The pictorial idea has been here greatly overdone. Pictured wall-papers and friezes, pictured screens and furniture are all supplied, and unhappily too many of them are commonly used at once. Presumably the intention is to stimulate the child's interest and so prove of educational value: the actual working out of the matter is that while the novelty at first engages attention these things quickly become an old story, and what remains is a restless and disturbing room. There is no objection to any of these features being used, such as the child's furniture shown in Plate 59, provided that the remaining furnishings are free from over-decoration.

PLATE 59. BEDROOM SUITE IN FRENCH GREY, STRIPED WHITE.

Manufactured by Northern Furniture Co., Sheboygan. Wis.

Also in Antique Mahogany and American Walnut.

BEDROOM SUITE IN ANTIQUE MAHOGANY OR AMERICAN WALNUT.

CHILD's BEDROOM SUITE IN DECORATED IVORY ENAMEL.

Representative pieces From 3 Suites.

One of the prettiest rooms the writer knows is that of a little boy five years old. There are casement windows affording plenty of light and air: the walls are French grey, panelled with applied strips in white. A charming low-post bed of the period of about 1830 and other furniture are painted in grey-blue. The portiere is of old gold, and heavy curtains at the windows, to exclude light when necessary, are of blue and old gold. Some rose appears in the accessories. Here the atmosphere is of cheerful refinement and repose. A child growing up in such surroundings will, if he have any natural fineness in him, instinctively draw back from vulgarity.

It seems to the writer that it is this sort of education the modern child most greatly needs: other information may be conveyed without plastering the premises with it.

PLATE 49. CHILDREN's ROOM IN A HOUSE AT READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

Remodelled by Duhring, Okie & Ziegler.

The small furniture is painted.

In the play-room the child cares little for ornament and very much indeed for space. Would that all the youngsters might have such a room as that shown in Plate 49.