Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/99

Rh collects dust very rapidly and is hard to clean. It may, however, be painted over to freshen it when it becomes soiled, although this is not recommended, as the material shrinks unevenly and is apt to hang in festoons after being painted. Beware of gilding burlap, as has sometimes been done, for it is bad taste to gild so coarse and cheap a fabric. In figuring the cost of burlap it must be taken into consideration that the price of hanging is the same for a cheap material as for an expensive one, and, therefore, the initial cost will differ merely in the price of the goods. Fortunately, there are many rich men interested in our museums who are glad to make up the difference in price. Certain other inexpensive materials are on the market such as homespun, monk's cloth, friar's cloth, etc. These are all of a closer weave than burlap and less suggestive of potato sacks. The homespun makes a particularly good background for prints. Some of the sun-dure materials are also attractive in color and weave, although they need to be lined for wall coverings. In the slightly more expensive materials there are some good jutes on the market which come in pale grays and fawn color and which may be dyed according to taste. Some of these are very attractive, especially where the pattern is small and inconspicuous. They make particularly good