Many furniture manufacturers give in their catalogues designs of
semi-made or "knock together" furniture, that is, the parts of tables,
chairs, etc., cut out and planed, which it is intended that the
purchaser put together himself. These, as a rule, are made of good
material befitting the hand workmanship which will be put upon them,
and are offered at a considerable reduction from the price asked for
ready-made furniture of the same material.

Furniture stains of excellent quality are found in every hardware store
and paint shop, which can easily be applied by the merest amateur.

It is never wise to buy flimsy furniture, however cheap. As a rule,
there is too much furniture in the American home. It is better to get
along with a few good, durable articles, even though a little expensive,
than with a profusion of inferior ones. These soon reveal their "cheap
and nasty qualities," are in constant need of repair, and quickly
descend from the place of honor in the parlor to be endured a while in
the living room, then abused in the kitchen, and, finally, burnt as
fuel. Good wood and leather, however, are long in becoming shabby,
and even then require only a little attention to be restored to good
condition. When it is considered that in furniture there is virtually no
monopoly of design or invention, and one therefore pays for material and
labor alone, and competition has reduced these to the lowest terms, the
purchaser is certain to get the worth of his money when he pays a higher
price for durable material and honest workmanship. When it is further
recalled that our chief heirlooms from the former generations are tables
and chairs and bureaus, it will appear that it is our duty to hand down
to our children furniture of similar durability and honest quality.
Therefore, money spent for good furniture may be considered as a
permanent investment whose returns are comfort and satisfaction in