, 1890-04-12
HOW 10 CARE FOR FURs.
Points on Caring for Skins That House
keepsrS VIII Appreciate.

keepers VIII Appreciate.
Campbor has been from time imme-
mortal the housekeeper's weapon of de-
Tense against the ravages Of the moth,
but it Is astonishing that so few people
realize that though this is an excellent
p~reservative after proper precautions of
busting and beating rave been observed
when packing n garment away, it is
really a most undesirable substance tn
employ in the care of furs because of the
injurious effects that result from its use.
In n chat with a leading ~furrier, he told
me that while all high class furs are APP
proPriately worn in the deepest OF mourn
ing, a fashionable customer of their house
concluded to discard her sealskins during
the period through which she was wear
ing black, and carefully and securely
packed them away in camphor. When
she opened the box. two years later, the
beautiful rich, dark color had changed
to a decided red brown. and If they had
been exposed to the hardest wear in the
most violent storms for the same length
( of time the result could not have been
more disastrous.
Sable or mink win gradually fade
when It is subjected to tile action of
camphor, and it has the effect of turning
ermine, which is again being brought
forward in response to u fashionable de
mand, an unsightly yellow. Moths are
noticed to be less likely to enter dyed
fur, but the long haired or close curled
kinds are especially affected as a favor
ite abiding place, natural beaver and
otter, sable, mink. fitch, bear, lynx, fox,
and the long, soft and luxurious man
DARN presenting most enticing features
to this industrious little destroyer.
The method employed by the dealers
in skins and furs in caring for their own
stock and the possessions others confde
to their keeping, simply consists in beat
ing out the article. thoroughly with a
light rattan stick every week, or ten
days as the longest Interval, and in keep
ing them hanging up in closets closed
tightly from dust. Some folks claim, as
a result of personal experience, hat
common salt plentifully sprinkled about
is an excellent exterminator of moths.
As the recipe is an exceedingly simple
and harmless one, as well as one which,
by reason of being odorless, presents
hat desirable feature to persons with
sensitive nostrils, it may be advisable to
resort to it sometime by way of expert
ment. 1t is an established fact among
accomplished housewives that salt is an
excellent article to employ in sweeping
heavy carpets, such as velvet, Axmin-
ster or others with a deep, close pile, as
it tends TO preserve and frcshen the col
ors. If it possesses the ex~terminating
qualities attributed to its use, the small
particles that are likely to remain in the
nap and in the corners of the room will
be sufficient to establish the value of its
efficacy as a defense against the dimin-
utive but dreaded tormcntors.
Furs should never be packed into n
box or trunk, as the compression is liable
to break the points Of long haired furs
and crush or mat the hairs so that they
will never resume the fresh, live appear
ance they presented when new. In view
of the recent rise in the price of camphor
it is not undesirable to learn the most
advisable of preserving our furs,
for with that commodity which we can
advantageously employ in packing away
woolens, blankets and portieres during
the summer months, every pound, at 60
cents therefor, will produce a seriously
depicting effect upor a not too plethoric
purse .-Grace Conroy in New York
Star