Brightening the Holiday Home

Ladies' Mirror, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1926, Page 40

Brightening the Holiday Home

Tt not infrequently happens in these busy days that a house-mother who has rented a country or seaside cottage for a month or more on the recommendation of a friend, or on the strength of an advertisement, is woefully disappointed at the lack of comfort and the absence of aught save the barest necessities. It goes without saying that there are many charming cottages and batches away from home which we? all have come across; but there are others that leave much to be desired. The shack may be much inferior to our own and the various arrangements quite primitive to our way of thinking. The owner is not always to blame. He may have suffered many things at the hands of careless tenants and been compelled to banish all good things generally from the house. Usually the mother of a family, especially if they are all of school age, considers she has more than enough to do to pack all their clothes and shut the house up, without providing extras for their temporary home; but under certain circumstances she will find it worth while. Linen and cutlery is rarely supplied now, or, if it is, frequently it is of the poorest quality; so the

house-proud woman will be well advised to take one or two afternoon tea-cloths, a supply of table napkins, and a generous number of towelsthe latter especially if the holiday is to be spent at the seaside. It often happens that there is a lamentable lack of cushions even in an otherwise well-furnished batch ; and as the chairs are often termed “easy” more by courtesy than anything else, a few folding canvas ones or a hammock may make all the difference to comfort. An odd pillow or two, by means of bright cretonne or chintz covers, made with buttons and buttonholes, may serve a double purpose, and be most useful during the day on the sands or in the garden, and duty at night on the beds, since it is only the work of a few seconds to strip off the covers. A rug or blanket with vivid colourings not only disguises the shortcomings of on old couch, but is a protection against chills for old or young when sitting out. Hot-water bottles should on no account be left at home, as they are invaluable in the event of illness. A spirit lamp with a few cups and saucers make one independent of service when an odd cup of tea or coffee is required.