ALTHOUGH the Doctors daughter had known nothing of the country of her birth, she appeared to have innately derived from it that ability to make much of little means, which is one of its most useful and most agreeable characteristics. Simple as the furniture was, it was set off by so many little adornments, of no value but for their taste and fancy, that its effect was delightful. The disposition of everything in the rooms, from the largest object to the least the arrangement of colors, the elegant variety and contrast obtained by thrift, in trifles, by delicate hands, clear eyes, and good sense were at once so pleasant in themselves, and so expressive of their originator, that, as Mr. Lorry stood looking about him....INTRODUCTION In publishing a book on inexpensive furnishings, it is my intention to give as much practical information as possible which will help the reader to furnish and decorate the small house in good taste, at reasonable cost. Of recent years the magazines and books published on interior decoration have endeavored to pro- mote the idea of the attractive house, and it is sincerely hoped that this publication will further an admirable cause. A great many people have the erroneous idea that to furnish a home in good taste necessitates the expenditure of a large amount of money. As a matter of fact, the idea is far from the truth, as the expression of good taste in any home has no relation to money value. In many cases the very limitations of what can be afforded is the best safeguard for satisfactory results. I do not mean to suggest that the lack of funds is an advantage in house furnishing, but it prompts a careful consideration before the actual purchases are made, and avoids the mistake of too great haste in the choosing of furnishings. To express good taste in our homes brings into play that intangible quality of the imagination which prompts us to choose suitable and harmonious furnishings. Many people are born with this sense and others come by it through observation or study. The interior decorator, for instance, is usually a person who possesses this sense intuitively, and offers his services to those who may lack the ability to assemble harmonious schemes for their rooms, but who may, at the same time, have a keen appreciation of the artistic. I have often heard the remark made that it is a discouraging task to furnish a home in an artistic manner if one has to depend on inexpensive material...