The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-09

CLINAL ANU CCCR1EK.E1 l, mark on the left shoulder, then the slraWoerry mark is an abrash.
 The abrashes of rug are the stripes or bands that run partially or entirely across the pile. When seen for the hrst time by Americans accustomed to admire and insist on the deathlke un- i1ormity that characterizes machine | products, abrashes are apt to impress them as defects, particularly if wide. It takes experience and acquaintance With the art industries to grasp com pletely the significance and artistic value of individuality.
 The process of washing brings out the abrashes most interestingly, It enables the rug to achieve it's charac- ter and tell it's story early, and it does 1t without infiioting on the rug the in hrmities that age produces. Ten years ago the passion for antiques in this country was so strong that people seemed to love them for their imper- lecllons rather than for their perfec- tlona' The worm holes in antique fur nlture thrilled them with sentiment The dents in old silver and pewter were so many beauty spots. The frayed fringes and worn down maps and ragged holes in antique rugs were more to be cherished than fine gold,
 Already the point of view Is more sensible. While an antique may be highly valued in spite of its imperfec- tons, the antiques that are really com- peted for are those whose old age is hale and hearty.
 The care of a fine rug is everything. Just as thoroughbred racers have lux ury and affection lavished upon them so thoroughbred rugs should be treat ed gently and tenderly. The broom should be used daily on them and they should be swept with the nap,
 Every third day, after the sweeping, saWdust that has been slightly moist- ened should be sprinkled over the rug, which should then be gone over with d arpet eWeeper Be careful to have the sweeping precede the application of saWdust, as otherwise the moisture will turn some of the dust into mud that, caking itself in the threads, will ravel the flores. Once a week rugs should be taken out on the lawn. spread out face down and then gently tapped, gently, mind, with flat rattan beater
 Fine rugs like razors, and people. too' require rest. By no means leave rugs in use during the summer. When the warm weather approaches have them taken up, cleaned and sent to cold storage.
 The process of cleaning as practised by experts is as follows; First all the dust Is removed by the vacuum sys- tenn, then the rug is spread on it's face. liquid olive oil soap is poured over the back and 1t is gently rubbed with a brush until fine father forms.
 Then the same thing Is done to the face of the rug. After that warm wa ter is played over the rug until 1t re- wives. After the hot shower of course a cold shower follows, and for about an hour, on a concrete floor that slants slightly, cold water runs over the sur- face of the rug from sprinklers. Then, in order to take the water out. the rug is rolled with the nap, light wooden roller being the tool employed. After this the rug is spread out on the roof face up for three clear days and nights When the sunlight has re- moved the last vestige of moisture the rug is rolled up, with the nap and is ready for storage.
 cannot refrain from asking you to laugh. with me over the statement fre- quently made that;
 Tn the good old days oriental rugs were entirely of wool, and it is due to modern commercial ism that the warp is sometimes of cotton. So look first to see if the warp is of cotton and if it Is reject the rug.'
 Which, of course, Is simple rot. T In some rug weaving districts, and particularly among nomadic tribes where cotton Is difficult to procure webs have always been entirely oi wool but in other districts cottor WdTpS nave been elnplOyeQ BlllC6 COLtOl was available, and are found In tho most precious museum antiquities.
 Cotton warps and webs are not uset for cheapness. They are used because they make a more satisfactory hide fol the furry nap to grow from. Among large modern rugs Kurdistans have z wooden warp-and almost without ex ception are crooked.
 The web, it must be remembered has to stand all the strains and stress es that come to a rug in being rolled O. folded or pulled from one place to an other. For shipment across the oceal large rugs are invariably folded, ant the folding usually pulls them out o shape, so that it is desirable for thu dealer to straighten them again befor, he sends them to the customers house This reshaping to symmetry is poss ble in most rugs where there is no i'm perfection of weave, and should be in sisted on.