COLOURS OF BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1827, 13 August 1913, Page 2

COLOURS OF BABIES.

"I maintain that the temperament of a child can be altered by ttie colours in his nursery." So says Air. Prosscr, and the idea, ot course (writes the Loudon correspondent of the Sydney "Telegraph," June 20), has scientific support in explanation of tho delightful provision of an island in th& new day nursery for the happy nipdern child, who will sleep in the lorest with the stars overhead and the wild waves washing round him.

In order to be quilo sure that one is on an island iu Mr.'Prosser's original nursery at the ltyder Decorative Com. pany, a grown-up lias to sit on the iloor, iii fact, to get down to the level of a child. The ground is of white sail cloth, with plots of gorses and bluebells in the shapo of washing sill; cushions here and there. The sea is all round wherever the walls meet the eye. 'l'liey are white, ivith a line of blue waves running right round the room. So that a child may rightly understand the,movement of (he waves, they have- been'represented wit'li the simplicity of Japanese art, and a real model' of a ship rides at the level of a child of' live. Dolphins arc at either corner, and hovering in the distance' is an aeroplane, while a walerplaiie is just - about to alight ou the waters. Spray coming oil to the islanil is represented by a fountain-piny, ins in a large tub, in which goldfish disport themselves. The sea idea extends to the furnishing of tho island. A ship's locker is the only seat ill the room, and tho child keeps his toys in a sea-going chest. Tiny blue curtains are drawn before neat little shelves, where the litJle island .king reviews, lvij treasure*.'•■• All the sunshine pcssiblevhas.''teentl)rou{{ht''tO' the "island" uv using yellow-and ornngo in cushions and curtains and toys. Even the keys of tho miniature grand piano on tho-floor are-yellow and orange. Blue is the background, for it has a soft and cool. effect. \

S'Gi\;o me a morbid, unhappy child who will not play with other children," says Mr. Prosser, "and I will bring brightness into his nature by means of colour. An excitable child can be calmed in the samo manner. It is easy to tell each colour by offering a child flowers or apples; he will choose which suit* him best."

"Sleep Among the Slurs" or "Baby's Night Nnr.-ery" is full of the ponce of night in a forest. Silver walls molt into the tops of-trees, while above'them arc stars on a midnight sky. Tho moon shines calmly from one corner, and over' the elcctric light is the evening star. A cradle, which looks aa if it was made to rock in the tree-tops moved by the breeze, Ims been, specially designed for the starlit sleeper. Between the day and the night nur.-er.v is a door which tinliles. gently frith every movement by means of a musical door-knocker.