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House Furnishing and Decorating: Care

Care of Piano. To keep the piano or organ in good condition, arrange to have the atmosphere of the room dry, but not too dry, and at a moderate and even temperature. If the atmosphere is damp, there is a tendency for the wires to rust and the keys to stick.

A dry heat without any moisture in the air will tend to check the varnish and also to injure the adjustment of a musical instrument. Hence, if rooms are heated by hot air, hang a small galvanized iron pail containing water :

HOUSE FURNISHING AND DECORATING from the under side of the register, so that the heated draught in coming up will bring a small amount of moisture with it.

Or, if gas or coal stoves are used for heating, place a suitable vessel of water on the top of the stove. The slight resulting moisture will be beneficial to all the furniture, although the piano will perhaps suffer most from the lack of it. The slight humidity is also good for the health of the family.

Do not stand the piano close against an outer wall, which may be damp or chilled from frost in winter, and if possible keep it out of a direct draught. If an upright piano, tack a dust cover of denim or other suitable material across the back to exclude dust, leaving flaps wide enough to be thrown over the piano when sweeping. These can hang down behind the piano when not in use. Take care that no small articles laid on the keys find their way inside of the instrument. Have a music cabinet, so as to keep the top of the instrument free from books and sheet music. Keep the piano closed when not in use, and have it tuned three or four times a year, or oftener, if necessary. If it is not kept up to pitch it will not stay in tune when required. An hour or two of practice on a piano each day will keep it in the best condition. But, if possible, every key on the keyboard should be struck at least once daily.

Care of Sheet Music. - Have a music cabinet, homemade if necessary, with shelves large enough for a piece of sheet music, and close enough together to admit of keeping the pieces classified. Bind two or more pieces of music of the same general kind together as desired by means of brass brads sold by stationers. The use of these is very simple. Lay the sheets one upon the other in the order desired, cut a slot top, bottom, and middle a half inch from the back edge with a penknife, insert the brad and turn down the edges.

Or, to bind music together, take a piece of strong manila or other tough paper two inches or more in width, and as long as the music is high. Fold this lengthwise in the middle and paste one side to one piece of music, the other to another. Run over this with a hot flatiron to insure its drying quickly and evenly without wrinkles. If the sheets tear apart, insert a similar strip between the torn sheets, and when all have been reënforced in this way take a similar strip of tough paper or muslin wide enough to go round the back of the whole collection and lap over an inch or more on either side. Slush the back well with paste or glue, lay on this strip, rub down tightly, and let dry under a weight.

A manila folder or cover the same size as the music itself may be "drawn " in a similar way to correspond to the cover of a bound book. on Pictures-Good and Bad Taste.-A good illustration of what to avoid is found in the family photographs enlarged by the carbon or imitation pas "Much Less Seen than Formerly." tel process, and surrounded by massive frames at the recommendation of enterprising manufacturers, whose profits are in proportion to the size of the frame and the elaborateness of the molding. Only the eloquence of the venders could give such pictures even a temporary popularity, but they are seen everywhere. Family photographs should be, as a rule, confined to sleeping apartments rather than displayed in living rooms, and much better reproductions can be had in smaller sizes than upon a large scale. Carbon and other reproductions have little decorative value, and even when enlarged should be framed as simply and unobtrusively as possible. This work can usually be done at a lower rate and of a better quality by a local photographer. The difference in expense will usually furnish the living room with a good photographic reproduction of one of the masterpieces of the world, that will be equally interesting to strangers and instructive to the inmates of the home. Happily, public taste is rapidly improving in these matters. Heavy and elaborate moldings with intricate designs made of putty and covered with gilt paint, or oak molding stamped in imitation of hand carving, and the like monstrosities are much less seen than formerly. The object of picture molding is, of course, twofold-to protect and to define the picture; hence the frame itself should be unobtrusive and should in no way attract the eye to itself. If the wall coverings are in solid colors or quiet two-toned effects, and the picture frames are simple and appropriate, the picture itself stands out in all of its natural beauty. Thus the object is attained for which the picture was hung. A few pictures of reasonable size and real merit, simply but appropriately framed, give a much more artistic effect than does a wall crowded with a large number of subjects among which those that are inferior must necessarily suffer by contrast. Pictures to Choose. - Select for living rooms landscapes, reproductions of still life, ideal heads and faces, and reproductions of masterpieces portraying scenes or subjects that might properly be the subject of conversation in the social circle. For the music room, photographs of eminent composers and other musicians, or reproductions of paintings suggested by the use of the room, are appropriate.

For the library, photographs of literary and other public men, and reproductions of public buildings of all ages and in all parts of the world, are in order.

Reserve for the privacy of sleeping apartments photographs of friends or relatives of the family, children, and allther pictures that, however interesting they may be to the owner, can "The Frame Should Be Unobtrusive." be of no general concern to those who are not members of the family.