worthy period furniture can in the nature of the case be called cheap nowadays. Good French pieces are also procurable but at somewhat higher figures, owing to their more ornamental character. Some Italian reproductions are to be had, a few in commercial furniture and a greater number from the better class of decorators. If one can afford antiques he may revel in all. Metal furniture, such as consoles, curule chairs, faldstools and the like should be considered.

The cabinet-making Antique dealers should not be forgotten in this connexion, for reproductions of English and American styles from Queen Anne to American Empire, inclusive, are their specialty. These reproductions are faithful, thoroughly well-made, and hand-finished, and their prices compare very favourably with department-store period furniture. Even antique pieces may often be bought at reasonable figures. Such cabinet-makers exist in all the old Eastern cities. Only well-established, reliable men should be dealt with, for these may be depended upon.

Though Louis XV furniture is of the previous epoch its spirit has been shown to be the same as that of his successor, and, notwithstanding the difference in form, the two accompany each other surprisingly well. In drawing-rooms, reception-rooms, boudoirs, and bed-chambers of the better class we should fail in an appreciation of beauty if we neglected to avail ourselves of such pieces in connexion with English and American furniture.

No better illustration of the interest to be secured by the employment of a few articles of foreign provenance could be given than in the charming living-room pictured by Plate 5. The table to the left is of Sheraton type; the table and chair to the right are eighteenth century Italian - what attraction these latter two pieces give to the whole interior!

English-speaking people will usually avail themselves of English or American furniture as a basis (except where other decoration is deliberately chosen or in Spanish-American or Italian-American houses and apartments) but limiting ourselves to such styles, when the movement they represented was world-wide, is not only a decorative mistake but an absurdity. This world has always been much a more cosmopolitan abode than most self-sufficient moderns dream!

Those who cannot afford foreign furniture may at least use a variety of forms, adding interest by the employment of the more unusual accessories as in Plates 97 and 128 (right) described in the text on pages 207-8.

The Adaptability Of Neo-Classic Decoration

The characteristics of this period have been indicated as we proceeded: its adaptability is evident when we realize that it is the closest epoch to our own as regards both time and manner of life. The furniture is all of moderate size and weight, particularly appropriate to rooms of modest dimensions; the spirit of its decoration is universally cheerful; its qualities are homelike and practical; and it is susceptible of both simple and elegant interpretation.