v KATUBDAY EVENING. FURNISHING A HOME By KATE GREENLEAF LOCKE No. Ill—Copyright 1901 XO. I—A CHINTZ DRAPED BEDCHA MBER WITH HAI^F CANOPY BEI>. i JIHEN the -weary shopper or 1 WWII fagged-out business man ft T. lM reaches home at the end of a |2 AJ3 winter's day, with rain or sa*»&a snow or a fierce northeaster as unwelcome companion to the very threshold —then, for the half-hour before dinner to rest in one's own room, warm from an open fire, soothing from rich, soft colors, luxurious in easy chairs — is the acme of comfort. No bedroom can take the place of a sitting-room; but at the same time, it should have more of a welcoming atmos phere than the stereotyped chamber^ pro vided simply with a bed, a bureau and a washstand. An apartment to appeal to one's sybar itic instincts need not be expensive in furnishing. Comfort is largely a matter of right temperature, right color scheme and chairs with properly poised backs. To be completely successful in its scheme of furnishing, a winter bedroom should impart a comfortable glow to the beholder upon entering. Soft, warm col ors should be there, melting harmonious- ly together. Whether or not the furnish ing and draperies be really rich in ma terial, they should have the effect of so being. Easy chairs and comfortable foot stools, and, if possible, a couch and cush ions, should play a part. When the glow of a fire is cast over this cosiness and color the charm of the room is assured; it will be felt by all who are privileged to enter. A guest who has been in pos session of such a chamber will never forget its sense of restfulness. In front of the fire there should be an easy chair, a small table for books and magazines and a shaded lamp. Notheing Btiff, but soft fabrics only should be at the windows. To insure a THE RICHEST COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES Olmsted County, Minnesota, So Considered by Good Authority—A Type of Southern Minnesota Counties. NO. 1-A SKETCH It has been declared by L. G. Powers, the well known, statistician, now in charge of the agricultural statistics of the cen sus bireau, that Olmsted county is the most prosperous single county in the United States. It is a question whether it is any more well-to-do than many of the other counties in Southern Minnesota., such as Dodge, Mower, Freeborn and a dozen oth era. There is little doubt, however, that the region of which these counties are a type is unsurpassed by any communities the world over in general high standard of life. Taking Olmsted county as a type, it will be interesting to study its prosperity both In the light of history and in the light of present conditions.' Its history will be considered in this article and its social and industrial conditions in a later ar ticle. Theodoslus, or someone else equally wise, once said, "Blessed are the people who have no history." This may be said of southern Minnesota. In so far as wars and great events constitute history, this region has little history. Its story is the fight of the pioneer. A few events stand out as landmarks, auoh as the great crop and the Rochester cyclone of 1883. For the rest, the history is a narration of the struggle of the early settlers who in a. few years have turned the flat prairie Hand into a garden of plenty. It Is the story of transition from old methods to the new. In a word, it is the story of progress. Early in the seventeenth century the Jesuite priests first penetrated into the Mississippi valley. These bold priests and a few adventurous spirits from France, placing their bark canoes upon the waters of the St. Lawrence at Mont real, made their way up the chain of lakes to the head of Lake Superior. By the Portage of the St. Croix they reached the Mississippi and thus worked their way to the Falls of St. Anthony. The present century, however, saw the first real settlement. The adventurous Pike, r*:^-;. ■ 'W' 1 '^ ' j^r §^^ '^^:'\ jsfey: J^k' % ■ ' AN! OLJ> LOG CABIN AT ROCHESTER. sens© of harmony It is well to drape the windows, cover the couch and cushion the chairs with the same stuff. This is a simple matter where figured goods in warm, bright colors are used. When this is done it is well to treat the walls and carpets in plain colors, choosing either the color of the figure in the draperies, or some shade which distinctly harmon izes with it. This scheme can be carried out in cot tons, silfts or wools, and the furnisher will find that it will be the coloring em ployed and not the cost which will make its beauty. For instance, the bedchamber in illustration No. 1 has walls of crimson in a plain color —this paper may be the expensive flock or a cheaper ingrain; but the color must be a rich red and not the purplish red often 6een in cheap papers. The ceiling is cream and kalsomined. The bed and window draperies have a crimson figure in a cream-colored ground, and the furniture is mahogany. The rug used on the mahogany-stained floor is a rich Wilton of indistinct figures in crimson tones. A Ghtnta Draped Red Room. The walls of illustration No. 2 are covered with pink flowered chintz. The drapery over the half canopy of the quaint little bed is of the same pattern and col oring in smaller design. The spread is of Marseilles, trimmed with an old-fash ioned white cotton fringe. All the details of the room' are quaint in suggestion. A touch which is effective and which en riches the simple chamber is a winged chair of brown wicker upholstered in plush or velour of the softest and most bewitching shade of old rose. This bit of solid color serves to accentuate the beauty of the pink roses scattered on the wall. The windows are simply draped in filmy OF US HISTORY whose name is borne by the picturesque island at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, penetrated this region shortly after the Louisiana Pur chase in 1803. A number of towns and villages had then been established upon the banks of the great natural highway, the most important of which was St. Paul. The First Immigrants. In 1849 the bill organizing the Terri tory of Minnesota was passed. The fol lowing year brought many immigrants to Wisconsin and the Minnesota river land ings. This first wave of immigration was made up almost wholly of Americans. The great influx of Scandinavians and oth er foreigners was at a later period. The land seekers soon pushed on to the fer tile regions west of the river. Much of the government land had remained un surveyed: Even the boundary line be tween Minnesota and lowa was not run until 1852. Early in the following spring surveys were made in Minnesota west of the Mis sissippi. Thomas Simpson, one of the earliest settlers of the state, and still a resident of Winona, was in charge of this survey. Regarding the method employed he says: At this time the government had just adopt ed the new system of surveys -which had as units the acre, the section, or scuare mile consisting of «40 acres, the township six miles square and containing thirty-six sec tions. The township lines lying six miles apart constitute rangres and the ranges are numbered from the principal meridians east and west. On eaoh range the townships are numbered both north and south from the principal east and west 'base- line. The east and west base line from which the townships in Missouri, lowa and Minnesota west of the river are numbered is the north boundary lifee of Arkansas, the first tier of township's on the north side of that line being designated as "township No. 1, north, >: and tho first tier south being designated and described as "township No. 1, south." The number of THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL. ' inrnrßmi r Xl ■! '^^mf *■■ an •% ' Ijii .■iJßMllirr P* HI m^B NO. 2-A CHAMBER FOR ALL SEASONS. WITH COLOR SCHEME OF ROBIN'S EGO BLUB AND SEA GREEN. whit© muslin, and a Persian rug having much beautiful old pink in it lies on the polished floor. The ceiling is washed with a light shade of rose color. A. straight scarf of the chintz used on the wall is hung on either side of the muslin cur tains at the windows. This carrying of the wall covering into folds to frame the windows is very effective. Robin's Egg Bine and Sea Green. Illustration Xoo. 2 is a photograph of one of the most beautiful bedrooms in southern California. While its cool, fresh i coloring is particularly adapted to that ! climate,' it is also rich enough in tone j to warm into life and cosiness with the i glow of a fire and the addition of a black j fur rug on the hearth. The wall paper is | particularly beautiful, being a water color study of creamy white Cherokee roses on ! a ground of robin's egg blue. The kalso mined ceiling is washed with cream color over the sides down to the picture mold ing of the room. The wood finish is all of Oregon pine, oiled, waxed and rubbed down. There is a light golden-yellow glowl to this wood which adds much to tho cheerfulness of the room. The carpet is 1 blue velvet in one tone. It is the color j of the side walls deepened to a rich old blue and forms a charming background for the white fur rugs thrown on it. The note of dainty elegance which dis tinguished this room is chiefly due to the window drapery, which is unique, yet simple. One end of the delightful apart ment is thrown into a large bay, in which there are five uniform windows. These have curtains to the sill, ruffled and caught back of white point d'esprit net, and under these are hung sash curtains of sea green silk with a damask figure. Over curtains of the silk are also hung outside the net and mark the divisions of the win townships from the north boundary of Arkan sas to the soxith boundary of Minnesota is 100, so the north tier of townships in lowa is numbered 100 and the south tier of townships in Minnesota, next to the (boundary line, is numbered 101, the next 102, and so on. At that time the state had not been di vided into counties. As the surveyors, progressed, many nameless counties were set apart. Honors were easy In those days. It thus happened that many of the new counties were named for men at that time prominent. Among these early pioneers was David Olmsted of Long Prairie, one of the earliest settlers in Minnesota and a man long conspicuous in the territorial government. Life in tbe Wilderness. When Mr. Simpson first undertook the survey of Olmsted and the adjoining coun ties of southern Minnesota, the region was a wilderness. For months together the surveyors would see no human being aside from wandering bands of hostile Sioux, who still roamed unrestrained in southern Minnesota. In those days game was plen tiful. In this connection Mr. Simpson says: One fine summer day as our party was chaining across the prairie, I noticed against the sky line ia myriad of wlvat I took to be branches. Turning to my men, I remarked that they would have a tough jab chaining through the thicket just ahead. What was my surprise when, a few moments later, what JUT 5 ',fT»^ A HISTORIC DODGE COUNTS' BUILDING. Old stone house built by John H. Shoeber in 1855 for an Indian trading post It Is still stan ding. I had supposed to bo a thicket developed into i a herd of some 500 elks, and what I bad mis taken for branches proved to be the thousand! moving- antlers of the animals. Bear were common and were often killed by the party. A small band of some twenty buffalo was seen near the present Bite of the town of Hutehinson; the streams abounded with trout and the prai ries with prairie chicken. In the fall of the year the rivers and lakes swarmed with duck and geese. Mr. Simpson gives the following explanation as to the,-de rivatlon of the word "Zumbro," by which the streams and rivers draining the coun ties of Dodge, Olmsted and Wafoasha is now known. The Indian name of this river system is Waziouja. This means in English that which is "difficult, crooked or full of obstacles to flowing water." Some of the early French explorers trans lated it in their own tongue, calling it "Dcs Embarass" river, and by thi3 name It was known on the early government maps. When the Americans settled the lands bordering on this stream they found It difficult to get the French pronuncia tion. irDes Embarass' 'was fina^y cor rupted into "Zumbro." A Fever of Speculation. In the spring of 1854 claims were taken up at Zumbro Falls for Michael Kanneek and George Lewis, two of the first settlers in Olmsted county. These were located on the spot where the beautiful city of Rochester now stands. At this time large numbers of immigrants crossed the Mississippi from Wisconsin to take up dows. The airy mingling of the pale green and the filmy net against the sun light coming through the window is simply enchanting and softens the light of the room. The furniture, with the exception of the brass bed, is mahogany. The couch and window seat are upholstered with French' cretonne, having blue figures on a white ground. A cushion of blue silk in plain colors lies under the figured one on the couch and brings it into relief. The brass bed is draped with a valanced spread of white point d'esprit over one of light blue silk. The green of the silk curtains reproduces the foliage of the roses on the paper, and thus the blues and greens ar« brought together. The Decision of Color. There are several things which should influence this decision of color. A north bedroom is satisfactory and delightful done in yellow, because this color cna make sunshine in a shady place. If the yellow bedroom is to figure in a dirt begrimed city, draperies and adjuncts may be of golden brown. When one has used cur tains and a couch of brown in a room with yellow walls she has but fto set a pot of tiaiU'ng yellow sunflowers in the window to explain her color scheme. Sash curtains of inexpensive silkoline in glow ing, golden yellow will admit the light with added brilliance, and cushions on the denim couch of yellow silk will give a touch of luxury to the simple room. The silltf may cost but thirty cents a yard, and yet the sheen, the softness, the sug gestiveness of richness is there and sne has attained her object in getting a beau tiful effect while spending very little money. Yellow sunflowers, with dark brown centers, carry another color in their stems and leaves. This is a certain pre-emption claims in southern Minnesota. Land could then be purchased from the government at $1.25 per acre. At that time the government also gave land war rants to the veterans of 1812 and 1846, en titling each to a quarter section. Many, not caring to come to the new country, disposed of these warrants to speculators, j A great fever of speculation seized the northwest. Settlers poured westward from the river landings and through lowa. On the plains wag seen with its ox teams and canvas top, the '/ K-^ 11 if «# "II '< Hi PV%M -■■;■,-; .-..*-•" ■ ■ *■"'■".''■.: ,-.■ • _• ."."■' .-''.- i. -. - . * -* NO. 3—A CHEERFUL, ROOM WITH DARK RED WALLS AND MAHOGANY FURNITURE. fall a foot below the sill; these should be ruffled along the front edge and across the bottom. When they are caught both slightly above the window ledge with cord and tassels, the lower part will then fall In a cascade of ruffles, which is very fascinating. A study of the accompany ing photographs will afford accurate in formation on this subject. Ribbons should not be used to fasten back white muslin curtains unless butterfly bows are made a special feature of the decoration, of the room. Generally speaking, a simple white cotton cord and tassel is the best thing to use here, though a daintier and slightly more expensive effect is obtained with the slender cords and fluffy tassels of white silk, which can beb ought for twenty-flve cents a pair. If one wishes to be very economical indeed, they can make these little accessories for them selves of the common white cord, which can be bought for a song. It will readily be seen that the illustrations here given are of bedrooms where a marked sim plicity lends the chief charm. The ma terials employed to drape the beds, door ways and windows, to cover the couches and cushions, may be flowered cot ton, costing twenty-five cents per yard, or of richest silks and brocades. The graceful lines of the draperies, the soft fulness of the curtain®, the genecal ef fect of a daintily furnished bedchamber would in either case remain the same. And just here lies the gist of this mat ter of luxurious furnishing. The point I wish to make is that if properly se lected and arranged the cheaper mate rials may also appeal to the highest taste. We are learning that we need not leave beautiful homes entirely to the rich. The man of moderate means may sur round himself also with an atmosphere of beauty. In a country home the most delicate cottons, having an Ivory white 1 »k "^ '*- S THOMAS SIMPSON, A southern Minuesona pioneer, living now at Winona. the general standard of the cattle in this region to-day is high. In the towns new industries grew up. There are many attractive towns in this county. Byron, Dover, Chatfleld and Zumbrota are all thriving trade centers. DECEMBEK 21, 1901. background with figures in clear, fresh greens, or pinks, or china blue, or scar let, may be used (the colors I have men tioned are generally unfadable) on couch and cushions and hassock 3. Pin striped dimity at twelve and a half cents per yard may drape the windows in peren nial crispness, and the doorways may be hung with the always artistic and serviceable denim which is now brought by the shops in the softest and finest shades of color. The plain surface of color presented by a denim door curtain accentuates the more delicate suggestions of wall paper and cretonne and serves to fix the color of a room. In city houses where coal dust is apt to filter in it is well to use richer and stronger colors. In this case they can be so chosen as to harmonize completely, glaring shades should be eschewed, and the effect will be as attractive as the other. The Dressing of an Iron Bed. The iron bedstead has In many homes •superseded the heavier and more expen sive wooden ones. Tliey have the several advantages of cheapness, simple lines and sanative construction, but when im properly treated are absolutely ugly. When left to figure in skeleton bareness their effect in a room is that of meager ness and poverty. Yet there is nothing which takes more kindly to airy and graceful decoration than these little beds. It is a simple matter to make a spread of white dimity, or flowered or dotted muslin, and sew a sixteen or eighteen inch ruffle around three sides of it. At the two corners which will fall at the foot of the bed the ruffle must be slit open its full width, and the sides faced back. This slit permit* the legs of the bed stead to be inserted within the ruffle, and the opening is entirely hidden by the ex tra fullness at the corners. Rochester is the county seat, and Is sit uated in a beautiful valley, and It one o< the most picturesque towns of Minne sota. The Rochester Tornado. The great event which stands out In the history of this section is the Rochester tornado of 1883. On August 17, about 6:30 the storm struck the town. It had been muggy all day, and the clouds, gather ing in. the northwest as evening ap proached,.. warned the community, that a destructive storm was at hand. Almo Gerry, one of the wealthy citizens of Rock Dell, tells how he watched the great wind clouds gather many miles to the west. For a few minutes, he says the clouds hung motionless, and then they began to move slowly-; as a strong man will start a freight car. Once started the twister gained speed rapidly, an* swept down the valley. In appearance it had the shape of an inverted balloon, and was about the color of boiling soap or maple syrup. Great timbers and frag ments of wreckage were seen spinning about In the^vortex. The storm followed up the valley of the Zumbro river, strik ing the lower part of the town with a roar like that of a thousand freight trains. It had now grown intensely dark. Great hail stones fell, some of these weighing as much as a pound and a half. 1 The path of the tornado averaged nearly half a mile in width. That part of the town through which It passed was re duced, in the words of an eye .witness, to "toothpicks and matches." Fifteen minutes after the storm struck, all was over. So thick were the debris and wreckage where the storm had raged hardest that it was impossible to dis tinguish the former location of the streets. Twenty-eight persons were . killed. A hundred more were . injured. Help in the way of subscriptions for provisions and shelter for the homeless poured in from the entire state. The storm was a great setback to Rochester, but a few years later saw the little Minnesota town as prosperous as before. The history of southern Minnesota for the last fifteen years has been one of constant progress. New devices and im proved farm machinery have been univer sally introduced. The growth of the dairy Industry and the Introduction of the cream separator have given a great stim ulus to the raising of stock.. ' It is safe to say that there is a greater variety of farm produce raised -in this section than In any other portion of the northwest. Oats, barley, rye. wheat, corn, fruit, honey, sugar and a dozen other products pour into the market towns. Mortgages are fast being paid. Universal prosperity reigns. ■ ■ ." . ' " Buy United States Fuel OH stock mm Write for new prospectus. Tie Takima Valley, Washington, Is the most attractive Irrigation ' proposi tion in the United States. All but trop ical fruits grow luxuriantly, while alfalfa is a sure and profitable crop. . Twenty acre ranches can be purchased for $600 on easy terms. The Northern Pacific rail way traverses the entire length of the valley, thus Insuring good transportation facilities. Good schools and churches abound, and rural mail routes are es tablished through the valley, which will soon be. one large village. Thunderstorms are rare and cyclones unknown. The cli mate, which is very mild, Ib extremely beneficial to consumptives and those af flicted with bronchial and catarrhal troubles. The Northern; Pacific has an nounced cheap one-way settlers' rates to all points on Its line during March and April. This will give an opportunity to termers to make the trip west very cheap ly. For particulars write to G. F. Mc- Neill, city ticket agent Northern, Paciflo railway, Minneapolis, or to G. "W. Mott, general emigration agent . Northern Pa cific railway, St. Paul. Minn. Great Northern Hallway Holiday Ex- > anriion Rates '-'■ For teachers and students during the ~£ holiday vacations. Call or telephone Great Northern Railway Ticket Agent for rates, dates of sale and limits. A woman who is weak, nervous and, sleepless, and who has cold hands and feet cannot feel and act like a well person. Carter's s lron Pills equalize the circula tion, remove .:, nervousness,.. sfid p give strength rest. - ,-