1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
129 
Plain Professional Talk. 
The Care of Furs, 
WHAT A FUBRIER SAYS ABOUT THEM. 
A Fub Factory —Business took us re¬ 
cently to a wholesale furrier’s in New 
York. The office was a dingy back room, 
hung around with pieces of fur, which 
suggested Bluebeard’s souvenir collec¬ 
tion. There was a pungent smell of 
dyes and preservatives in the air, and 
the atmosphere was thickened by float¬ 
ing scraps of hair and down. It was not 
a very prepossessing place, and it aroused 
some pity for the workers who bend over 
heavy machines, or stitch away by hand, 
day after day, in that contracted space. 
If it seemed distasteful in February, 
while snowflakes filled the air, and a 
chill wind whistled down the narrow 
street, think what it must be in mid¬ 
summer, the furrier’s busiest season ! 
Worse still are the furriers’ sweatshops, 
where people live and move and have 
their being in the contracted space 
where furs are stitched and made up, so 
that the air, already foul, is rendered 
still more dangerous to health by the 
floating fluff. Our furrier, however, can 
open his workshops to the factory in¬ 
spectors without fear, but still, under 
the best conditions, the working furrier 
has a hard life, and must contend with 
serious sanitary disadvantages. 
Coed Storage for Furs. —“ Is it true,” 
we asked, “ that furs may be put away 
in Summer in cold storage without any 
fear of insect ravages ? ” 
“ Certainly,” said the furrier. “Any 
entomologist will tell you .that clothes 
moths will not work and breed in a tem¬ 
perature below 40 degrees. But to keep 
the furs in good condition, the tempera¬ 
ture should not fall much below 40, dur¬ 
ing a prolonged period. It is absolutely 
essential, too, that the atmosphere be 
dry. Ordinary co’.d-storage chambers are 
likely to be too damp, and they would 
injure the quality of the fur. This rule 
holds good under ordinary conditions. 
Always keep your furs in the dryest 
place at your command.” 
Moth Preventives.— “ What do you 
recommend for the Summer care of 
furs ? ” 
“ Don’t store them away so carefully 
that you can’t examine them until it is 
time to wear them again. Many people 
are satisfied to put moth-balls or cam¬ 
phor in the parcel, wrap it up and seal it 
in paper, and then leave it undisturbed 
all Summer, under the impression that 
it is dangerous to unpack the furs for ex¬ 
amination. ” 
“Do you think, then, that the furs 
should be examined during Summer ? ” 
“Certainly, and an examination every 
two or three weeks would not be too 
frequent. Before the furs are put away, 
they should be thoroughly shaken and 
beaten out, to cleanse them from dust or 
lurking insects. Camphor, moth-balls, 
tobacco, or pepper are familiar but ex¬ 
cellent moth-discouragers. I should be 
inclined to give preference to pepper, 
but it is rather difficult of removal, if 
thoroughly applied, and is especially dis¬ 
agreeable in furs to be worn around the 
neck.” 
“In addition to these precautions, do 
you advise examination during the Sum¬ 
mer ? ” 
“Certainly; the furs should be re¬ 
moved from their wrappings at inter¬ 
vals, carefully examined, and shaken or 
beaten as they were when first put 
away.” 
“ What advice would you give for the 
care of furs while they are being worn ?” 
“See that they are shaken out or 
brushed with a soft brush after each 
wearing, before putting away. Dust in¬ 
jures the gloss of all furs. See that a 
fur coat or cape is covered with a linen 
or cotton dust protector when hung in a 
closet or wardrobe. Have suitable boxes 
with well-fitting covers, for smaller 
pieces. If exposed to rain or snow, dry 
your furs in a cool room ; never put them 
near the stove. Always keep them in a 
dry place, at all times. All furs fade 
more or less, in the course of time, but 
the length of time they may be kept in 
good condition varies according to the 
care given them. Any good, or even 
moderately good, furs may be redyed 
profitably, if not worn badly as well as 
faded. It is, however, often expensive 
to have furs made over if taken to a re¬ 
tailer. A manufacturer will often take 
small jobs of this kind during the slack 
season of midwinter, and do the work 
at a moderate cost. Fashions in furs are 
usually settled upon by the makers nearly 
a year in advance. Scarfs vary but little, 
except in the trimming; but the larger 
collars change with the alterations in 
other styles. The ripple effect in collars 
passed away with the large sleeves, and 
a closer-fitting shape now leads.” e. t, r. 
A New Departure. 
I saw the doctor coming out of Mrs. 
Brown’s, so, as soon as I could get my 
after dinner work done, I ran over to see 
whether she was sick. It was a relief 
when she herself came to the door to 
meet me. 
“It is Jimm ; e who is sick,” she ex¬ 
plained. “ I am always afraid of diph¬ 
theria, but it turns out to be only an 
ordinary sore throat. I have just got 
him and baby to sleep.” 
“ You look tired out,” I said, “ and 
I’m going to do up your dinner dishes 
while you sit in that rocking-chair and 
rest.” 
She protested, but my will was the 
stronger. “I am tired,” she said, as she 
leaned her head back against the chair, 
“ and I’ve come to the conclusion that I 
must turn a very sharp corner, and go in 
an entirely different direction from what 
I have been going.” 
“ Well, if it’s in the direction of spar¬ 
ing yourself, I applaud your resolution,” 
I returned. 
“ It is,” she answered. “ All my life, 
it seems to me, I’ve been living after the 
opinion of other people. Now I’m going 
to be a law to myself. I’ve been exer¬ 
cising my reasoning faculties, and I see 
plainly that I have either to simplify my 
way of living, or—break down. If our 
great-grandmothers could bring up a 
dozen children and keep their health, I 
ought to have wit enough to do it with 
only five.” 
“ What is the programme ?” I asked, a 
little skeptically, for five seemed a good 
many to me. 
“ Well, in the first place, we’re going 
to eat in this kitchen, which is large and 
sunny ; I’m going to use what has been 
our diningroom to sit in, and turn my 
parlor and my sittingroom into bed¬ 
rooms. Then all my work will be on 
one floor, and it will save ever and ever 
so many steps I always thought I must 
have a parlor and diningroom, because I 
was brought up that way. Then I’m 
going to get rid of all my plants except 
my handsome fern ; I’ve had my windows 
full, because all the rest of you do, but 
the labor of taking care of them is not 
recreation as it is with you, but a task 
I like flowers, but I don’t think I love 
them. 
“Next I’m going to stop trying to 
dress myself and children in the fashion. 
I don’t mean we shall look odd, but I do 
intend that we shall dress very plainly, 
long tires for the girls, dark blouses for 
the boys, shirtwaists for myself, and no 
frills on underclothing. 
“I’m not going to make any more 
patchwork quilts, or braided rugs, or 
knit edging. I’ve done these things be¬ 
cause it has been considered the thing 
to do hereabout, and as showing a de¬ 
plorable lack of economy not to do. It 
is all right for those who have time, and 
enjoy it. I don’t, and in future, I mean 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use“Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup ” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
to economize myself instead of bits of 
calico and old rags. 
“ I am going to stop making pie and 
cake, even though such an omission is 
regarded as an unpardonable sin, and I 
shall cook just plain, wholesome food. 
It isn’t that I don't like the refinements 
of life,” she explained, “ but now, while 
the children are small, it is a matter of 
choice; on the one hand, tired nerves, 
neglect of the social, spiritual and men¬ 
tal sides of life, with the refinements ; 
on the other, health, real living, and the 
companionship of family and books and 
people. I know I am choosing the better 
part. Richard aids and abets me. He 
is so good. He declares he is willing to 
put up with anything, if I will only keep 
well and happy. He insists that I shall 
put out a part of the sewing, besides the 
washing. It will cost less than doctors’ 
bills, he says, when I say anything about 
the expense.” 
Just here the baby awoke, and Mrs 
Brown brought him out. He was in 
dined to be fretful and to cry, as chil¬ 
dren often are on waking, and she held 
him, he snuggling up against her, till he 
felt good-natured again, and wanted to 
get down on the floor. “ Before my new 
resolution,” she said, “ I should have 
turned him off so that I could work, and 
he would have grieved, and we should 
both have been unhappy. I’ve told you 
a good many things I’m not going to do ; 
one of the things I am going to do is to 
be more a mother to my children, and 
more of a companion to my husband 
And when I’m tired, or have a spare 
moment, I’m going to read, even if every¬ 
body in the neighborhood calls me slack ! 
Reading is one of the things I like to do. 
It rests me. ’Tis my recreation, as mak¬ 
ing braided rugs is Mrs. Peterson’s, and 
tending flowers is Mrs. Briggs’s, and 
music is Mrs. Carwell’s.” 
“ You will have Mrs. Davis and myself 
for company, I laughed, “and if you 
get out of reading matter, you can call 
on us.” 
It was Jimmie’s turn to wake up now, 
and soon after, the children came from 
school. They clustered about my friend, 
and began telling her what had hap¬ 
pened, all talking at once, all interested, 
and she listened sympathetically, with 
loving glances, and a caress for each one. 
So then, having finished the dishes and 
done one or two other little things, I 
went home. 
“ If one can’t be both,” I soliloquized, 
“ it is surely better and nobler to be a 
good wife and mother than an up-to-date 
housekeeper.” e. r. 
Flowers are God’s Jewels for earth’s 
ornament. Friend Cook will send a large 
15-eent package (300 varieties) free, as 
stated in advertisement on p. 118 — Adv 
DINNER SET 
or GOLD WATCH 
with 30 lbs. 8. 8. Chop Tea. Lace 
Curtains, Watches, Clocks, Tea 
Sets, Toilet Sets, given away with 
$. r >, *7, $10 and $15 orders. Send this 
“ad.” and 15c. and we will send you 
a sample of S. 8. Chop or any other 
Tea you may select. The R. N.-Y. 
The Great American Tea Co., 
31 & 33 Vesey St. (Box 280), NewYork 
clear 
D If V SI II O the voice, 
BRONCHIAL Re SV„ at , 
TDflPUE?^ or Cure coughs 
I illJUniSi&Bostoii and colds. 
1850— In boxes only—1808 
Enameline 
“ THE MODERN 
Stove Polish 
PASTE, CAKE 
OR LIQU/o 
After using Enameline 
No Housekeeper will ever 
use any other Brand. 
J.L.Prescott&Co. NewYork 
. . . < i N i ■ 11 I j 
B.&B. 
Every woman who is planning for 
spring sewing 
—either now or later—will find it of ad¬ 
vantage to send here for samples and see 
what nice new madras and novelties 
10, 15, 20, 25c. to finest made at 
35c. —styles and money’s worth you’ll 
be pleased with. Largest variety yet 
shown. Smart styles for shirt waists. 
Fashion says Dimities and Mousselines 
will be popular. 
Special extensive assortments fine 
Irish Dimities 20 and 25c. 
Other pretty Dimities 10 and 12%c. 
Handsome silk warp Mousseline de 
Soie—other stores ask half a dollar— 
here 45c. 
New 1899 wash goods and novelties 8c. 
to $1.25. 
New Spring Dress goods 25c. to $3 50— 
dressy styles 50c., 75c. 
Special lines new, rich Spring silks 
50c., 75c,, $1. 
Not counting on big advertisements to 
sell goods. 
Depending on goods and prices—and 
when you take them, be evidence you’ll 
see we’re striving for your preference on 
absolute, straightforward merit—best 
goeds your money will buy. 
BOGGS & BUHL, 
Department C, 
ALLEGHENY, PA. 
If you are going to paper one 
room or the whole house,write 
us for our book for new designs 
Every kind of wall paper from 
the simplest design to the most 
elaborate embossed effects, at 
one-third the ordinary price. 
The right buying of wall paper 
1* the difference between un 
artistic home and an ordinary 
house. The dunger of wrong 
buying Is eliminated when se¬ 
lections are made from our cat¬ 
alogue. 
Agents Wanted in every town 
to sell wall paper from our sam¬ 
ple books. Large commission. 
\Vrite to-day for particulars. 
CIIA8. M. N. KILLEN, 
1231-1233 Filbert St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
S30 3000 BICYCLES 
Everyone a Bargain. 
NEW AND SECOND HAND. 
2d Hand—good *s any for service, $5 to $1*2. 
N«*wModels $1*2.50 to $30. Kune 
\ higher. We guarantee to save you money. L&rgect 
J variety to select from. Lowest prices ever quoted. 
/ Every customer satisfied. Shipped subject to examia* 
ation and approval. No money in advance. A few 
good AGENTS WANTED. For price listand partic- 
__ - blare address the old reliable cycle house 
BKOWN-LEWIS CO., I»M 233 Wabash aT, Chleaco. 
WATCH AND CHAIN FOR ONE DAY’S WORK. 
Boys and Girls can get a Nickel-Plated 
Watch, also a Chain and Charm for selling 
IS don. Packages of Bluineat lo cents each. 
Send your full address by return mail and 
we will forward the Bluine, post-paid, and 
a large Premium List. No money required. 
BLUINE CO., Box 353, Concord Junction, Mas.;. 
SOLDI 
UNDER A 
Positive 
Gua 
to wash as clean as can bo 
done on the washboard, 
even to the wristbands and 
collar of the dirtiest shirt, 
and with much more ease. 
This applies to Terriff’s 
Perfect Washer, which 
will be sent on trial at 
wholesale price. If not 
satisfactory, money will 
be refunded. Agents 
wanted. For exclusive 
territory, terms & prices, _ 
write Portland Mfg. Co., Box 14 Portland, Mich. 
