Belinda’s Letter

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 13

Belinda’s Letter

Dealest JBetsie, —Have you ever considered what a very important part light and shti.de play in our homes Have you ever thought how vital it is that neither the one nor the . ot-hei. should be allowed to creep too much into prominence ? The amount of light which creeps into a room will to a very large extent, influence our choice of colour—the woman who loves her home will know already the secret of sunshine, and all the little tricks of letting in the sunshine to eacii room, so tnac the dinall, happy rays can go italic uig through the house, reflected again in to even the darkest corners, ny mirrors placed wisely opposite the windows. And for the days when the sun hides itself away, there are other i trick’s to be learned—sunny yellow ! wads, saffron yellow filet set curtains, at the windows which give the ap-' pearauce of sunlight filtering through; gleaming brass and burnished coppei ornaments placed so that they, too. reflect a warm light, in their deep, glowing- surface. And there are mam delightful cretonnes too, with gay designs of such warm colours, so thai all these things will play their part in creating sunshine. And then for the shade, there art the cooler sedative colours, such at softest blues—like love-in-a-mist, delicate dove greys, fresli cool greens ano mysterious misty mauves and, ol course, all the darker colours. It js important to realise that the entire colour of a room can be altered bv the quantity of light which is allowed to enter. Screening curtains of rose or warm beige will soften ih< colour contrasts, or if the room bo dull and lifeless, then saffron jell m or gold will help to brighten the seeming gloom. The .same principle holds good in tin the case of arniioial light, where attractive effects can be created by the lamp shades—silks of soft peach-pinks, deep rose, or amber, even buff, shed a warm, becoming glow over the room —a glow which can be enhanced by } lining of the same tint, and even li necessary, a deeper coloured interlining. Perhaps I should offer a word of warning against blue or green lamp shades, for delightful as the colours •of the materials may be in daylight, when lit up. they will east a most mi- . friendlv glow, and while they would be deliciously cool in the heat of a

LIGHT AND SHADE EFFECTS,

mid-summers noon, they would be just a little too cold when the -sun goes down and the lamplight comes to take its place. However, these colours, of course, may be introduced if desired, say, in the form of a design of fruit and flowers upon a parchment shade, either tinted or in its natural colour..

A beautiful picture can also ulay a great part in the light of a room when hung in a good position. And, of course, exquisite charm can be achieved by placing a few well arrayed blossoms or a figure in crystal, in .such a position mat some light, even if it is only thrown by a small reading lamp, will cast the shadow of the cb-jec-.t on to the plain wall beyond. In Miss Doreen Wallace’s new book “The Portion of the Levites,” she writes of everyday things. This novel relates the married fortunes of Laura and Anthony Harden, who attempted to make a living out of the Suffolk soil. It is not only my personal liking for novels that deal with agricultural England which moves me to enthus;ism fop Miss Wallace’s book. It has qualities of story-telling and character drawing that must be rated very high, and there is, moreover, no humbug about it. Miss Wallace has drawn her characters fairly and squarely, and it .s true. I thinkT to say-that by making Laura the type of woman she is, she has nade things to that extent, easy for herself —for the issues are never conused. Laura Harden was a woman erfectlv well able to earn her . own living and she was entirely devoid of •lie romantic impulse. This, there'ore, is nothing of warring passions, 'b is merely the story of two intelli;ent people who marry, produce chillren and endeavour to earn a living. There are thousands of women like Laura, and there are thousands of men ke Anthony Harden—a man keen on bis job. conservative in liis outlook nd in liis ideas upon woman entirely unaware of his wife’s intellectual equipment and a “good sort.” This s distinctly a book not to be missed. And now I must away—to plant- my ix new Alexandra rose plants in my rose garden—that lovely rose which I have so often told you of Betsie dear md which I hope is going to do as •veil with m© as it does in Christ--lmrch. ’ i Yours ever, — BELINDA. Wellington,. June 16.