Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1914 — PIANO REQUIRES CARE. [ARTICLE]

PIANO REQUIRES CARE.

instrument exceedingly] QUICK TO RESENT NEGLECT. Subject In a Degree to the Extremes of Atmosphere—Lime In the Inter- » lor Will Prevent Rusting of the Wires. The piano is often neglected by the otherwise careful housewife, for the simple reason that her attention is ■eldom, if ever, called to its care. It seems to some if the tuner arrives periodically and the' instrument is carefully dusted that is all there is to the care of the piano. However, the piano is a very delicate Instrument, asall musicians know, and requires very watchful care. The first consideration is the position of the piano. Often the only object in placing a piano is to have the best light fall on the music rack. But the piano should not be placed too near the outer wall, the fireplace or radiator, as it is subject to the Influences of the atmosphere. Extreme heat and extreme cold are very harmful to the piano. If one wishes to have a musical instrument in the best of condition and to keep it so, an even temperature should be maintained in the room where it stands. If there is too much moisture in the atmosphere the wires become rusty, if there is too much heat the musical adjustment will be injured as " well as the wood in the case. The rusting of the wires can be prevented by sprinkling them with lime or by placing a bag of unslacked lime Ln the interior to absorb the moisture. When the atmosphere becomes too dry it is well to have a plant in the room that requires plenty pf water. A jar of water kept in the room helps by evaporation. Heavy articles should never be placed on the top of the piano nor should music or books be piled there, either. The keys should be wiped daily, when the piano is dusted, with a cloth dampened with alcohol. If this plan is followed there is less likelihood of their turning yellow. If the keys are soiled a cloth dipped in whiting and rubbed with alcohol will be found excellent for cleaning them. When the keys have become very yellow and need to be bleached try the following: Make a paste of unslacked lime and bran water. It should be applied and allowed to dry slightly. It should then be rubbed off with a cloth, and magnesia powder applied to the keys until dry. In a few minutes the keys can be polished to a high luster. Then care should be taken to prevent moths getting into the piano. Prevention is always worth while. In this case the carpet tinder- the piano should be sprinkled with camphor and ground moth balls placed on the floor underneath. A bag of camphor balls should be suspended from a nail driven in the outside of the piano. If moths do get into the piano make a mixture of benzoline and turpentine, using seven parts of benzoline to one of turpentlnd and add a drop or two of lavender water. Use a small scent spray or an old syringe to squirt this into the piano. Dealers in pianos say that, the best way, as well as the most satisfactory way to clean a piano is to simply wash it in hike warm water, drying each part briskly and rubbing it thoroughly just after it is washed. A chamois skin can be used to advantage here. This method leaves the polish absolutely Uninjured - .' ”