perhaps before the hearth.

What quality the rug shall be depends largely upon the length of our
purse; yet sagacity and a modest fund will sometimes do more than
plethora and no thought. Design selection is a task to vex the most
patient, but we must not be drawn into a hurried decision. If we are
near enough to the business house with which we are dealing, it is
advisable to have a selection of rugs sent out for inspection on the
floors. Seen in the salesroom and in our house they may present
different aspects.

Generally speaking, the showiest designs are in the cheaper goods, and
the showier a cheap article is the quicker its shoddy qualities will be
made manifest. Therefore, if we must count the pennies on our
living-room rug, let us select a simple design with a good
body--something that will be unobtrusive even when it begins to appeal
for replacement.

There is a considerable range of Wiltons, from the so-called Wilton
velvet to the "Royal" Wilton. They are by no means the cheapest,
though one may go fabulously beyond them in price; but their popularity
shows them to be a good average quality, suited to the home planned on
a modest scale. Body Brussels, although not affording such rich
effects, also has many friends, and tapestry Brussels may be
considered. There are names innumerable for rugs and carpets, some of
which have little real significance. If one knows a good design when
it is seen, a little common-sense observation of weights and weave and
a thoughtful comparison of prices will help to secure the best
selections. Here are some specimen sizes and prices quoted by one
establishment:

SIZE. Body Brussels. Biglow Bagdad. Anglo-Indian.
6.0 x 9.0....... $18.00 $25.00 $30.00
8.3 x 10.6....... 22.50 30.00 45.00
9.0 x 10.6....... 25.00 35.00 50.00
10.6 x 12.0....... 32.50 45.00 65.00
10.6 x 13.6....... 35.00 52.50 75.00
11.3 x 15.0....... 42.50 60.00 80.00

Saxony Axminster, 9 by 12, is priced at $45, and is considered to be
more serviceable than most grades of Wilton.

For the dining room the problem is about the same as for the principal
apartment. The rug need not be so expensive as the one in the living
room, but it must assuredly be of the enduring sort.

The Scotch Caledon rugs sometimes solve the difficulty here. Indeed,
they are n