Hi, Carol... welcome back!  Recently you wrote to alexander koryagin:

 CS>  Parlour was Woman's domain.


            Sometimes it is... or was.  I've visited places where it was
quite obvious the Female Head of the Household was in charge of interior
decoration, because the living room was full of antique furniture &
delicate knick-knacks. I've yet to see people living in such rooms. 
Children were not allowed to set foot there, and other adults of both
genders... including myself... would feel enormously relieved when they
were ushered into the kitchen.

            Another variation of the theme, in houses with more space, is
that the living room is used only for formal entertaining & the real
action goes on in the family room.  IIRC the front parlour was where Mrs.
So-and-So (not Lady Megabucks) would chat with the male rector of the
parish.  She might chat with female friends & acquaintances there
too... but in any case it could easily be regarded as her domain if she'd
chosen the decor, the teacups, etc.  It wasn't like a boys' clubhouse with
signs saying "No Girls Allowed".  It was more like the living
room which is "Dressed for Success", yet seldom used because
people feel a lot more relaxed & comfortable elsewhere.  In the absence
of wives some of our bachelor friends employ Interior Designers to take
care of such things. They don't appear to spend much time in the formal
living room either....  ;-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+