THE BOOK OF THE LANTERN. 91 



There is a further advantage connected with using a 

 sheet of this description, which is that when, not in actual 

 use it can be rolled up, and will keep perfectly clean for 

 many years. When soiled, a fresh coat of white-wash can 

 be given to it with little trouble and expense. For home 

 use a screen of this nature is to be greatly recommended. 

 Let me now describe the method by which such a surface 

 can be prepared, and the best way of hanging it in position. 

 The following detailed directions are quoted from an article 

 upon the subject which I wrote some time back : 



Having decided upon the dimensions of the screen, 

 which, of course, must be governed by the size of the 

 room in which it is to be hung, we must first of all have a 

 frame made upon which the material can be stretched 

 whilst being painted. Any kind of close-textured material 

 will answer our purpose, good unbleached calico being as 

 suitable as anything else. The frame should be strong, 

 for as soon as the sheet is wetted it shrinks, and is apt to 

 pull an ill-constructed frame all askew. The calico, if 

 joined, should be neatly sewn, and so tacked on the frame 

 that the seam, or seams will lie horizontally. The sheet 

 must be nailed on the frame with tacks, and this appa- 

 rently simple work must be done in a certain way, or 

 it will be pulled into creases. The four corners must 

 be first secured, and afterwards the sides may be nailed 

 down, one side being completely nailed before another is 

 begun. By this means the sheet will, when done, present 

 one even surface. This done, it must receive a coat- 

 ing of size. The best double size should be used, and 

 should be melted in a suitable vessel with its own weight 



