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From: "Barbara Jean Green" <>
Subject: Re: The Holy of Holies
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 11:38:21 -0500


This was also a memorable custom in the US of A...back when I was growing up
in the 1930s and 1940s. The primary "parlor" was for 'view' and not 'use'
...except on the most special of occasions. As a child, I only
looked-in...and most certainly did not touch anything. I did not go in to
sit down! A second room (off the fabulous front-room) was where the family
spent their time....on old and comfortable furniture, with a radio too!

Interestingly, today's modern homes in the USA generally have that extra
room called a 'den' or 'family room' in addition to the great Living Room.
The Living Room is filled with the family's most ornate furnishings and is
hardly ever used. The Den gets the every day use where the TV is located,
and where the family can relax.

Barbara Jean

----- Original Message -----
From: Stan Bayne <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 2:13 AM
Subject: The Holy of Holies


> Recently I was doing a biography for an Englishman who mentioned the
> common practice in England of keeping the front room of the house for
> special occasions. He said:
>
> "We had a front room, but in those days we were never allowed to go in
> there. The English custom was to keep the front room for high days,
> holidays and visitors - not for ordinary people like me. I can
> remember going in there only once or twice in my life. Even then it
> was only opened up for special visitors, and I can recall that on those
> occasions I would have a complete "spring clean" - washed and brushed
> and put into my best clothes, just to go into the front room to meet the
> important visitors and come out about two minutes later! I would be
> immediately taken out of my good clothes and put back into my ordinary
> things. We weren't peculiar in that - everyone did this."
>
> That was back in the period 1925-1935. Is this still a custom in the
> UK?
>
> Stan Bayne, Wellington, New Zealand > Looking
> for: BAYNE, Lancs, Ches; BEARDSHAW, BELL, STAINROD, THOMPSON, Notts.
> Vivat Regina!
>
> ______________________________

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