"BEAUTY IN THE HOME”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 8

"BEAUTY IN THE HOME”

Mil BONN'S LECTURE. Tlic usual monthly meeting of the Women Citizens’ Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last night. Mrs Spence Clark presiding over a small attendance. At. the committee meeting it. was derided to assist (lie Blanket Society in its “Bafto (hi Day,'' which is to be hold on October 13, by running a flower and produce stall. During the evening Mr Robert. Bonn gave an interesting and instructive address oti “Beauty in the Home.” Mr Bonn, in his opening remarks, said that it: was hopeless to plan beautiful (owns if the inhabitants did not know how to arrange beautiful homes. 'lho earliest recollections . were of home, and characters wore moulded mostly at homo, but in these days of continual search for pleasure and life in public places we have drifted away front home and its influences. It was a commonplace to say that: the majority of people have no homes, but simply places in which they sleep and keep their belongings. He did not come with a cure for all the social ills, nor did he think that a greater appreciation of the beautiful would prove a remedy ter everything, but the creation of a new homo environment and the, beautifying of the home surroundings would help to bring about, a return of the rid home life. In remembering homes wo thought, of homes of all varieties—the happy-go-lucky house where everything might, have a place but whore nothing was over in its place. In that bind of home there was often happiness, but. seldom rest. Then there is the spick-and-span house with everything over-polished and placed witn mathematical precision- a place of rule? and fears. After studying type after type of homes we become more impressed by the fact that home and its happiness is the result oh the expression of personality. We should express ourselves; in our surroundings in such a way 1 hat our homes become part of ourselves. If our home is to be personal we cannot follow fads of fashion and tush for things because (hey are the ‘■latest” or the “rage.” Nor should we copy our neighbours. but in all express ourselves.' Matty happy homes were unfortunately not restful. Sometimes harsh cent lasts appeared on rite walls, the furniture, and the floors which made one’s eyes and cars ache as though they eicated a wrangling diti and uproar. Such jarring of walls and furniture was the result, of haphazard furnishing, of trying to follow various, fashions, and of being fearful to break away front tradition. There should be a definite plan of the whole of the house with an attempt at satisfying the various members of the family. Hornes should be individual and full of the expression of borne. Colour and its influence mis been little understood by most people, and. instead of a colour scheme being worked out. the furnishings have been chosen in a simple way—viz , a r.rolly wall paper, a nice carpet, a. fine suite, and woncored why the result was so poor. There was a great; waste of labour in many homes, a? for generations the housewife has been content to toil from morning to night, and bold linr.ly to many old customs. However, time? have changed, and people begin their 1 ome-n aictng o\ thinking first of the woman. Many houses were lumbered wit.i superfluous furniture which should bo cleared away and simplicity ana a, nice colour scheme sought after. Mr Bonn then dealt, with the various colour schemes am., furniture which means so much to homelovers. At (lie conclusion of the address questions were asked, and (ho lecturer accorded a hearty vote of thanks.