ABOUT FURS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2734, 12 February 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

ABOUT FURS.

SOME TIMELY HINTS

This vear furs are going to be more than ever in evidence, and the dishonest dealers in these- luxuries will once more prey upon unsuspecting purchasers (says a writer in a Home paper). Mr. W. S. Parker, who is recognised as the greatest living, authoritv on furs of all kinds, gives some useful hints as to how the taker of sealskin and ermine may be avoided. Mr. Parker is the deputy chairman on the fur section of the London Chamber of Commerce and to him was entrusted the delicate task of choosing the ermine for the King’s robe, when his Majesty first opened Parlliament after his accession. . This year, dark sealskin is all tlie fashion. Last year grey was the- popular color. Every season has a special kind of fur which is particularly fashionable; but the trade in the. more •expensive skins, such as ermine, chin-* oil ilia, and silver fox, is not affected bv the general standard. These finer furs are always appreciated, and are in great request among society women everywhere.

“—How to Tell Imitations. — Practically all the really valuable furs are imitated' by unscupulous dealers. Goats’ skins, died, are sold as bearskin ; oppossum skins, sheared and died, do duty for beaver; white har e skins are done up to imitate fox, and dyed skins of all kinds are sold as “natural” furs. This year care) should be taken when purchasing sealskins. “Faked” sealskins are usually made from mulquash, pulled and dyed, and of coney skins. These are- so carefully put together, that it is by no means easy to detect the fraud; but a careful observer may tell the imitation article from the real thing by pressing aside the hair, and looking for the joins. • More musquash or coney skins are needed to make n coat than sealskins, and if there are a great many joins, it may he taken for granted that the article is an imitation. Large numbers of faked furs are made every year in London and Paris; but the would-be purchased will not he. taken in if she deals only with reputable firms, and avoids answering a cer_ tain class of advertisement in the news, papers —more especially if they emanate from private addresses. —A Great Fraud. —

On?, °f the greatest fur frauds of recent years occurred during the Boxer troubles in China. Many British officers believed what they purchased to be Russian sables, for hundreds of pounds a piece. Great was their chagrin when it was eventually discovered that these were made of inferior Manchurian sable, dyed, and worth a quarter of the price, paid. After tho Boxer troubles, many people went about- this country and on the Continent selling similar goods as Chinese loot. Th e fact that so many astute officers were taken in by theseimitations should put everyone on their guard when purchasing furs for which large sums are asked. —The Wav to Keen Furs.—

Most women find a great difficulty in keeping their furs free from moths. The ideal way to keep furs is in a cold storage room. All the natural oils are thereby conserved, while the ordinary temperature evaporates them. Private people who have not got a cold storage' room should see that their furs are kept away from sunlight in the coolest, driest place possible. They should be covered with* brown paper, glazed holland of nure linen, but- with nothing of a woolly nature