National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-20
GUARDING AGAINST MOTHS.
How Valuable Furs nro Kept by FurrIeI
During the Summer Months.

How Valuable Furs nro Kept by Furrlers
During the Summer Months.
very important branch OF the furriers' bus-
ness, but one which many say they would be glad
to get rid Of II they could do without injury 10
their moro important interests, is the storing and
caring for during the summer months Of valuable
fnrs. Thousands of dollars worth of furs and fur
lined garments are confded to their care every
spring, TO bo kept free Of moths, and returned in
good order In the autumn. "But," one OF tho
largest uptown dealers said tive don't want any
more of this work than we have now, and think
would be willing to give It up altogether but for
the consideration that customers who como to us
for this service will be likely day TO become
purchasers, md so make us even. II glvts great
denl Of trouble. Women hardly ever
SEND BoxEs WITH THEIR FURs
or, ifthoy do, the boxes nrc broken and useless.
cents each Then tie furs have to be cleaned,
aired, and beaten every week or two, repacked,
and insured. It is expected al'o that we should
woman brings us q velvet dress, trimmed with
feathers, to be kept free Of creases and moths dur
lug the seeson.. Another insists on our keeping
her horse blankets, aud we have oven had them
send us rugs aud carpets.
-, 90 The only way 20 keep furs safely is to clean
to put them in very CLOSE boxes, and every week,
in the case of delicate furs, or two weeks mt most
with the hardest 10 take them out, shake and
beat them WELL air them thoroughly, 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 very
luxurious TO THE FURs
OF sable, mink, aud others, even to some of the
colored Ones and its unpleasant odor clings TO
fuis much longer than to clothing There Is a tar
paper, especially prepared for the purpose, which
IS said TO keep moths away, and is largely used In
keeping clothing but we cannot use It, even II 1t
the garments the disagrccablc odOr OF tar, which
would cling to them long while. Tobacco aud
cedar chips are of little or no value, and we GER
fact, there is nothing on which we can rely con-
hdcntly, except constant care, in airing, beating,
and packing away. Hatters generally, ut the
close of their winter goods season. pack in paste
b ard boxes, with paper tightly pasted over the
cracks all the fur caps, gloves, tippets, collars,
that the plan works satisfactorily. Perhaps It
does, with such small articles rs they handle, but
it would be impractcable OF application to the
care Of great
SILK AND VELVET CIRCULARS
lined with fur, heavy fur cloaks, and other goods
of this most expensive class. They would be
ruined By such keeping even If the moths did not
The keeping out of creases is quite ns important
and as difficult as the keeping out of moths
Ladies sometimes get the idea of keeping their
furs over the summer by sealing them up in air
tight-boNes, and for Il season or two they may do
50 successfully as far as the moths are concerned
but in the end II Is sure to work them woe. One
lady of my acquaintance who had magnificent
1850 set fsables, said to me: why should pay
you SeVerhl uOllhfS LOT keeping my lurS tOr me
when have Just as good way myself which will
cost me nothing? l said, Very well there is no
reason why you should pay mo for doing what
you can do as WE'LL
SHE SEALED HER FuRs
In air-tight boxes. For two seasons the plan hap
pened to work admirably. At the end of the
third season, when she took them out of the
boxes, she brought them to me. The worms were
actually dropping out of them by scores. Her
beautiful furs were wholly ruined. She doesn't
practice that sort of economy any more.
"The prices for keeping furS vary greatly, nc-
cording to their delicacy-for some are much more
difficult to keep than others-ranging all the way
from two per cent. up to four per cent. on their
value. When the great trouble incurred, the
space required, tho responsibility involved and
the cost of insurance against fire all taken into
account, the charges arc very low indeed-not
enough 10 induce us to desire any extension of the
business"
AN UPTOWN TAILOR
has started, as department of his business, the
| keeping OF mems winter clothing during the
| summer months. He began 1t last year, and met
with so much encouragement that he has in
creased his facilities for the present season. For
keeping overcoais he charges so cents per month
coats 35 cents vests, 20 cents; trousers % cents,
aud guarantees that the moths shall not injurc
| thom. He is very reticent about his methods
| seeking to impress the inquiring mind with the
idea that he possesses profound secret, the
| est he will come to revelation thereof being: II
| puts dem in n partic'lar kind of boxes vot / got
| nit baper unit efery week airs dem unit shakes
| dem ouet. Dem moths don't go NIT dot baper In
| u blace. ."-Neiu York Sun.