The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-21

Counted BY the Oriental Housewife
as a Most Important House.
hold Duty.

There Is a wide difference in the
way Turkish rug is cared for in the
land of the hubble bubble'-the
home Of its natiyity--and the usage
it is subjected to after reaching this
land Of hustle hustle, says the New
York Herald.
In the orient familiarity does not
breed contempt, for the housewife,
appreciating the time and infinite
labor required in the manufacture OF
rug, counts its proper care one Of
the most important of her household
duties.
Combined with this affection and
appreciation of her rugs is also the
laudable desire to keep the health OF
her family intact, for in spite of all
our boasted civilization and higher
culture for women, the oriental
housewife can still give points to her
sister of the occident in many of tile
first principles Of household santa
tion.
That anybody could be SO grossly
untidy as to come in from the dust
and dirt of the streets and, without
removing their shoes, walk upon the
white secured floor or precious rugs
passes her comprehension At the
entrance to each Turkish home,
every mosque, Turkish bath or
school a pile of yellow babouches or
wooden pattens stands waiting, and
each individual as he comes in from
outside slips off the street shoes and
puts on the house slippers before en-
tering. in view of these frequent
puttings on and takings of a special
style Of footwear prevails in the
orient.
Aside from all the pains taken to
avoid bringing dirt on to the rugs
each one has frequent summing and
shaking from the roof or balcony
and an annual or semi-annual bath.
Sunlight and water are considered
vastly improving agencies in the care
Of Turkish rug. The colors, made
Of vegetable dyes, cannot fade and
the natural wool but tightens in the
process OF washing, becoming firmer
and dustproof, Even when a rug is
new tho Turkish woman washes it in
cold water, rubbing its surface yigor-
ously with a bunch of twigs and
sandsoap, but always with the warp,
not against it, in order to bring out
the original luster Of the material
in the smaller cities of the interior
the washing Of the rugs usually takes
place at the p-hlic fountain The
rug Is folded with the surface side
out and laid in the stone trough I'M
der the fountain. Then the woman,
with dress tucked up and barefoot.
gets in ard tramples and turns and
scrubs and rinses her rugs, until the
water runs clear When this Is ae-
complished the rug is lifted out,
drained, carried home and hung from
the balcony in the sun until dry.
The operation does not hurt the rug,
but saves it,
Twice a year all the Kuz Kiln cur
tains are also washed in cold wafer
Ia sanitary custom that might pre-
vail here 10 advantage. In the orient
rugs are shaken. not beaten. In this
| country. if they are beaten il should
always be on the face side. If they
are beaten on the back il viii break
the thread After the dust is shaken
or beaten of. small rugs can be put
in plain cold water IN tubs. right
side out. Then. with a brush and
sandsoap, the entire surface can be
gone over, but always taking pains
to rub in the same direction with the
warp, Large rugs, after shaking or
beating in the direction toward
which the wind blows, can have the
garden hose turned on them to ad-
vantage after which they should be
dried il the sun. In the winter they
can be cleaned by spreading on the
snow covered ground and sweeping
off with the snow A Turkish rug
should never he sent to the cleaners,
unless it is one who uses hand clean
ing. not machine.
Their method of fastening the end
Of the rug to a rapidly reTDlving
wheel takes ont the dust. bur snaps
the threads. After rug is shaken
and spread down ii is a good plan
occasionally TO wipe over the face
with weak ammonia water to give
it luster.
When sweeping rug always use
the sweeper or broom in the direc-
tion the warp runs. otherwise you
will find the dirt dragged ont Of the
sweeper instead of being taken up.
In closing a house for the summer
the rugs should be shaken. washed.
4 they have not already been treat
ed 20 their annual bath. then rolled
up with tobacco. camphor. cedar
shavings or moth balls. and closely
covered with newspapers and UNI