Everything a Woman Ought to Know

Is a book by Florence Jack - it's main title is The Woman's Book of Household Management.

Here are some of her handy tips:

Ventilation is essential to avoid the dangers of Vitiated Air!

Electric light as an illuminant has many advantages. It is cleanly, hygienic and convenient.

In the new Boudoir Grate, an almost perfect imitation of a homely log fire is achieved.

Brown Lincrusta is much used for dining-room dadoes.

Wood panelling painted white is often used in drawing-room decoration.

To paper a library in pale shades of blue or green would be to go against every law of what is fitting and proper.

The ugly gilt-edged mirror which formed the conventional chimney-piece decoration of the time of our grandmother is now mercifully buried in oblivion. Artistic wooden chimney-pieces and overmantels combined now form part of the decorative equipment of most tastefully furnished houses.

There are still some middle class people who keep their drawing room as a show room... but such rooms always wear an air of stiffness which is often reflected in the manner of the mistress...

Grand pianos give an air of "finish" to a drawing room which is achieved by no other means.

Chairs of one period must not be mixed up with tables of another, and a bureau of still another epoch.

The wooden bedsteads now on the market are artistic in every way and free from that ugliness which characterised those of Victorian days. during the Victorian era art in furniture went through a marked decadence. The furniture of this recent period is marked by its stiffness, ungainliness, and general air of discomfort. It may safely be said that connoisseurs of the future will not readily advocate a revival of the Victorian style. (Some bold types went against the tide of public opinion and bought Victoriana in the 30s, about 20 years after the date of this book, but it didn't really catch on until the 70s.)