dispensed with here, as there should be no suggestion of
over-ornamentation in the permanent features of a sleeping room.

For the kitchen hard maple is found to serve well. One may not find it
amiss to inquire into the merits and costs of composition and rubber
tiling, but they are not essential to comfort and cleanliness. Here we
are concerned with essentials; it is fully understood that we have our
own permission to go farther afield in pursuit of more costly things if
we choose.



WAXED, VARNISHED, AND OILED FLOORS

Unless there are small children, expert opinion and the demands of
beauty favor waxed floors. Ordinarily the floor must he rewaxed about
every three months, but a pound of wax, that will cover two ordinary
sized rooms, costs only 50 cents, and it may be applied by anyone. To
keep the floors in best condition the wax brush should be passed over
them every fortnight.

Varnish floors scratch but are not affected by water, and on the whole
are rather more popular than oil or wax. They cost something less to
maintain, and are less conducive to embarrassing gyratics on the part
of dignified persons wearing slippery shoes.

If we may not demand oak or maple floors, well-laid Georgia pine,
carefully oiled or varnished, would be our next choice. There is a
large saving in initial expense, and perhaps some one else will be
using them five years from now! Though we cannot expect to get