Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-04
THE MODERN TRUNK.
FIat-Topped and Lighter, Stronger
and More Convenient in Many Ways

FIat-Topped and Lighter, Stronger
md More Convenient in Many Ways.
From the New York Sun.
The modern trunk has flat top and the
rornd-topped trunk of only few years
ego now looks ld-faShicned beside 1t. The
fat-topped trunk stacks easier in a bag
gage car it packs away better in store
room and it makes very good seat in a
room in n summer hotel; in fact, the Hat
topped trunk with suitable covering, is
not unknown as a seat in places of perma-
nent residence. Womens trunks are made
now even larger than the Saratosas famed
in story. but though their dimensions may
be greater their weight, filed, is not The
trunk itself is lighter, to start with, and
women don't pack things together in a
trunk as tightly as they used to; More
women than ever wear elegant dresses,
and more care than ever Is taken in pack
ing them. The larger trunk gives plenty
of spread for dresses, and they are packed
more loosely. This big modern trunk,
though larger than the Saratoga, is vastly
easier TO handle. In cross section 1t Is
about square. so that its resistance when
turned on its end is pretty nearly uniform,
and not complicated by the circling edge of
the rounded top. y skillful baggage man,
after he gets one of these big trunks start
ed. can walk down a platform with it. roll
ing it about as handtly as he could roll a
barrel.
\ good-sized trunk of this sort would be
one about four feet long and two feet
square These trunks are made of wood
covered with leather. have steel corners
and are timely fitted generally. A good
trunk Of this sort costs from SO to 50.
Though light they are very strongly made
and they last for many years. Within the
past ten years more attention than before
has been given to mems trunks. which are
now made with, it would seem, every pos
stble convenience. Trunks are now made
with place for dress suits, with place
in which ties can be laid without folding,
with places for collars and for cuffs, with
space for shoes and Il place for silk
hat, with places for 4 manicure set and
other toilet articles; and there mems
trunks with tray for each suit of clothes.
With such a trunk, at the end of his jour
ney. whether at Chicago or San Francisco
man can take out from it's compartment
a dress suit or any other. and put 1t right
on in fit condition TO wear without the
necessity of having it pressed. Fine leath-
er-covered trunks of this kind cost from
so to so. Following the idea of subdi-
visions for different uses, some sole-leather
trunks are now made with spaces for
dress suits and so on. sole-leather trunk
OF this Kind is nearly square in outline,
large deep enough, but rather fiat in ap-
rearancc on account of its square outline
This trunk opens straight across the mid
die of the top, opening down to half the
depth of the trunk, and opening thence
horizontally on hinges at the sides, so that
when the trunk Is opened its two upper
quarters open up and outwardly and over
until they lie one on either side and at
tached by the hinges to the body of the
trunk. Dress suits and other suits may
be carried in the top quarters of the trunk
WI lie the main body of the trunk is used
for general packing. Such n trunk costs
about $40, and it makes an imposing look
ing piece of luggage.
Not so many sole-lcather trunks are sold
now for general travelling purposes as for
merry. but there is still steady demand
for them. more especially for lorg-dis-
lance travel. say around the world, with
journeys OFF the beaten track. away from
railroads, over mountains, perhaps, and
in regions whore the traveller confines him
self to the actual necessaries of comfort,
which he desires to pack into the smallest
possible space. "A sole-leather trunk Is
still the best thing for such use. for stage
coach travel. for packing mule back.
and so on. and it is the most durable. A
member of firm of welI-known trunk
manufacturers said he had known a sole
leather trunk to go -iJo,00O miles and still
be in good condition.
Steamer trunks are coming into general
use for men and women for short land
trips. They are sold now for such uses the
year round and the sale of them is in
creaSing.