The papering of ceilings, once almost universal in good houses, is now out of fashion, the close, bandbox-like effect of a room with the walls and ceilings entirely covered with figured paper having led to its abandonment; but a figured ceiling does not necessarily imply a figured wall; and, as the ceiling is the portion of the room best suited for decoration, being always unobstructed and visible through its whole extent, it is quite possible that a new system might be evolved, with plain walls, and ceilings decorated with the little gold stars or butterflies of the earlier ceiling-papers, or with more ambitious compositions of birds or cherubs against a blue sky, which would, with well-selected colors, be quite charming. As a ceiling presents an unbroken surface, there would be little difficulty in reproducing in this way the French and Italian painted ceilings, at a moderate expense.

Morris system.

Papered ceilings.

Where a wall of plain color is desired, either with or without figured friezes or dadoes, cartridge-paper is much used, partly, no doubt, in consequence of an impression that it is washable, like oil paint. Some of the more expensive varieties of cartridge-paper can be wiped with a damp cloth without injury, but rubbing with crumbs of stale bread is a much safer operation, even with these, and the cheap cartridge-papers will not bear anything more.

Besides the cartridge-papers, plain papers of other sorts can be had, including some very expensive varieties, painted in oil, or even covered with silk.

As the fading, or changing color, of wall-papers detracts very much from their beauty, it would be desirable to know what colors are most subject to change; but this knowledge appears to be denied, even to the manufacturers themselves, who can seldom speak with confidence on the subject. Yellows are, perhaps, the most liable to change color, either by fading or turning brown, and reds next; and, in general, papers in which all the colors are light show the effects of fading the least.

Cartridge-paper.

Colors in wall-papers.

Poisonous colors are more easily detected than those which will fade. It is a common idea that only the green in wall-papers is poisonous, or, at least, arsenical; but arsenic is found in many other colors, particularly in pinks and purples, and even in browns, the arsenical pigments giving a freshness and delicacy to the tints with which they are mixed which makes them popular among manufacturers. American wall-paper manufacturers, as a rule, conscientiously avoid arsenical colors, and the use of them is forbidden by law in France, at least for wall-papers for domestic consumption; but those manufactured in France for export are said to pass the inspector's criticism more easily, and to contain arsenic in many cases. The worst of all wall-papers in this respect are, however, the Japanese, some varieties of which are so loaded with arsenic as to affect the paper-hangers who put them on. Not only is the poison found in the colors, but the bronze powders, which the Japanese use very freely in printing their papers, are often highly arsenical. These bronze powders are readily brushed from the paper, while the souring and decay of the paste with which the paper is put on causes chemical action, which may help in diffusing arsenical fumes; so that, to persons sensitive to arsenical poisoning, it may be even dangerous to sleep regularly in a room papered with such paper. Nor is arsenic the only poison found in wall-papers, mercury, which is often present, being little less deleterious.

Poisonous colors.

Japanese wall-papers.

For thorough testing of papers for both arsenic and mercury a chemist should be employed; but arsenic alone can be detected by the amateur without difficulty. For this purpose, some tubes of glass, a quarter of an inch or so in diameter, inside, and four or five inches long, should be prepared by heating one end in a lamp or gas flame, drawing it out, and melting it together. In each tube should be put some bits of the paper to be tested, and the tube over them should be filled for an inch or so with chips of charcoal, or charred wood. To make the test, the portion of the tube containing the charcoal chips must first be held in a flame, until they begin to glow. Then the end of the tube, containing the bits of paper, is heated, until the paper is entirely consumed. The burning of the paper volatilizes any compounds of arsenic or antimony that may be attached to it; and the fumes, in passing through the red-hot charcoal chips, are reduced, and deposit on the cool part of the tube, above the charcoal, a black, metallic ring, which may be either of antimony or arsenic. When all the tests desired have been made, the tubes may be broken, near the deposited ring, and immersed in a solution of ordinary bleaching-powder, or chloride of lime, such as is sold in little cans at the grocery stores as a disinfectant. If the metallic ring is dissolved by the chloride of lime solution, it consists of arsenic. If it is not dissolved, it may consist of antimony, or, possibly, of some organic compound, but not of arsenic. After a little experience, the peculiar smell of the arsenical fumes, closely resembling the breath of a person who has just breakfasted on onions, will be recognized as they issue from the heated tube, before the deposited ring is tested with the chloride of lime solution.

Testing wall-papers for arsenic.

In a well-ventilated modern house, with plenty of fireplaces to give a current of air, there is not usualty much annoyance from the smell caused by the decomposition of the paste used for putting on wall-papers; but in the houses of the poor, where there is little or no ventilation, and where, to save the expense of taking off the old paper, when renewals are necessary, the walls are frequently covered with several layers, one above another, of alternate paste and paper, the odor is often extremely unpleasant, and probably injurious to the inmates. To avoid, as far as possible, anything of this kind, new paper should never be put on a wall without cleaning the old paper entirely off, down to the bare plaster. There will then be only one stratum of paste on the wall; and, as that will be fresh, it is not likely to give trouble, at least for many years, unless it should get wet in some way.