ABSTRACT
William White was a Gothic revivalist architect who was also an extensive author on a variety of topics including architecture, mainly published in contemporary journals. But an ordinary tinted paper with dado below and lighter colour above, hung on clean and sound walls, and varnished, is one of the best, most wholesome, durable, and cheap modes of good and simple decoration. Other members of his household suffered, as well as the men employed to remove it from the walls. As a wholesome decorative covering for walls, a panelling of pine or fir is said to be one of the best on account of its resinous odour. A wide field for wholesome decoration is opened up by the fibrous plaster and canvas plaster, made by Jackson and others, but their use may afford an unfortunate inducement to the finishing of a house before its newly-built walls can be properly seasoned for healthy occupation.
