[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."J
SIR,—I trouble you with a few words, in reply to your anony- mous correspondent's strictures. If he meant his distempered floor to be protected by varnish and from soap and water, why did he not say so ?
Dr. Salviati will supply little Venetian glass at the price named, and Hawthorn porcelain is generally understood to mean gold Oriental porcelain. The reason for this last is a very simple one ; it is that Hawthorn (pattern) porcelain is no better than any other design, but very much rarer, and derives its value from its scarcity, not from its beauty,—hence the absurdity of recommending it to people of limited means. Of the pictures, the question was not a choice between cheap chromos, and lithographs, and engravings, but, as any one may see by turning to the original article in the Corahin, between oils, and water-colours, and photographs. The writer distinctly stated that both oils and water-colours should be rejected not because they were bad, or if they were bad, but because they would clash with his furniture and walls.
Lastly, I would suggest that a poor householder would be a little hard up for the necessaries of life who should fill his drawing-room with black-and-gold wickerwork chairs and tables,. couches covered with pale blue satin (not a very serviceable material or colour), with easy-chairs of the same, two or three tables, six or eight gossip-chairs, black-and-gold jardinieres and etageres, what-nots, Japanese cabinet, together with a sham dado, blue-and-white porcelain, Venetian glass, blue tiles, and papered ceiling, here recommended to him. All of this, with paper, paint, gas-brackets, carpets, &c., may be obtained for £100, according to my critic; to which last astounding assertion I can say nothing, except that I hope any of your readers who wish for such a palace of art will first get another opinion as tc, its cost.—I am, Sir, &c., The TIThite House, Chelsea, HARRY QUILTER..
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