An “Artificial Window”
A start can be made in construction by procuring a sheet of strong white paper of the requisite size. With India ink or chalk the thick black lines, as shown in [Fig. 1], are painted in. The dotted lines represent the sheet of paper, the four holes the positions at which the nails fasten it to the wall, and the finished effect of an interior window is obtained by the draping of art muslin or curtains, as suggested by the diagram.
Oftentimes a little exterior scene is wanted. A simple way of improvising a cottage is that of using two screens placed as shown (A, A, [Fig. 2]). A plank or the shelf of a cupboard is placed across the top (D, [Fig. 2]), and kept in position either by nails or gimlets screwed into the top of the screens.
A tablecloth of any bright color, preferably red, is stretched from points (B, B, [Fig. 3]), slanting downwards and slightly over the edge of the screens.
Fig. 1.—Interior artificial window for charades.
Two “artificial windows” (C, C, [Fig. 3]) should be then pinned to the screens, and the exterior of cottage is complete, an additional artistic effect being produced by fixing flower-stands with ferns in positions as shown (E, E, [Fig. 2]).
Fig. 2.—Plan for improvised cottage.
Fig. 3.—Exterior view of improvised cottage.