The Democratic advocate., 1873-11-01
How to Improve the Appearance of
Furniture.

Mr.. g. j. Henkels, Of Philadelphia, Pa,
suggests that when the polish on new fur
niture becomes dull il can be renowned by
the following process: Take a soft sponge,
wet with clean cold water, and wash over
the article. Then take soft chamois skin
and wipe il clean. Dry the skin as well
as you can by wringing it in the hands, aud
wipe the water off the furniture, being
careful to wipe only one way. Never use
a dry chamois on vanished work. IL the
yarnish is defaced and shows white marks,
take linseed oil and turpentine in equal
parts shake them well in phial and apply |
very small quantity ON soft rag until
the color is restored then with clean
soft rag wipe the mixture entirely off In
deeply carved work, the dust cannot be
removed with sponge Use stiff haired
paint brush instead of sponge. The
cause Of vanished furniture becoming
dull, and the reason why oil and turpen-
tine restore its former polish, it will be
appropriate to explain. The humidity Of
the atmosphere and the action of gas cause
a blush white coating to collect on all fur
niture, and show conspicuously on bright
polished surfaces, such as mirrors, pianos,
cabinet ware and polished metal. 1t is
easily removed as previously directed. The
white scratches on furniture are caused by
bruising the gum Of which varnish is made,
Copal varnish is composed Of gum copal,
linseed oil, and turpentine or benzine
Copal is not soluble in alcohol as other
gums are, but is dissolved by heat 1t is
the foundation of varnish, as the oil is
used only to make the gum tough, and the
turpentine is required only to hold the
other parts in liquid state, and it eyapo-
rates Immediately after its application to
furniture. The gum then becomes hard
and admits of fine polish. Thus, when
the varnish is bruised, it is the gum that
turns white, and the color is restored by
applying the oil and turpentine. If the
mixture is left on the furniture, it will
amalgamate with the varnish and become
tough, therefore the necessity of wiping it
entirely off at once. To yarnish old fur
niture, it should be rubbed with pulyerized
pumice stone and water to take off the old
surface, and then vanished with varnish
reduced, by adding turpentine, to the con
sistency of cream. Apply with stiff
haired brush If it does not look WE'LL
repeat the rubbing with pumice stone, and
when dry, yarnish it again.
The same author says There are two
species of moths which infest furniture.
One is large fly Of silvery white color
the worm of the same is shaped like a
chestnut worm, and is familiarly known.
1t rarely infests furniture. The other is
a small fly ola dark drab color; the worm
is about one-fourth Of an inch long, and
tapering from the head to the tail 1t was
first observed by upholsterers about thir-
teen years ago. This Fly penetrates a sofa
or chair, generally between the back and
seats of sofas, or under the seats, where
the vacancy among the springs affords a
safe retreat. 1t may make lodgment
in one week after the furniture is placed
in the house. If such should be the case,
in two months the worm will appear aud
the continual process of procreation in q
few months increases the number to thous-
ands, This moth has no season. 1t de-
stroys in winter and summer alike, and it
is kept in active life by the constant heat
of the house. We find at the same time,
in the same piece of furniture, the fly, the
worm and the eggs; thus showing that
they are breeding and destroying all the
time. 1t does not eat pure curled hair,
but fastens its cocoons to it, the elasticity
Of which prevents its being disturbed. The
inside of furniture is used by it only for
the purpose of propagation. The worm
when ready for food crawls out and de-
stroys the covering, if of wooden or plush
material; and falling to the carpet destroys
it. 1t rarely cuts through plush from the
inside, as it is of cotton back, but there
are instances where the worm has cut up
muslin on the outside of the back of sofas
There is no protection against them but
continual care. New furniture should be
removed from the walls at least twice a
week at this season Of the year, and should
be well whisked all around, and particular
ly under the seats, to prevent the fly from
lodging This is an etfectual preventative,
and the only one known. Cayenne pep
per, Scotch snuff, camphor, turpentine, and
all other remedies for protection from the
large moth are Of little or no avail against
the furniture moths. Saturation with al
cohol will not destroy them when in a
piece of furniture. If the furniture is in
tested, they may be removed by taking of
the muslin from under the seats and off
the outside ends and backs, where they
congregate most, and exposing to the air
as much as possible Beat well with a
whisk or the open hand, and kill the flies
and worms which show themselves. This
done often will disturb them, and may
make them leave the furniture in their
desire to be left in quiet. When the fur
niture is free from moths and is to be left
during the summer months without atten-
tion, It may be protected by camphor in
small bags or highly concentrated patchouli
The safest way is to have the furniture
well whisked twice week If the moth;
attack the carpet, which they will first dc
under the sofas and chairs, spread wei
sheet on the carpet and pass hot fat iron
over it quickly; the steam will etfectually
destroy both worms and eggs. If furni
ture is delivered in dwelling free from
moths, the upholsterer responsibility end
there and all rests with the housekeeper
as no tradesman can tell whether the mott
will attack it or not. There are case
where the furniture has been in use ten o.
twelve years before being attacked. Il
would be as fair to hold the tailor respon
, sible for the safety of clothing from moth
as to hold the upholsterer responsible fo
! : the safety Of furniture.
THE True MAN Nine-tenths Of tn
, alleged inhumanity Of mankind is owinJ
! to their being deceived. If people ar
sure of an accident or calamity, crowd
hastened to relieve it. BY yeracity W
charm in conversation by sincerity we in
fuence opinion by trustworthiness W
render friends loving and secure, add +
n I.a a. n a \ -