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they were engaged to the spirit of the furniture and decorations, or lack of them, and had
suggested that he be allowed to have it brought more in keeping with his idea of what was
appropriate. During the years in which he had been growing into manhood he had come
instinctively into sound notions of what was artistic and refined. He had seen so many homes
that were more distinguished and harmonious than his own. One could not walk or drive about
Philadelphia without seeing and being impressed with the general tendency toward a more
cultivated and selective social life. Many excellent and expensive houses were being erected.
The front lawn, with some attempt at floral gardening, was achieving local popularity. In the
homes of the Tighes, the Leighs, Arthur Rivers, and others, he had noticed art objects of some
distinction--bronzes, marbles, hangings, pictures, clocks, rugs.
It seemed to him now that his comparatively commonplace house could be made into
something charming and for comparatively little money. The dining-room for instance which,
through two plain windows set in a hat side wall back of the veranda, looked south over a
stretch of grass and several trees and bushes to a dividing fence where the Semple property
ended and a neighbor's began, could be made so much more attractive. That fence--sharp-
pointed, gray palings-- could be torn away and a hedge put in its place. The wall which divided
the dining-room from the parlor could be knocked through and a hanging of some pleasing
character put in its place. A bay-window could be built to replace the two present oblong
windows--a bay which would come down to the floor and open out on the lawn via swiveled,
diamond-shaped, lead-paned frames. All this shabby, nondescript furniture, collected from
heaven knows where-- partly inherited from the Semples and the Wiggins and partly
bought--could be thrown out or sold and something better and more harmonious introduced. He
knew a young man by the name of Ellsworth, an architect newly graduated from a local school,
with whom he had struck up an interesting friendship--one of those inexplicable inclinations of
temperament. Wilton Ellsworth was an artist in spirit, quiet, meditative, refined. From discussing
the quality of a certain building on Chestnut Street which was then being erected, and which
Ellsworth pronounced atrocious, they had fallen to discussing art in general, or the lack of it, in
America. And it occurred to him that Ellsworth was the man to carry out his decorative views to
a nicety. When he suggested the young man to Lillian, she placidly agreed with him and also
with his own ideas of how the house could be revised.
So while they were gone on their honeymoon Ellsworth began the revision on an estimated cost
of three thousand dollars, including the furniture. It was not completed for nearly three weeks
after their return; but when finished made a comparatively new house. The dining-room bay
hung low over the grass, as Frank wished, and the windows were diamond-paned and leaded,
swiveled on brass rods. The parlor and dining-room were separated by sliding doors; but the
intention was to hang in this opening a silk hanging depicting a wedding scene in Normandy.
Old English oak was used in the dining-room, an American imitation of Chippendale and
Sheraton for the sitting-room and the bedrooms. There were a few simple water-colors hung
here and there, some bronzes of Hosmer and Powers, a marble venus by Potter, a now
forgotten sculptor, and other objects of art--nothing of any distinction. Pleasing, appropriately
colored rugs covered the floor. Mrs. Cowperwood was shocked by the nudity of the Venus
which conveyed an atmosphere of European freedom not common to America; but she said
nothing. It was all harmonious and soothing, and she did not feel herself capable to judge.
Frank knew about these things so much better than she did. Then with a maid and a man of all
work installed, a program of entertaining was begun on a small scale.
Those who recall the early years of their married life can best realize the subtle changes which
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