Mahogany and oak are the best materials for furniture.  The former is cleverly imitated in a mahoganized birch, which presents a pleasing appearance and sometimes deceives those who are not familiar with the beautiful rich tones of the genuine article.  Mahogany adapts itself to almost any sensible style of interior decoration, is likely to be of careful manufacture, and is almost invariably cherished for its beauty.  Like other highly finished woods it takes on a bluish tint in damp weather, and if not well protected, will demand attention more frequently than other materials.  But if its purchase can be afforded the care given it will scarcely be begrudged.  The eggshell (dull) finish requires less attention than the higher polish.

Next in degree to mahogany, oak in the golden, weathered, or fumed effect is handsome and durable, while it is somewhat less expensive.  The moment one drops below genuine mahogany, however, a wary eye must be kept upon construction.  There are shifts innumerable to make cheap furniture that has an alluring appearance, and the variety of design in the moderate-priced materials will lead to confusion for those who do not exert a Spartan discrimination.

SUBSTANTIALITY

To insure satisfaction there must first of all be substantiality—­a quality which affects both comfort and appearance.  A chair may be beautiful, it may be comfortable, at the time of purchase, but if it be not substantial its glories will soon depart.  A superficial view cannot be conclusive.  The carefully made article built upon slender lines is often quite as strong as a more rugged creation hastily put together.  The chair that is properly constructed may be almost as solid as if it were of one piece, and still not require a block and tackle to move it.  The strongest article is made entirely of wood, and we find some of the old models so sturdily built that no rounds were required between the legs.  In chiffoniers, dressers, or side-boards a handsome exterior should not blind us to cheaply constructed drawers.  The latter should be of strong material, properly fitted, and well sealed.  There need be no sagging, jamming, or accumulation of dust in drawers that are well constructed.

SUPERFLUITY

California, with its pretty little bungalows, not only has pointed out to us the possibility of living satisfactorily in a small number of rooms, but has shown us something in the way of simple furnishings.  Not until we see what may be “done without” do we realize how much that is superfluous crowds our floors.