camphor gum, wrap in old cotton or linen cloth, then in newspaper, and tie securely.  Moths, not being literary in their tastes, will never enter therein.  All woolens should be put away in the same manner.  The closet is clean and sanitary now, and the main thing is to keep it so.  All garments ought to be thoroughly brushed and aired before hanging away, particularly in the summer time, with a special application of energy to the bottoms of street gowns, the microscopic examination of one of which revealed millions of tubercular germs—­not a pleasant thought, but a salutary one, let us hope.

It seems such a pity that the sun, that great destroyer of bacteria, cannot shine into our closets; but until the new architect comes to our rescue with a window, all we can do to sweeten them is to remove the clothing and air by leaving doors and adjacent windows open for a couple of hours.  An annual disinfecting with sulphur fumes will destroy all germs of insect life.  Use powdered sulphur—­it is far more effective than the sulphur candles which are sold for the same purpose.  Stand an old pie plate or other tin in a pan of water; on it build a little fire of paper and fine kindling, pour on the powdered sulphur, and leave to smudge and smoke for twenty-four hours.  The closet must be sealed up as tight as possible, every crack, crevice, and keyhole being stuffed with newspaper to prevent the fumes from escaping, the entering door, of course, being sealed after the fumes are started.  If one desires the sealing to be doubly sealed, newspaper strips two inches wide and pasted together to make several thicknesses, can be pasted over cracks in doors and windows with a gum-tragacanth solution, prepared by soaking two tablespoons of the gum in one pint of cold water for an hour, then placing the bowl in a pan of boiling water, and stirring till dissolved.  This is easily washed off and will not stain or discolor the woodwork.  Although there is an impression to the contrary, clothing may be left in the closet with entire safety during the smoking, provided it is well away from the fire.  Indeed, clothing needs purifying as much as closet, and an occasional disinfecting will help on the good work of sanitation.  After the closet is once rid of moths, tar paper specially prepared for the purpose and tacked on the walls, is effectual in keeping them away, for they seem to “smell the battle afar off.”

CHAPTER XII

HANGINGS, BRIC-A-BRAC, BOOKS, AND PICTURES

“Step by step” is a good thought to hold when we reach the fancifying of the house, as we only do after days of planning, nights of waking, over the must-be’s.  And, after all, these last accessories are divided from the necessaries by but a hair line, for it is they which give the home its soul—­that beautiful, spiritual softness and radiance which we love and which differentiate the home from the house which is but its shell.  The life and spirit of the home should be one of growth and development, which can only be achieved in a proper atmosphere and environment; and these it now rests with the home builder to supply in the radiant harmony and softness which flow from these final “trimmings,” which not only create but reflect character.