If a woman is capable of fine discriminations, and has an eye for! colour schemes, there is perhaps no' profession that would be so interesting to her as interior decoration. It is lucrative and usually takes one into pleasant places Taste and a delight in colour must be governed by knowledge—a knowledge capable of giving a reason for a suggestion. Added to this must be patience, tact, resourcefulness, quick perception, and the grace apparently to bow before the wishes of another.
Many ladies have a capacity for pretty detail in decoration, or let me say, for a certain phase of ornamentation; but this is a long way from the sense of ensemble. To create a pleasant environment for her clients demands a real love of the work and a vast acquaintance with people and things.
There are two ways to proceed. One is to have a shop: the other is to have a studio. One mercantile: the other is artistic. I mention these two paths, because one allows the woman who has no busi ness instinct (there are many) to indulge her artistic propensities, and realize something for the the other gives the woman of bu ness and artistic ability the chance to combine her talents and consequently to increase her income. A brilliant success might be attained for either woman by a system of unique advertising.
There are several schools teaching interior decoration in Europe and America. I believe the course is two years. Certain of these schools, I have been told, give a special course on judging and pur. chasing Oriental rugs, which is a profession in itself.
I should think that lady decora cors might find a field for their talents here in the East, where even if we all feel more or less like. exiles, we like an attractive temporary abode. While it would be much better to go home and study the art, something might be attempted here in a small way relying on one's sense of the fitness! of things. After all there is no: thing like the pioneer spirit.
In this profession I think the} 01 compensation depends on the amount of work, the charge being 'a percentage on total expenditure, the same as with architects, land-1 scape gardiners, ete.
Why do so many women wear Jack? Is it because it is supposed to be gent'l, or because conventionally considered it is proper, or because in the last instance it is economical?
Certain French scientists are trying to cure diseases by the. use of colour. It is said that violet rays used religiously every day in the beginning of cancer will arrest the growth of this disease. In some of the p-to-date insane asylums colour is very carefully considered. Some colours excite the patients, others soothe them. The occultists, never willing to let anything have a matter of fact explanation, say that yellow "vibrates" to money, blue "vibrates" to mentality, ete. We all know that certain colours make us feel cheerful, while others depress us.
It seems to me that in our homes we might wear more ornamental frocks. Let their effect be in rich material and embroidery rather than in cut. We cut and slash cloth too much, and thereby lose all grace of line. 'A tea frock made on kimono lines with just a hole cut to put the head through and a silk cord loosely tied at the waist would be much prettier than the things we wear. Imagine one of violet, embroidered at the knees and bust with deep purple, or one of yellow, embroidered with dark amber, ton: ing into brown. What a note of cheer the tea-hostess would give to the occasion!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.