indeed that
survives such a strain. But I fear it is also true that in the city the
non-essentials of life have undue weight.

XII.

BRIC-A-BRAC.

Our lives are clogged with _bric-a-brac_. Every separate article in a
room may be pretty in itself, and yet the room may be hideous through
overcrowding with objects which have no meaning.

The disease of _bric-a-brac_ I think, is due to two influences,--the
desire of uncreative minds to create beauty, and the mania for giving
Christmas presents. Both these influences have a noble source, and will
probably reach more beautiful results at last. Any mind awake to beauty
must try to create it, and if its power and originality are not very
great, what can it do better than to apply itself to humble, every-day
trifles and try to decorate them? This is certainly right, if the old
principle of architecture is always remembered: "Decorate construction,
do not construct decoration." A few illustrations of my meaning may be
needed.

I am obliged to use blotting-paper when I write. I have always been
grateful to a friend who sent me a beautiful blue blotting book, with a
bunch of white clover charmingly painted on the first page. It gives me
pleasure every time I write a letter. I am glad that one of my friends
was artistic enough to embroider some fine handkerchiefs for me with a
beautiful initial. One of my dearest possessions is the lining for a
bureau drawer made of pale blue silk, with scented wadding tied in with
knots of narrow white ribbon. This lies in the bottom of the drawer, and
owing to the kindness of my friends shown at various times, I am able to
lay upon the top of each pile of underclothing either a handkerchief
case or a scent bag of blue silk or satin. Some of these trifles are
corded with heavy silk, some are embroidered with rosebuds, some are
ornamented with bows of ribbon, and altogether they make the drawer a
"thing of beauty" which to me personally "is a joy forever," and they
are never in anybody's way.

My friend has been less fortunate in the tributes of affection she has
received. She has several elaborate and even pretty ties which she is
obliged to append to her sofas and easy-chairs. They are believed to add
to the harmony of coloring in her sitting-room, but they are very likely
to be askew when the sofas and easy-chairs are in use; and as they
always have to be rearranged during the process of dusting, they form an
argument for delaying