The Delta independent., 1890-11-04
HOW TO PACK A TRUNK.
Advice ON . Matter That Is of Much I'm.
portance Nowadays.

Our GrandmotherS would have open
ed their eyes at the thought of a pro-
fessional trunk-packcr. And yet tho
fancied and real wants of modern life
are such that the packing of ones
wardrobe for safe transportation is
now days one of the fine arts.
Every young girl should take special
pains and learn this art, not only for
her own comfort, because she can often
thereby help her friends, and be the
good Samaritan" for many weary
invalid, writes Mrs. Z. A. Matthews to
the Youths Companion. 1t is work
that is specially adapted for womanly
fingers, for men seem to think that moth
ing is needed but physical force, and
their notion of packing is to roll up
every article. and squeeze the bundles
into corners. and put tho heaviest az
ticles on top.
Before starting on task that will
require n long time, and will demand
much thought and planning, the pack
er should go from room to room, from
closet to closet, from bureau to bureau.
and select exactly what she intends to
take with her. This is the only man
ner by which. everything will be Sc.
cured and nothing mislaid or left be-
hind. :
1t is a good plan to do your packing
in lower room, as it is much easier
to bring things down than to carry
them up. and then it is not so hard to
lift the trunk when filled, nor so diff
iicult to get it out of the house. Nearly
all staircases bear honorable scars that
have been won in battle between
trunk and porter.
When everything has been collected
and the time of the journey draws
nigh, the trunk should be brought
down. its interior busted, and all its
broken straps, corners. locks. etc.,
carefully mended. The heavy articles.
shoes, books, underwear, in short,
everything that will bear pressure.
must be placed in the bottom. Over
these fold layer of newspapers Or q
soft old sheet.
In folding dresses if the trunk is too
short TO admit of the skirt lying full
length be sure and fold it carefully
over n little at the top. All strings at
tachcd to steels in gowns should be
united. Tissue paper should be placed
between the folds of good dresses and
also over passementeric or jet trim
ming. This lessons the danger OF
creasing and keeps dust and lint from
settling there.
Dress waists should be laid smoothly
in long shirt boxes. All the col
lars, laces. ruchings, ribbons. and
handkerchiefs should be placed in
pasteboard boxes aud packed with
clothing on each side SO as to keep
them steady.
Hats and bonncts are the most diff
iicult TO manage unless there arc spec
ial compartments for them, and of
these there arc never enough. They
should be wrapped each alone in tissue
paper and then covered with stiff
brown paper. which should be pinned
firmly around them. They should then
be placed in boxes just large enough
to hold them and packed in the middle
of the trunk, where they can be held
steady by. the clothing around them.
Do not place your jewelry and money
in your trunk. A far better plan is to
make stout bag of chamois skin.
place your valuables in it, and fastcn
it securely inside your dress waist
or any other portion of your attire
most convenient. Above all. do not
place your valuablcs in handbag.
so that you will lay it dowE on the car
seat or hotel table and leave it there to
be lost forever.
All garments that are liable to crush.
ing should be placed in the very top
Of the uppcrmost compartments, and II
they are carefully laid they will be
subjected to but little pressure.
Ii You arc going to a place remote
from drug stores. or where the services
IF physician will be hard to secure,
II is best to provide yourself with
few simple remedies. lest you may
suffer under some emergency. A boz
tlc of Jamaica ginger, extract Of ham-
amclis, some caDphor. some prepared
mustard plaster. and n few soft cloths
for impromptu bandages would be
useful companions when away from
home.
Some Of our favorite toilet soap will
tako tho place of our bad-smelling
stuff SO often found in hotel toilet
rooms. The bottles should be plainly
labeled. firmly corked, wrapped first
in cotton battcn. and then in paper.
and placed in boxes. Ink and shoe
polish should never be packed in
trunk. 1t is better to buy such things
when you arrive at your journeys
end.
Ifyou are packing for children be sure
to remember their little playthings.
Make place for dollie and her ward
robe, pack q small box with odds aud
ends Of silk and cardboard, embroidery
needles. transfer pictures. scrap,book,
and other things, SO small in your es-
timation. SO necessary to their hap
piness.
When the little creatures arc taken
away from their family surroundings
and deprived of the toys and games
they love, it is no Wonderland they go
into mischief and arc nuisance to all
about. In short. it is in packing a
trunk. rs in everything else. 1t re-.
qurcs thougatfulness, good Judgment.
unseltishness. and sincere desire to
oblige others to make your work a
success.