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House Furnishing and Decorating: Porch

Sleeping Porch.-In the vicinity of the great sanitariums where sleeping out of doors has been proved to be a cure for consumption and other dis- "The Porch Should be Screened." eases, many persons have formed the habit of sleeping thus. Any porch somewhat excluded from view and in a sheltered location can be utilized.

The porch should be screened and provided with storm curtains of tent can vas that can be drawn and buttoned like the curtains of a carriage. If the porch is used during the day a bunk or folding bed may be hinged to the wall on one side, with legs that will let down on the other. When folded up this may be concealed by a waterproof curtain. Or one of the socalled hammock beds may be suspended by hooks from the ceiling. If suitable blankets are provided it is possible to sleep out of doors the year round in most parts of the United States, with the exception of a very few nights, and probably no practice would be more invigorating, healthful, or pleasurable, especially in the summer months.

Bedrooms. Furnishings and decorations of bedrooms should conform to the object for which the room is intended. Simplicity should be the keynote. Wall coverings in geometrical designs or large-figured patterns of any sort and all bric-a-brac and useless flounces and decorations should be avoided. The fewer objects not actually necessary in the room the better. Finish the woodwork in natural colors, oiled or stained, and preferably with oil paint or varnish. Tint the walls or hang them with a solid colored or double-toned paper, or a simple stripe. Hang at the windows light muslin or cheese-cloth curtains, either white or dyed to conform to the general color scheme. If the floors are smooth, oil and wax them, or stain or paint them with any of the lac paints or varnishes. Floors not smooth may be covered with either linoleum or matting as preferred. Avoid, as, a rule, the use of carpets in bedrooms.

A plain stained or painted wood floor with rugs is much easier to keep clean and is more sanitary.