New-York tribune., 1880-04-11
THE CARE OF CLOTHING.
Ia.nrl The MeeL.Iu Tl.ihnne

Concerning the fashion OF clothing and tho vari-
GUS fabrics of which it is made information is full
and frequent. Very little however, said about the
care of clothing and the ways in which it may be
preserved for the longest time and in the best possi
bic condition. To those who change their garments
with every change of style this Is matter of slight
Importance but to those who purchase silk dress
or broadcloth suit only once in series Of years it
is n matter Of interest and value. Silks. casbmeIes,
cloths of standard style and quality, arc very little
affected by the various currents Of fashion. They
hold their through all the years and are always
good. always Stylish" always suitable. While
new fabrics for the hour of their popularity high
priced, these standard goods sell at the standard
price and know little of rise fall in standard value
Neglect and carelcssness deteriorate clothing a
great deal faster than steady does. The house.
keeper who instead of changing her nice dress when
she passes from the street or the church 20 her
kitchen, keeps it on and takes it with her through
the various processes of dishwashing sweeping and
cooking will soon rob il of ali it's nicely while she
who wears her fine clothes only IN places where fine
clothes are suitable may keep them in good cOndl-
tion for an indefinite time. To dress according to
ones work is good taste, good sense and economy.
The careful person will take pains to preserve q
new calico no less than new silk. We knew q
young lady once who put on n nice new calico
which she had taken great pains to make. and woro
it through the morning dow to milk the cows. To
keep her arms from being soiled or tanned by the
sum- she declined to turn up the sleeves the Dress
In two days the nice calico looked like all the
rest of her dresses, dowdy, satternlY, unclean We
knew another young lady who had six silk dresses.
and not one Of them was it to wear, though none
of them had been made above a year. They were
spotted. draggled, tumbed, mussed. abused. We
knew another young lady who was the fortunate
possessor Of one nice black alpaca dress which she
wore on all occasions the season through, and al
ways appeared faultlessly dressed, She had no
work to do that would specially soil her clothes. If
stray drop Of anything that could make spot fell
upon her dress it was at once removed All dust
was brushed OIL, a sponge dipped in ammonia water
frightened faded places, and snowy collars and cuffs
suggested dainty habits OF cleanliness.
The care OF clothing.to be easy must be habitual
The hardeeS part is in forming the habit, and this
cannot too early IN life be formed. Most children
love to make mud pies and play in the dyt generally
and give little heed to keeping themselves clean.
This IS all we'll enough at times and they should be
INDUCED in their mud pies provided they are dressed
for the work. But il Is I" "DOOr-folksy' IN the last
degree to allow child to play the dirt with nice
clothes on or TO permit young person to dress
nappropriately while at work. IL is vastly easier
to change good coat for poor than it is to
store to its pristine condition soed cOatIt is vast
ly easier to put on pair of overalls than it s to
sponge thoroughly pair OF pantalOons. But the
worst Of it ID that those who neglect to change the
spOnging and cleansing processes, and let dust
gather and spots remain.
A clothes brush, q. wisp broom, bottle of am
monia, sponge, q hand brush, cake of erasye
SOAP vial OF alcohol, should form part of the
furnishings Of every toilet. After all dust has been
removed from clothing spots may be taken out Of
black cloth with the hand brush dipped in mix
ture OF equal parts of ammonia, alcohol and water.
This W III brighten as cleanse. Benzine Is useful In
removing grease spots. Spots of grease may be IT.
moved from eOored silks by putting on them raw
starch made into o paste with water. Dust Is best
removed from silk by soft flannel, from velvet
with brush made specially for the purpose. II
hats and bOnnets when taken from the head are
brushed aud put away in boxes and covered up, in
stead Of being laid down anywhere. they viii last
fresh long time. Shawls and all articles that
may be folded, should be folded when taken from
the person IN their original creases and laid away
Cloaks shonld bo hung up in place. gloves pned
out lengthwise, wrapped In tissue paper and laid
away, lHees smOothcd out nicely and folded, II re-
quIstc, so that they will come out of the box new
aud fresh when needed again. A strip Of old black
broadclOth four or Eve inches wide, rolled no
tightly aud sewed to keep the roll in place. is better