The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29

out Of the process looking like new
In making at the first the hair is. of
course, sterilized thoroughly and them,
while still damp from the steam, is
twisted into thick rope. 1t remains
IN this form until quite dry, and when
combed out the curl becomes per-
manent.
Mattresses made entirely from tail
hair give the best satisfaction but
mixed hair--that Is, tail and name
will wear WELL but is softer The
very same of comfort Is found In a
mattress made from the softest down
mixed with white hair from the tail,
put into a ticking of firm. strong,
blue silk. The hair provided the ne
cessary spring and the down the re-
quired warmth 1t goes without say
ing that such mattress will be very
expensive. One hundred and twenty
FIVE dollars, ! believe, Is the price, but
1t is as beautiful as 1t is costly.
Felt mattresses, as most women
know, are really made OF cotton
woven into sheets. one sheet being
packed upon the other. This makes
a nice. smooth surface to lie upon,
and by reason OF the process employ
ed. cannot work into Jumps. To give
an idea how thickly felt mattresses
are packed 1t is only necessary to say
that the sheets are piled forty-five
inches high and pressed down to make
a mattress measuring only four and
one-haf inches thick.
Mattresses of this kind can be ster-
ili2ed and purified, but the cheaper
grade OF cotton mattress cannot be
rectified. 1t is however, quite mex
pensiye, go that when the filing mats
together the mattress can be- discard
ed.
In addition to a comfortable mat
tress it is necessary TO provide a good
spring. When a hair mattress is used,
then box spring Is the most salts
factory. because hair mattress
placed directly upon wire spring
causes a vibration, the result of frtc-
ton, that is very unpleasant to the
sleeper.
On the other hand, the box spring
is covered first with burlap, then with
a padding of hair. then with the tick
ing. Consequently there is quite
thick layer between the mattresses
and the actual spirit springs.
The great objection. Of course, to
the box spring is the difficulty In dis
lodging insects that may possibly take
up theH aDOue IN IL
The bolster and pillows are TO be
considered next. The former Is not
used as much as formerly. but beds
are made up with one fairly large
rather hard pillow and one quite soft
In a smaller size. When a bolster is
used at all ii is usually the round
shape.
The wedge bolster, I am informed
is really a very comfortable shape,
but few persons know the proper
place to lay 1t, and so do not get the
best results from 1t. II should be
placed under the mattress, not up on
it-fr t, the spring; then the bolster
and the mattress on the top of all.
1t will then give just the right sup
port TO the head.
There Is no change in the shape of
pilIows--the oblong Is the general
form still.
When it comes to making the bed
the mattress is first stretched and
smoothed into shape, and then cot
ton blanket is laid over IT, Next
comes the sheet. This should be long
enough TO tuck eighteen inches under
Ut top and bottom. When the sheet
is little short for this. the deep
6st part to be turned in should come
at the top because there will be a
tendency on the part OF the sleeper
to push the clothing down from the
head, and II short length 10 turned
under ii Is apt to come out altogether,
leaving the mattress bare. This sheet
must be tucked in all around, keep
ing the edges straight. II crooked or
even awry at all the sheet will surely
wrinkle, and ii pinned down. as is
sometimes necessary IN the case OF a
sick he'd, the result will be a tear
unless the edges are drawn perfectly
straight.
The top sheet Is laid over the under
I one, the hem at the top and arranged