I am such a crank about good clocks that I take my own with me, even on a railway train.  I think I have the smallest clock in the world which strikes the hours.  There are many tiny clocks made which strike if one touches a spring, but my clock always strikes of itself.  Cartier, who designed and made this extraordinary timepiece, assures me that he has never seen so small a clock which strikes.  It is very pleasant to have this little clock with its friendly chime with me when I am in some desolate hotel or some strange house.

There are traveling clocks in small leather cases which can be bought very cheaply indeed now, and one of these clocks should be a part of everyone’s traveling equipment.  The humble nickeled watch with a leather case is infinitely better than the pretentious clocks, monstrosities of marble and brass and bad taste.

A CORNER FOR WRITING.

One of my greatest pleasures, when I am planning the furnishing of a house, is the selection and equipment of the necessary writing-tables.  Every room in every house has its own suggestion for an original treatment, and I enjoy working out a plan for a writing-corner that will offer maximum of convenience, and beauty and charm, for in these busy days we need all these qualities for the inspiration of a pleasant note.  You see, I believe in proper writing-tables, just as I believe in proper chairs.  I have so many desks in my own house that are in constant use, perhaps I can give you my theory best by recording my actual practice of it.

I have spoken of the necessity of a desk in the hallway, and indeed, I have said much of desks in other rooms, but I have still to emphasize my belief in the importance of the equipment of desks.

Of course, one needs a desk in one’s own room.  Here there is infinite latitude, for there are dozens of delightful possibilities.  I always place my desks near the windows.  If the wall space is filled, I place an oblong table at right angles to a window, and there you are.  In my own private sitting-room I have a long desk so placed, in my own house.  In a guest-room I furnished recently, I used a common oblong table of no value, painting the legs a soft green and covering it with a piece of sage-green damask.  This is one of the nicest writing-tables I know, and it could be copied for a song.  The equipment of it is what counts.  I used two lamps, dull green jars with mauve silk shades, a dark green leather rack for paper and envelopes, and a great blotter pad that will save the damask from ink-spots.  The small things are of green pottery and crystal.  In a young girl’s bedroom I used a sweet little desk of painted wood, a desk that has the naive charm of innocence.  I do hope it inspires the proper love-letters.