The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-06-08

A very important branch of the turner's bust
ness, but one which many say they would be
glad to get rid Of if they could do 50 without in
jury to their more important interests, is the
storing and caring for during the summer months
of valuable furs. Thousands of dollars worth of
furs and fur-lined garments are coniided TO their
care every spring TO be kept free OF moths. and
returned in good order in the autumn But
one of the largest New York dealers said, 1--WE
don't want any more Of this work than We have
now, and think would be willing 10 give If
up altogether, but for the consideration that Gus
toners who come to us for this service will likely
become purchasers, and make us even. IL
gives a great deal of trouble. Women hardly
ever send boxes with their furs, OF, if they do,
the boxes broken and useless. So we have
to supply new boxes, costing % cents each.
Then the fms have TO be cleaned, and aired
every few weeks. Ii is expected also that We
should take care of the most troublesome things.
One woman brings 4 velvet dress, trimmed
with feathers, to be kept free of creases and
moths during the season. Another insists on
our keeping her horse blanket, and We have even
had them send us rugs and carpets.
The only way TO keep furs safely is TO clean
them thoroughly tefore putting them away,
then put them in very close boxes, aud every
week, in the case of delicate furs, or two weeks
with the hardest, to take them out, shake and
beat them well, air and replace them in their
boxes. Nothing can be put in the boxes with
them which Will enhance their safety without
doing them injury. Camphor, in which many
persons have such confidence, is injurious TO the
furs of sable, mink and others, even to some Of
the colored Ones and its unpleasant odor elings
to furs much longer than to clothing There is
tar paper, especially for the purpose, which is
said to keep moths away, and is largely used in
keeping clothing, but we can not use il even if it
were certain to exclude moths, because it gives
the garments the disagreeable odor of tar, which
would cling to them a long while. Tobacco and
cedar chips are Of little or value, and We GER
tainly would never trust to them for safety. In
fact, there is nothing on which we can rely con-
fidently, except constant care in airing beating
and packing away.
'.Hatters generally, at the close of their win
ter goods season, pack in pasteboard boxes, with
paper tightly pasted over the cracks, all the fur
caps, gloves, tippets collars, and such things
works satisfactorily. Perhaps it does. with such
small articles as they handle, but it would be
impracticable of application to the care of great
silk and velvet circulars, lined with fur, heavy
fur cloaks, aud other goods of this class. They
would be ruined by such keeping, even If the
moths did not get at them, which they probably
would. The keeping out of creases is quite as
| important and as difficult the keeping out OF
moths. Ladies sometimes get that idea OF keep
| ing their furs over the summer by sealing them
up in airtight boxes, and for seson or two they
may do so successfully, as far as the moths are
concerned, but in the end 1t is sure to work them
! woe. One lady of my acquaintance, who had a
magnificent 81 500 set of sables said to me, why
should / pay you for keeping my furs for me,
| when have got just as good 4 way myself which
will cost me nothingi' ! said, Very well, there
is no reason why you should pay me for doing
\ what you can do as WELL She sealed her fur
| in alright boxes. For two seasons the plan
| worked admirably. At the end of the third
season, when she took them out of the boxes
she brought them to me. The worms were nc
tualy dropping ont of them by scores. Her beau
| tiful furs were wholly ruined. She dosen't prac'
| tice that sort of economy any more.
'The prices for keeping fnrs vary greatly, &C
| cording TO their delicacy-fOr some are much
more difficult to keep than others-ranging al
| the way from up to per cent. on their value
| When the great trouble incurred, the space re
quired, the responsibility involved, and the cos
| of insurance against fire are all taken into ac
count, the charges very low iudecd-not
enough to induce us TO desire any extension Of
the business
A New York tailor has started as department
of his business. the keepeng of mems wintel
clothing during the summer. He began it las
year, and met with much encouragement tina
he has increased his facilities for the present
season. For keeping overcoats he charges u
cents per month: coats, IS cents vests, 20 cents
trousers, % cents, and guarantees that the moth
shall not injure them. He is very reticent abou
his methods, seeking to impress the inquirin.
mind with the idea that he possesses profound
secret, the nearest he will come to revelation
therefore being: Il puts dem in a partlc'la
kind of boxes yOt got, nit baper, unit efer!
week airs dem, unit shakes dem ouet. Den
moths don't go nit dot baper in a blace."-Iihts
| barg Dispatch