The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-24
CARE OF FURS.
How to Add to Their Beauty and Dul
bility.

-
bility.
Fine fur is often much injured in ap-
pearance by careless management.
Furs worn by animals that live in
water are very easily put in order If
one exercises due precaution. Sealslxin
especially may be made to look like
new by stretching the garment on a
board or table, large ironing board
being best. Begin with the greater
portion of the garment pulled over an
the side next to the operator, the bot
tom at the left hand. Then, with a
clean sponge, wet in cold water and
squeezed as dry as possible, carefully
rub the article from the bottom to the
top. If there are spots or places where
the fur is matted or packed, see that
there is sufficient moisture to loosen
whatever gumminess there may be. 1t
may be rubbed again and again with
the sponge, and then, if it does not
loosen it, a comb with wide-apart teeth
should be gently passed through it,
taking care not to tear out the matted
places, If the defacing has been done
by any sort of adhesive mixture that
does not come away by the use of
water, rub the places until partly dry,
then pass the comb underneath and wet
the tips of the hairs with a little <a1eo-
hol. Varnish and paint may be
moved in this way; the latter, howe yer,
is better taken out with chloroform;
but this must be applied with the ut
most care, or it may discolor the fur
London dyed seal, however, is of such
fast color that judicious handling does
not affect it. When all of the spots are
removed, continue the process of wip-
ing the fur with a wet sponge, careful
ly pushing the garment over on the
board, taking pains not to wrinkle it.
When it is all gone over, examine 1t
with the greatest care to see that the
fur is as smooth and fiat as possible.
Any irregular spots must be gone over
again, then put the garment on coat
hanger, suspend in some cool place, the
cooler the better, if it does not freeze.
When thoroughly day, which will
probably not be until the next day,
take it into the out-of-door air and
shake it thoroughly. The fur will
come out as bright and livelyas one
could desire. If the job has not been
well done it may be necessary to repeat
it-indeed, it is we'll to do so if the gar
ment has been very much soiled and
does not look glossy and clean.
For other furs, it is recommended to
clean them by heating coarse corn
meal as hot as possible without scorch-
ing. Spread the fur on large cloth
on the floor or a wide table and cover
it with this hot corn meal, rub it gent
| ly into places that seem defaced, but
do not rub the wrong way of the fur.
Shake it little. then add more meal,
and leave it until cold. Then shake
again and brush with care.
Many persons do not brush fur at all,
but take it into an extremely cold
place and shake or beat it gently on
the wrong side with a light rattan.
Ermine may be cleaned with bran
sifted and busted so that it is free from
-four. This may be made moderately
hot, then thrown on to the fur aht "a
lowed to remain until cold.
When furs begin to get very tender
and tear easily, it is said that rubbing
them on the skin side with the yolks of
eggs and little lanoline is beneficial.
! The brittleness comes from the oil in
the skin all having been extracted.
Judicious care of furs adds very much
to their beauty and more to their dura-
bility.-N. Y. Ledger.