naments, try to get a few good shapes and colours in inexpensive
reproductions of the period to which your antiques belong. Avoid the
mistake of forgetting that every room is a "stage setting," and must
be a becoming and harmonious background for its occupants.

Avoid arranging a Louis XVI bedroom, with fragile antiques and
delicate tones, for your husband of athletic proportions and elemental
tastes. He will not only feel, but look out of place. If he happens to
be fond of artistic things, give him these in durable shades and
shapes.

Avoid the omission of a thoroughly masculine sitting-room, library,
smoking-room or billiard-room for the man, or men, of the house.

Avoid the use of white linen when eating out of doors. Saxe-blue, red
or taupe linen are restful to the eyes. In fact, after one has used
coloured linen, white seems glaring and unsympathetic even indoors,
and one instinctively chooses the old deep-cream laces. Granting this
to be a bit precieuse, we must admit that the traditional white
damask, under crystal and silver, or gold plate with rare porcelains,
has its place and its distinction in certain houses, and with certain
people.

PLATE XXX

Shows a man's library, masculine gender written all over
it-strength, comfort, usefulness and simplicity.

The mantel is arranged in accordance with rules already stated.
It will be noticed that the ornaments on mantel in a way
interfere with design of the large architectural picture.

[Illustration: _A Man's Library_]

Avoid in a studio, bungalow or a small flat, where the living-room
and dining-room are the same, all evidences of _dining-room_ (china,
silver and glass for use). Let the table be covered with a piece of
old or modern brocade when not set for use. A lamp and books further
emphasises the note of living-room.

Avoid the use of light-absorbing colours in wall papers if you are
anxious to create sympathetic cheerfulness in your rooms, and an
appearance of winning comfort. Almost all dark colours are
light-absorbing; greens, dull reds, dark greys and mahogany browns
will make a room dull in character no matter how much sunlight comes
in, or how many electric lights you use. Perhaps the only dark colour
which is not light-absorbing is a dark yellow.

Avoid the permanent tea-table. We are glad to record that one seldom
happens upon one, these days. How the English used to revile them! In
the simplest homes it is alwa