oden frames and
brocade coverings, but others are modern easychairs covered in new
linens of old designs, linens that were designed for just such interiors
when Oberkampf first began his designing at Jouy. The mirrors and
lighting-fixtures are, of course, designed to harmonize with the
carvings of the woodwork. Monsieur de Nolhac and Sardou were most
helpful to us when such architectural problems had to be solved.

We have not used the extravagant lace curtains that seem to go with
brocades and carvings, because we are modern enough not to believe in
lace curtains. And we find that the thin white muslin ones give our
brocades and tapestries a chance to assert their decorative importance.
Somehow, lace curtains give a room such a dressed-up-for-company air
that they quite spoil the effect of beautiful fabrics. We have a few
fine old Savonnerie carpets that are very much at home in this house,
and so many interesting Eighteenth Century prints we hardly know how to
use them.

Our bedrooms are very simple, with their white panelings and chintz
hangings. We have furnished them with graceful and feminine things,
delicately carved mirror frames and inlaid tables, painted beds, and
chests of drawers of rosewood or satinwood. We feel that the ghosts of
the fair ladies who live in the Park would adore the bedrooms and
rejoice in the strange magic of electric lights. If the ghosts should be
confronted with the electric lights their surprise would not be greater
than was the consternation of our builders when we demanded five
bathrooms. They were astounded, and assured us it was not necessary, it
was not possible. Indeed, it seemed that it was hardly legal to give one
small French house five American bathrooms. We fought the matter out,
and got them, however.

We determined to make the house seem a part of the garden, and so we
built a broad terrace across the rear of the villa. You step directly
from the long windows of the salon and dining-room upon the terrace, and
before you is spread out our little garden, and back of that, through an
opening in the trees, a view of the Chateau, our never-failing source of
inspiration.

The terrace is built of tiles on a cement foundation. Vines are trained
over square column-like frames of wire, erected at regular intervals.
Between the edge of the terrace and the smooth green lawn there is a
mass of blue flowers. We have a number of willow chairs and old stone
tables here, and you can a