The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-31
THE nOUSEKEEPER'S HUNT
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SHE PUR-
SUES SMALL PESTS TO THEIR LAIR.
The Willy Moth, the Mouse and Vari-
Gus Sorts of Bugs Invite Her
Close Attention.
Washington { a

AfNAy hOaoNh~OPNA CT
the year has to become a Nimrod, whether
she enjoys the role or not.
While man, the mighty hunter, seeks his
prey In Yellowstone Park, the reedy shores
of Chesapeake, the forests, the mountains,
the plains, the deep sea. woman is also on
the war path, though in a vastly more
utilitarian way. Her field Is confined to the
four walls Of home. Her prey, the willy
moth-miller, the predatory mouse, the ubiq-
uitous fly. that scourge of the night whose
title is rarely mentioned in ears polite
unless by it's old Roman name. cimex-the
busy ant, the agile cockroach and the ma
larial mosquito. Although her weapons
the broom and dustpan. the mop and scrub
bling brush, sand and soap, naphtha and
benzine, the kerosene can and the mouse
trap-are not as spectacular as sword and
spear, rod and gun, they are every whit as
efhcacious, and her bag of game at the end
of the season will tally highest, as far as
the comfort OF the home is concerned.
Were she to write a true account of her
| forays, attacks, marches and counter
| marches, the stalking of her prey by day.
| and the midnight reconnaissance, it might
| prove as wildly exciting and hard to be-
| lieve as the tales set down in Thompson
Seton's wild animal book.
Every species of her game has its own
habitat. its own methods of offense and de-
| Tense, and she who would cope with them
successfully must study the foe and the
| situation and plan her campaign according
ly. Above all things, she must remember
that eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty." For instance:
Mother Moth is a willy individual, seeking
not what she can devour. but what she
thinks her offspring, who VIII appear en- IN
them, but anything at all soiled is consld-
cred specially delectable. The conclusion,
therefore, is plain. See that all temptation
is removed. Realms OF tar paper and POUNDS
of moth balls will not avail if garments are
| packed away soiled and already harborlng
moths or moth eggs. When putting furs
thing is to make certain that the receptacle
in which they are to be stored is absolutely
clean. If a trunk or closet has once been
alive with moths heroic efforts may be
needed for their clearance. Mere brushing,
or soap and water cleanliness, will not be
enough. Trunks or boxes used for storing
| garments should be refined with the heavy
tar paper used in building every month or
two. Closets, after being thoroughly cleaned.
should have benzine or naphtha sprayed in
all cracks and crevices; then have tar paper
pasted on the walls and over the floor. The
walls may be covered again by newspapers
or new unbleached cotton.
Old paper-lined trunks are very objection
able, as the moths get in behind the paper
and leave their eggs. A new tight barrel,
paper lined, is an excellent thing to pack
away clothes in.
TO ELUDE H MOTH.
In packing away clothes select a bright
day, that you may see what you are doing.
Have the garments on a line in the air;
then take them, one by one, turning all
pockets inside out, shake, brush, clean all
spots. fold carefully and pack smoothly,
laying the heavy garments at the bottom,
Between each package put moth or cam
phor balls, but wrap them in tissue paper,
as they are apt to affect some colors. d
the smaller articles up in newspaper. writ
ing the name of the contents on the out
side.
Spread furs on a bare table and beat
vigorously with a slender cane or stiff
switch, in order to dislodge all loosened
hair, and moths and larvae, should there
be any. Then go over them with a steel
comb or whisk broom, brushing up and
down. If soiled about the neck get some
fine white sand. such as they have at the
bird stores, heat in the oven until hot as
you can bear your hand in ii, then rub
through the fur up and down. When quite
clean brush we'll with a soft whisk. Put
! in boxes, paper bags or clean cotton cloth,
and then in the box or barrel that is being
packed. Cover closely, pasting paper
around the edges so closely so as to sea-
4 the GcCcDldClc III ltdNe UO CIdCkS.
A few bits of charcoal scattered among
the contents of a box that is to be un.
packed for some time will prevent the
musty odor which is often noticed about
clothing from which the air has been ex.
cluded for some time. This is specially tc
be commended where things are TO be pu
in storage.
Another thing that will simplify matter.
in unpacking or in listing things for stor.
age is a list made out Of the contents OF
each box. Number the boxes and keep z
L crnon blank hnnk infn yuhirh all lictc ma
be entered, their duplicate being affixed t(
the cover Of the box.
Moths may be driven from upholstered
furniture or cloth-lined carriages by spray
ing with benzine or naphtha. A conven-
lent way is TO put the fluid in a small
watering pot, such as is stu, used ed, for water
most delicate material, but on account o.
their infiammability care must be taker
not to carry on the work near a fire oil
flame.
In closing the house for the summer up
holstered furniture should be we'll brushed
and busted, then sprayed with benzine OF
naphtha and covered with soft, old muslin
To make assurance doubly sure. a piece o
tar roofing paper may then be laid on eacl
article and again covered with newspaper.
Rugs, portieres and loose carpets may %
shaken, cleaned, then wrapped in tar pape
and newspaper.
The edges of the carpets should be Otter
examined at this season. If there are an,
signs of Inhabitants. lay a wet cotton clotl
over the carpet and press with an iron no
enough to thoroughly steam. This will de
stroy both moth and larvae.
THE WICKED BUFFALO BUG
For the buffalo bug spray around tn
edges of the room with diluted turpentine
II this is done now. again in June and one,
more in August the carpet may be consid
cred immune
The most unpleasant creature to be takel
into account is he who chooses the bed 70
his base of operations. Time was when tn
appearance of this disgusting insect wa
held to be the earmark of a most indiffer
ent. slovenly housekeeper. The time nov
Is when it is an accepted fact that tn
housewife. no matter how careful, ma,
find an occasional specimen introduced I
her home. brought in from the cars, tn
school or the street. To find one is no dis
grace-to allow that one TO multiply afte
its kind is.
In a well-kept modern house. where n
cracks and crevices In wall or floor inyit
concealment, where the iron or brass bed
stead has superseded the old-time heav,