HOUSEKEEPING. 51 



two wine-cellars, and everything should be kept locked, 

 there being to each lock a duplicate key. Jerome in- 

 vented a lock that would betray any one who opened it 

 by stealth, and also a contrivance, of which he gives a 

 picture, for the more effectual securing of a bedroom door. 

 Since it is very customary to steal linen at the wash, he 

 recommends that it be marked very distinctly in one 

 corner, and since that mark may by chance be obliterated, 

 and a false accusation might thereupon be brought against 

 the laundress, he advises the addition of two small and ap- 

 parently accidental marks upon some other portion of 

 each piece. The practice of marking linen probably was 

 then not general, for Jerome gives a diagram in explana- 

 tion of his meaning. There are as it may be guessed 

 from the character of these examples few facts connected 

 with the social history of Italy in the sixteenth century 

 of which illustrations are not to be found in Cardan's 

 works. 



It was thought prudent by Jerome that men should 

 keep not only their own papers, but all writings addressed 

 to them, even sheets of empty words and begging letters. 

 use might arise. He had in his study four locked cup- 

 boards one for literary papers, one for bills and papers 

 touching upon money affairs, one for the courtesies and 

 compliments of life, and one for waste. 



Now, therefore, we have come back to the physician's 

 E2 



