Present-Day Conditions

WE are living in a changed age, and, though there will be readjustments, we need not expect the world again to be as it was. In our household life we might term it the servantless age. It is true that the very wealthy may buy service, as they are able to buy most things, and that a few are so fort-unate as to have old family butlers and maids remaining with them, but most of us must put up with a migratory and unsatisfactory lot or with none at all. There are many women, all honour to them, who have always done their household work, but even these must feel the increased difficulty of securing aid in housecleaning or during illness. A notable class is the "newly poor", among the most intellectual and helpful of the community, whose incomes have by no means kept pace with the tremendous increase in necessary expenditure. It is doubtful if many of the "well-to-do" find their large and expensive ménages run as smoothly as of yore, and there can be little real satisfaction and happiness when surrounded by a corps of servants anxious to do as little as possible and exceedingly aggressive in their individual whims, jealousies and demands.

These conditions are universal, and it is likely that they bear even harder upon family life in Europe than in America. Briefly, therefore, it remains for us to adjust ourselves to them and the more quickly we do so the better for our happiness. Those well advised will do with as little of that harassing and expensive hindrance otherwise called "help" as possible, and this naturally leads to smaller and simpler properties. As the move in the city is toward the convenient apartment, so even those who can afford the extensive villa but who seek peace and comfort rather than household burdens will do well to consider the attractive small house, whether for continuous or only summer use.

The adjective "small" becomes, therefore, more than ever a relative term, and may include anything from a cottage to a home of considerable dimensions.

Children

In no book with which the writer is acquainted has he ever seen a reference to the bearing upon the question of furnishing of that exceedingly important part of the community - the small child. We read of costly and beautiful mahogany and satinwood furniture but nothing is said of what one "husky" infant with his little hammer or go-cart may do to it! In large houses with nursemaids and governesses children had their own quarters, and when they invaded other portions of the house they were upon their good behaviour or speedily were banished: in smaller homes there was usually someone to look after them to at least a partial extent, but in a far larger proportion of cases than heretofore they now are "all over the shop" and continually with us. This condition, too, common-sense bids us face, unless we wish that the child's life should be miserable as well as our own.

If, then, one possesses handsome, expensive, and easily-damaged period furniture, covered in equally costly damasks, silks and velvets, and also has small children with few or no servants, a good place for the furniture would be "locked up in the attic" till the children grow older.