ments,
on a line with the listener's eye, except as a vague background.

There can be no more becoming setting for a group of people dining by
candle or electric light, than walls panelled with dark wood to the
ceiling, or a high wainscoting.

A beautiful sitting-room, not to be forgotten, had light violet walls,
dull-gold frames on the furniture which was covered in deep-cream
brocades, bits of old purple velvets and violet silks on the tables,
under large bowls of Benares bronze filled with violets. The grand
piano was protected by a piece of old brocade in faded yellows, and
our hostess, a well-known singer, usually wore a simple Florentine
tea-gown of soft violet velvet, which together with the lighter violet
walls, set off her fair skin and black hair to beautiful advantage.

Put a figured, many-coloured sofa cushion behind the head of a pretty
woman, and if the dominating colour is becoming to her, she is still
pretty, but change it to a solid black, purple or dull-gold and see
how instantly the degree of her beauty is enhanced by being
thrown into relief.

PLATE VII

Gives attractive corner by a window, the heavy silk brocade
curtains of which are drawn. A standard electric lamp lights the
desk, both modern-painted pieces, and the beautiful old flower
picture, black background with a profusion of colours in lovely
soft tones, is framed by a dull-gold moulding and gives immense
distinction. The chair is Venetian Louis XV, the same period as
desk in style.

Not to be ignored in this picture is a tin scrap basket
beautifully proportioned and painted a vivid emerald green; a
valuable addition a note of cheerful colour. The desk and wooden
standard of lamp are painted a deep blue-plum colour, touched
with gold, and the silk curtains are soft mulberry, in two tones.

[Illustration: _Corner of Room, Showing Painted Furniture, Antique and
Modern_]

Study values--just why and how much any decorative article decorates,
and remember in furnishing a room, decorating a wall or dining-room
table, it is not the intrinsic value or individual beauty of any one
article which counts. Each picture on the wall, each piece of
furniture, each bit of silver, glass, china, linen or lace, each yard
of chintz or silk, every carpet or rug must be beautiful and effective
_in relation to the others used_, for the _art_ of interior decoration
lies in this subtle, or obv