THE LAUNDRY

treat it the same in a tub of bran water ; rinse, dry and dip in starch raaHe the same as for shirts ; dry again, and then rinse tliorougliiy in clear water ; dry again, and sprinkle with a whisk-broom or sprinkler; roll up iu a thick cloth while the iron gets hot, and iron with them as hot as they can be u^t-d witliout scorching the dress. By taking a clear day, it is little trouble to do several dresses in a few hours.

To Remove Grease from Silk, Cotton, Linen or Worsted Goods. — Rub mag- nesia freely on both sides of silk or worsted goods and hang away. Benzine, ether or soap will take out spots from silk, but remember the goods must not be rubbed. Oil or turpentine or benzine will remove spots of paint, varnisli or pitch from white or colored cotton or woolen goods. After using it, they should be washed in soap-suds. Spots from sperm candles, stearine, and the like, should be softened and removed by ninety-five per cent alcohol, then sponged off with weak alcohol, and a small quantity of ammonia added to it. Holding white cotton or linen over the fumes of burning sulphur, and wetting in warm chloride water, will take out wine and fruit stains. The sooner the remedy is applied, after any of these spots or stains are discover- ed, the more effectual the restoration. From white linen or cotton by soap- suds or weak lye, and from calicoes with warm soap-suds. From woolens by soap-suds or ammonia. On silks use either yolk of egg with water, mag- nesia, ether, benzine, ammonia or French chalk.

To Press and Clean Silks. — All Satin goods should be pressed upon tne right side. To press and clean black silk, shake out all the dust, clean well with a flannel cloth, rubbing it up and down over the silk; this takes out all dust that may be left ; take some good lager beer and spunge the silk, both on the wrong and right side, sponging across the width of the silk, and not down the. length, and with a moderately-warm iron, press what is intend- ed for the W' mg side. After sponging, it is better to wait a few minutes be- fore pressing as the irons will not be so apt to stick.

Or, sponge with hot coffee, thoroughly freed from sediment by being strained tlirough muslin. The silk is sponged on the side intended to show, it is allowed to become partially dry, and then ironed on the wrong side. The coffee removes every particle of grease, and restores the brilliancy of silk, without giving it either the shiny appearance or crackly or papery stilf- ness obtained by beer or any other liquid. The silk appears thickened by the process, and this good effect remains.

To Make Hard Soap. — Place one gallon of good soft soap in a kettle to boil ; when it begins to boil, stir in a pint measure level full of common salt, stirring it all the time till the salt is dissolved, then set to cool. Next day, cut out the soap in squares, scrape off tlie soft, dark part, that adheres to the lower side of the cake.s, pour out the lye, and wash the kettle ; place the soap, cut in thin slices in the kettle, with more weak lye. If the lye is strong add rain-water, pint for pint ; let it boil until the soap is dissolved. While boiling, again stir in a pint measure level full of salt, stirring it same as before, and set to'cool. "When perfectly hard, cut it in cakes the size you wish, scraping off the soft lye part that adheres to the lower side, and lay on boards, top side down in the sun, turning it each day until sufficiently dry. Or, if you wish to make a twelve or fourteen gallon kettle of soft soap into hard, three quarts of salt, stirred in each time, will be sufficient. But as soap differs in strength, the quantity of salt must also differ. The stronger the soap the more salt is required. A good genei-al rule is our old grandmother's : "When the soap is boiling, stir in salt until it curdles and becomes whitish in color." It can be tested by placing some in a shallow pan, as it cools in a few minutes sufficiently to know if enough salt is in.

TH« I.AUXDRV.

Cloihei Ftuudar.

A Clothes rounder.— Among a\\ the ways and machines tried for washing clothes some find nothing equal to a barrel and pounder. Bore six or seven inch and a half, or larger holes, into tlie end of a six or eight inch sapling (can use butternut, it bores easily, and is handy,) two or tliree inches deep, then bore a ^4-inch side hole through the bottom of the larger ones to let out the air and water when pounding. The pounder should be six or eight inches long or high, made a little tapering, and a hoop-iron band put round it near the top. For a handle use a common ash hoe- handle, such as can be bought at stores for a dime. A coal oil barrel to pound in is cheap and strong, and it makes a good water barrel, or convenient to put in dirty clothes. Soap clothes well, and put into barrel just warm water enough to thoroughlv wet the clothes. In washing this way persons generally use too much water, it then makes splashing work. If the water gets too dirty, change it of course. A pounder made as il- lustrated is even better than one described.

To Blench Muslin. — For thirty yards of muslin, take one pound of chloride of lime, dissolve in two quarts rain-water ; letclothsoak overnight in warm rain-water, or long enough to be thoroughly wet ; wring out cloth and put in another tub of warm rainwater in which the chloride of lime solution has been poured. Let it remainf or about twenty minutes, lifting up the cloth and airing every few minutes, and rinse in clear rain-water. This will not injure the cloth in theleast.and is much le^s troublesome than bleaching on the grass

Or, scald in suds and lay them on the clean grass all night, or if this can not be done, bring in and place in a tub of clean soft water. In the niorning ecald again and put out as before. It will take from one to two weeks to bleach white. May be bleached in winter by placing on the snow. May is the best month for bleaching. To whiten yellow linens or muslins, soak over night, or longer, in buttermilk ; rinse thoroughly and wash the same as other clothes. This will also answer for light calicoes, percales, lawns, etc.. that will not fade. Some use sour milk when not able to get buttermilk. To whiten yellow laces, old collars, etc., put in a glass bottle or jar in a strong suds, lei stand in sun for seven days, shaking occasionally.

To Wash Lace Curtainx.— Shake the dust well out of the lace, put in tepid water, in which a little soda has been dissolved, and wash at once carefully with the hands in several waters, or until perfectly clean; rinse in water well blued, also blue the boiled starch quite deeply and squeeze, but do not wring. Pin some sheets down to the carpet in a vacant, airy room, then pin on the curtains stretched to exactly the size they were before being wet. In a few hours thev will be dry and ready to put up. The whole process of washing and pinning ddwn should occupy as little time as possible, as lace will shrink more than any other cotton goods when long wet. Above all, it should not be allowed to '"soak." from the mistaken idea that it washes more easilv, nor should it ever be ironed. Another way is to fasten them in a pair of frames, which every housekeeper should have made very like the old- fashioned quilting-frames, thickly studded along the inside with the smallest size of galvanized tenter hooks, in which to fasten the lace, and having holes and wooden pins with which to vary the length and breadth to suit the dif- ferent sizes of curtains. The curtains should always be measured before be- ing wet, and stretched in the frames to that sim to prevent shrinking. Five or six curtains of the same size may be put in, one abov« the •th«r, and all dried at once. Th« framas may rest en fe«r ehairi.

THB LAUN»RT. 109";

How to do up Shirt-bosoms. — To fine starch add a piece of "Enamel" the Bize of a hazle-nut ; if this is not at hand use a table-spoon gum-arabic soUi- tion (made by pouring boihng water upon gum-arabic and standing until clear and transparent) , or a piece of clean mutton tallow half the size of a nutmeg and a teaspoon of salt will do, but is not as good. Strain the starch through a strainer or a piece of thin muslin. Have the 'shirt turned wrong side out; dip the bosoms carefully in the fine starch, made according to re- cipe, and squeeze out, repeating the operation until the bosoms are thorough- ly and evenly saturated with starch ; proceed to dry. Three hours before ironing dip the bosoms in clear water ; wring out and roll up tightly. First iron the back by folding it lengthwise through the center ; next iron the wristbands, and both sides of the sleeves; then the collar-band; now place the bosom-board under the bosom, and with a dampened napkin rub the bosom from the top towards the bottom, smoothing and arranging each plait neatly. "With smooth, moderately hot flat-iron, begin at the tup and iron downwards, and continue the operation until the bosom is perfectly dry and shining. Remove the bosom-board, and iron the front of the shirt. The bosoms and cuffs of shirts, indeed of all nice work, will look clearer and bet- ter if they are first ironed under a piece of thin old muslin. It takes ofi" the first heat of the iron, and removes any lumps of starch.

Washing Fluid. — The very best known, as it saves time, labor, clotnes and soap : One pound sal-soda, one-half pound stone lime, five quarts soft water, (some add one-fifth pound borax) ; boil a short time in copper or brass kettle, stirring occasionally, let settle and i)Our off the clear fluid into a stone jug, and cork for use ; soak white clothes over night in simple water, wring out and soap wristbands, collars, and dirty stained places ; have boiler half filled with water, and when at scalding heat put in one common tea- spoon of fluid, stir and put in clothes, and boil half an hour, rab lightly through one suds only, rinsing well in the blueing water as usual, and "all is complete. Instead of soaking clothes over night, they may soak in suds for a few hours before beginning washing. For each additional boiler of clothes, add a half cup only of the fluid, of course boiling in the same water through the whole washing. If more water is needed in the boiler for the last clothes, dip it from the sudsing tub. This fluid brightens instead of fading the cobjrs in calico, and is good for coloring flannels. It does not rot clothes, but they must not lie long in the water ; the boiling, sudmng, rinsing and blueing must ful- lovj each other in rapid succession, until clothes are hung on the line, which should be by ten o'clock in the morning. Some of this fluid, put in hot water, is excellent for removing grease spots from the floor, doors, and windows; also for cleansing tin-ware, pots, and kettles.

To Wash Woolen Goods. — Dissolve a large tablespoon borax in a pint boiling water. Mix one quarter of it in the cold water in which greasy woolen goods are to be washed. Put in one piece at a time, using soap, if needed ; and if necessary add more of the borax-water. Wash and rinse in cold water. Shake well and hang where the goods will dry quickly. Flan- nels can be washed in the same way. The important thing in washing flannels is to have all waters of the same temperature. If you begin with cold, go through with cold ; if with hot, have all waters equally hot. They must not be allowed to freeze in drj-ing. Some add a little salt to the last rinsing water. In washing flannels be careful that the soap used has no resin in it. When flannels are nearly dry, take in, fold carefully, roll up in damp cloth so that that they will iron smoothly. In ironing heav^' woolen goods, especially pants, vests, etc , it is well to let them get dried, then spread them out on an ironing-board (not on a table), wring a cloth out of clear water, and lay over the article, then iron with a hot iron till dry ; wet tiie cloth again and spread it just above the part already ironed, letting it corny

10'.)S THE LAUNDRY.

u lialf inch or so on that which has been pressed, so that there will be no line to mark where the cloth was moved; continue this till the whole gar- ment has been thoroughly pre&sed. "Woolen garments thus ironed will look like new ; l)ut in doing this care must be exercised that every spotthat looks at all "fulled"' or shrunk should be stretclied while being pressed under the wet cloth. Bring the outside to lit the linings, as when new, but if not quite able to do this, rip the lining and trim off to matcii. All the seams, espec- ially on pants, must be first pressed on a "press board," then fold the pants as they are found in the tailor's shop, and go over them with the wet cloth and hot iron. Soap-bark Tea water is also nice for washing pants, etc.

Flour Starch. — One coftee cup flour a little rounded, water enough to moisten it, let it stand ten or fifteen minutes, then add enough more water to make it the consistency of thin molasses. Beat well, and to make it perfectly smooth, stir well withan egg-beater. Have a clean kettle or pan with five pints of water (soft water is best) on stove boiling, into which stir this thick- ening, let it boil from two to five minutes, then stir in half teaspoon each salt and butter or lard, or stir while boiling with a sperm candle. Strain through a cotton flour sack, or a bag made of a crash towel, by putting the ends together and sewing up the sides. It is well to have a pan of cold water in wliich to dip the hand, in order to squeeze starcli through as hot as pos- sible, as to secure best results starch must be very hot. If the articles to be starclied need to be very stiff, dry them before starching; if not, wring them well through the wringer, then starch. This quantity will starch two large work aprons, bosom and cuffs of two calico shirts, one calico dress, a tie apron and live children's aprons. A rainy, damp, or very windy day, is not good fur starching. Anything that is required to be extra stiff, as the front of a sunbonnet, can be restarched by rubbing more starch on after it first becomes dry, do so one or more times until it is stiff enough. Starch made this way makes the clothes look nicely, and seldom sticks to the iron or rubs up on tiie clothes. If it should, place a small lump of beeswax on the cloth on which the iron is tested, rub the hot iron swiftly over the beeswax, then ruV» it on the cloth before ironing the garment. Rubbing the hot iron over the beeswax, cau

To Dry-atarch, Fold mid Iron Shirts. — In doing up shirts, wristbands ami collars should be starched first if the collars are sewed on. Dii> them into the hot starch, and as soon as the hand can bear the heat (and dipping the hand in cold water often will expedite the work) rub the starch in very tiiorougldy, taking care that no motes or lumps of starch adhere to the linen. Then starch the shirt-bosom the same way keeping the starch hot all the time i)y setting the dish in a deep pan of water. Kub it into the linen very carefully, pass the finger under the plaits and raise them up sc that tiie starch shall penetrate all through evenly. Some rub it into the plaits with a piece of clean linen, but we think the hand does the work more thoroughly and evenly. When pi*rfectly starched, shake out the shirt evenly, fold l)oth sides of the bosom to^rether and bring the shoulders and side seams together evenlv; that will lay the sleeves one'over the other, and after pulling the wristbands into shape smoothly they can be folded together and the wrist- bands rolled tightly and, with "the sleeves, be folded and laid even on tlie sides of the shirt. 'Then turn the sides with the sleeves over on the front, and beginning at the neck roll the whole tightly together, wrap in a towel ;ind let it remain so several hours before ironing — all night if starched and folded in the evening — and in t*he summer put in a cool place where the starcli will not sour, and in the winter keep warm enough to prevent freez- ing. To d(j up shirt bosoms in the most perfect way, one must have a "pol-

THE LAUXDT^V. 1099

ishing iron" — a small iron rounded over and highly polished on the ends and sides. Spread the bosom on a hard and very smooth board, with onlv one thickness of cotton cloth sewed tight across it. Spread a wet cloth over ami iron quickly with a hot iron, then remove the cloth and with a poiishinji ufm as hot as can be used without scorching, rub the bosom quick and hard up and down, not crosswise. Use only the rounded part of the front of the iron, that puts all the friction on a small part at one time, and gives the full bene- fit of all the gloss in starch or linen.

Soap For Family Use. — Much of the toilet and laundry soaps in the market are adulterated with injurious, and to some persons, poisonous su]»- tances by which diseases of the skin are occasioned or greatly aggravated, and great suffering results, which is rarely traced to the real cause. The fat tried from animals which have died of disease, if not thoroughly saponihe<l, is poisonous, and sometimes produces deatli. If in making soap tliemassis heated to too high a degree, a film of soap forms around the particles of fai ; if at this stage resin, sal-soda, silicate, and other adulterations are acl<led, the fat is not saponified, but filmed, and if poisonous o* diseased, it so re- mains, and is dangerous to use. A bar of such soaj) has an oily feeling, and is unfit for use. If it feels sticky, it has too uuu li resin in it. The slippery feeling which belongs to soap properly made can not be mistaken. Another test of pure soft or hard soap is its translucent or semi-lrans))arent appear- ance. Soft soap that is cloudy is not thoroughly saponified, or else has been made of dirty or impure grease. It is not only safer but more economical to buy pure soap, as the adulterations increase the quantitv without adding to the erasive power. Some of the brown soaps sold in the market are sev- enty-five per cent resin, and the buyer gets only twenty-five per cent of what he wants for his money. Fifteen per cent, resin improves the quality, but any excess damages it, and is worse than useless. Almost any family may make excellent soft soap with very little expense by saving grease, r.nd using lye from pure hard wood ashes or pure potash. Never use concentrated lye.

To set the leach, bore several auger holes in the bottom of a barrel ; \>r use one without a bottom ; prepare aboard wider than the l»arrel, set barrel on it, and cut a groove around just outside the barrel, making one groove from this to the edge of the board to carry off the lye as it runs off. Pia< etwo feet from the ground, and tip so that the lye may run easily from the board into the vessel below prepared to receive it. Put half-bricks or stones around the edge of inside of barrel, place on them one end of sticks one or two inches wide, inclining to the center; place straw to the depth of two inches, over it scatter two pounds slacked lime , put in the ashes about a half bushel at a time, pack well by using a pounder, spade, or common ax ; con- tinue to pack until barrel is full, leaving a funnel-shaped hollow in the cen- ter large enough to hold several quarts of water. Use soft or rain-water, and boiling hot. Let the first water disappear before adding more. If the ashes are packed very tightly, it may require two or three days before the lye will begin to run, but it is much better as it will be stronger. If a large quantity of lye is needed, prepare a board long enough to hold two or more l)arrels, one back of the other, with a groove in the center the entire length of thf board; on this place the barrels prepared as above. A test of the strength of the lye is if it will bear up an egg; another is to heat the lye to boiling, whirl a' feather around in it nine times, and if it eats the feather it will make soap.

Sun or Cold Soap is made by adding one pound of cleansed grease, spoiled lard or butter, to each gallon of lye strong enough to float an egg. Set the vessel in the sun and stir thoroughly each day until it is good soaji. This gives it a golden color, and produces an excellent soap for washing. Ii may be used in washing even laces and fine cambrics with perfect safety.

1100 THE LAUNDRY.

To Cleanse Grease. — Place all grease of whatever kind, soup bones, ham- rinds, cracklings, or any refuse fat into a kettle, with weak lye enough to boil it until all particles of fat are extracted ; let it cool, then skim off the grease, which is now ready to make the ''Sun Soap." Would add right here that no fat should be put away for soap j;rease until fried thoroughly.

Boiled Soap. — There is no romance or poetry in making boiled soap, only patient hard work; yet without this useful article, what an unpresentable peup f we should be. Place the grease, consisting of soup-bones and all kinds of fat that accumulate in a kitchen, in a kettle, filling it only half full ; if there is too much fat, it can be skimmed off after the soap is cold, for another kettle of soap. This is the only true test when enough fat is used, as the lye will consume all that is needed and no more. Make a fire under one side of it. The kettle should be in an out-house or out of doors. Let it heat very hot so as to fry, and stir it lo prevent burning; now put in the lye, a gallon at a time, watch closely until it boils, as it sometimes runs over at the beginning. Add lye until the kettle is full enough, but not too full, to boil well. Soap should boil from the side and not the middle, as this would be more likely to cause it to boil over. To test the soap, to one spoon- ful of soap add one of rain water; if it stirs up very thick, the soap is good and will keep ; if it becomes thinner, it is unfit for use.

This is the result of three causes; it is too weak, there is a deposit of dirt, or it is too strong. Continue to boil for a few hours, when it should flow from the stick with which it is stirred, like thick molasses ; but if after boiling it remains thin, let it stand over night, removing the fire, then drain very carefully into another vessel, being particular to prevent any sediment from passing. Wash the kettle, return the soap and bring to a boil, and if the cause was dirt, it will now be thick and good, otherwise it is too strong, and needs rain-water added. This can safely be done by pouring in a small quantity at a time, until it becomes thick. These are the usual causes that arise to trouble soap-makers. If other difficulties appear, they must use good common sense to meet and overcome them.

It might not be amiss to add to this, the most economical way of saving Boap grease. Have a kettle standing in the yard in summer time (or if there is not a yard, in cellar), and as you save a little grease, put it in, but do not put in raw grease. If there are any pieces of fat left after using a ham or lumps of suet nc)t used in cooking a steak, put them in a skillet and fry them brown, then put all into the kettle of lye ; thus every particle of fat will be saved, and no fear of insects, rats or mice getting into and destroying the grease. Keep the kettle covered during night or when raining, but uncov- ered in the sunshine, stirring occasionally. In the fall, all that is necessary is to make a fire under the kettle, and let it boil a short time, adding more lye or grease if needed. If there are too many bones in it, or any particles that have not become consumed, ^kim them out and put them in a pot of Aveak, hot lye, stirring them with the skimmer to rinse off all the soap, then skim out and tlirow away and the pot of lye which has become almost soap, may now be added to the kettle of good soap. A few beef bones left in the >)arrel will sink to the bottom, and are said by some good housewives to im- prove the soap. Soft soap should he kept in a dry place in cellar, and is bet- ter if allowed to stand three months before using.

SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES. 1101

SOMETHING- ABOUT BABIES

A child's first right is to be well born, of parents sound in body and mind, who can boast a long line of ancestors on both sides ; an aristocracy, based on the cardinal virtues of purity, chastity, sobriety and honesty.

If the thought, the money, the religious enthusiasm, now expended for the regeneration of the race, were wisely directed to the generation of our descendents, to the conditions and environments of parents and children, the whole face of society might be changed before we celebrate the next centen- nial of our national life.

All religious, educational, benevolent, and industrial societies combined, working harmoniously together, can not do as much in a life-time of eflTort, toward the elevation of mankind, as can parents in the nine months of pre- natal life. Locke took the ground that the mind of every child born into the world is like a piece of blank paper, that you may write thereon whatever you will ; but science proves that such idealists as Descartes were nearer right when they declared that each soul comes freighted with its own ideas its individual proclivities ; that the pre-natal influences do more in the for- mation of character than all the education that come after.

Let the young man, indulging in all manner of excesses, remember that in considering the efiect of dissipation, wine, and tobacco, on himself and his own hapinness or misery, he does not begin to measure the evil of his life. As the High Priest at the family altar, his deeds of darkness will entail un- told suffering on generation after generation. Let the young woman with wasp-like waist, who lives on candies, salads, hot bread, pastry, and pickles whose listless brain and idle hands seek no profitable occupation, whose life is given to folly, remember that to her ignorance and folly may yet be traced the downfall of a nation.

One of the most difficult lessons to impress on any mind is the power and extent of individual influence ; the parents, above all others, resist the belief that their children are exactly what they make them ; no more, no less ; like producing like. If there is a class of educators who need special preparation for their high and holy calling, it is those who assume the responsibility of parents. Shall we give less thought to the creation of an immortal being

1102 SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES.

than the artist devotes to his statue or landscape? We wander tlirough the art galleries in the old world, and linger before the works of the great mas- turs, translixed with the grace and beauty, the ^lory and grandeur, of the iduals that surround us, and, with equal preparation, greater than these are ])()ssible in living, breathing humanity. The same thought and devotion in real life would soon give us a generation of saints, scholars, scientists and statesmen, of glorified humanity ; such as the world has not yet seen. To this hour, we liave left the greatest event of the life to chance, and the result is the ])]ind, the deaf and dumb, the idiot, the lunatic, the epileptic, the crim- inal, the drunkai'd, the glutton — thousands of human beings in our young republic, that never should have been born; a tax on society, a disgrace to their parents, and a curse to themselves.

Well born — a child's next right is to intelligent care. If we buy a rare l)lant, we ask the florist innumerable questions as to its proper training : but the advent of an immortal being seems to suggest no new thought, to anxious investigation into the science of human life. Here we trust everything to an ignorant nurse, or a neighbor who knows perchance less tlian we do ourselves. Ignorance bandages the new-born child, as tight as a drum, from arm- pits to hips, compressing every vital organ. There is a trailition tliat all in- fants are subject to colic for the first three months of their existence ; at the end of wliich time the bandage is removed, and the colic ceases. Reason suggests that the bandage may be the cau^e of the colic, and queries as to the origin of the custom, and its use. She is told witli all seriousness, 'that the bones of anew-born child are like cartilage, that, unless they are pinned up snugly, they are in danger of falling to pieces." Reason replies : "If Infinite Wisdom has made kittens and puppies so that their component parts remain tog(^ther, it is marvelous that He should have left the human beings wholly at the mercy of a bandage ;" and proposes with her first-born to dispense with swaddling bandages, leaving only a slight compress on the navel, for a few days, until perfectly healed.

Ignorance, believing that everA' child comes into the world in a diseased and starving condition, begins at once thepi-e])aration of a variety of nostrums, chemical and culinary, which she persistently administers to the struggling victim. Reason, knowing that after the fatigue of a long and perilous march, •what the young soldier most needs is absf)lute rest in some warm and cozy tent, shelters him under her wing, and liglits off all intruders, sure that when he needs his rations the world will hear from him. His first batli should l)e a generous application of pure, sweet olive oil, from head to foot, in every little corner and crevice of his outer man ; and then he should be immersed in warm .soap-suds, so nearly the temperature of tlie body as to cause no shock. Great care should ])e taken that neither oil or Soap touch tlie eyes. The room should be very warm, all drafts excluded; and on emerging from the tub, a hot .soft-flannel blanket should be closely wrapped around him, in whicii he may rest awhile before dressing. The softest garments, simjdy ma<le, and so cut as to fasten round the thi-oat and rest on the shoulders, f^hould constitute his wardrobe; eschew all bands, pins, ligatures, ruffles, embroidery, caps, socks, etc.

Let the child's first efforts at foraging for an existence be at his mother's breast; there he will find the medicine he needs, and just what she needs, too, to disjiose of.

The cliild's mouth and the mother's nipples should be carefully washed before nursing; thus, much suffering, for both mother and child, will be ])rcvented.

"(live the baby water six times a day," was one of the most important messages ever sent over the telegraph wires to a mother.

Iixnorance bathes her baby on a full stomach, liecause she finds it will go through the ordeal of dressing more quietly ; Reason bathes hers two hours

SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES. 1103

after feeding, knowing that the vital forces needed for digestion should not be drawn to the surface. Being constructed on the same general plan with the parents, the same principle that makes it dangerous for a man to go swimming immediately after eating, makes it equally so to put a bady in its tub after nursing.

Though Ignorance eats her own meals regularly and at stated times, she feeds her baby at all times and seasons. If the child has colic from over- eating, or the improper diet of its mother, she tries to allay its suffering with additional feeding and vigorous trotting; not succeeding, she ends the drama with a spoonful of Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup ; having drugged the sen- ■ tinel and silenced his guns, she imagines the citidel safe. Reason feeds her baby regularly, by the clock, once in two or three hours, and gives the stomach some chance for rest. Siie prevents colic by regulating her own diet and habits of life, knowing that improper articles of food, and ill-nature or out- bursts of passion in the mother, have cost many a baby its life

Ignorance, having noticed that her baby sleeps longer with its head cov- ered, uniformly excludes the air. Breathing the same air over a dozen times, it becomes stupefied with the carbonic-acid gas, is thrown into a profuse perspiration, and is sure to catch cold on emerging from the fetid atmos- phere. Reason puts her child to sleep, with head uncovered, in a spacious chamber, bright with sunlight and fresh air ; where, after a long nap, she will often find him (as soon as he is old enough to notice objects) looking at the shadows on the wall, or studying the anatomical wonders of his own hands and feet, the very picture of content.

Regular feeding, freedom in dress, plenty of sleep, water, sunlight, and pure air, will secure to babies that health and happiness that in nature should be their inheritance.

"Seeing that the atmosphere is forty miles deep, all around the globe," says Horace Mann, "it is a useless piece of economy to breath it more than once. If we were obliged to trundle it in wheel-barrows, in order to fill our homes, churches, school-houses, railroad-cars, and steamboats, there might be some excuse for our seeming parsimony. But as it is we are prodigals of health, of which we have so little ; and niggards of air, of which we have so much". — Mrs. Elizabeth Cody Stanton, New York.

For Worms, give rue tea ; for colic, catnip tea.

Milk for the Use of children should cool until the animal heat is gone be- fore using.

Ginger-bread made from oatmeal instead of flour is a good aperient for cliildren.

While the baby is down for a creep, draw little stocking legs over his arms, and secure them by a safety-pin.

Some babies' skins xvill not bear flannel. — In thia case a linen shirt should be put on first, and flannel over it.

Jumping the Rope is an injurious and dangerous amusement, often result- ing in diseases of the spine and brain.

A baby should sleep on its side. — When lying on its back the food some- times rises in its throat and chokes it.

Eating snow, except in small quantities, is very injurious, producing ca- tarrh, congestion and many other troubles.

11U4 SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES.

mien chafed, squeeze cold water over the parts chafed. Dry lightly with- out rubbing, and apply vaseline or cold cream.

jy' a sc(/r/ or ?«!7/:-crus< appcar.s on the head, do not apply water, but oil at night and brush over gently with a baby's soft brush.

Don't give the baby cordials, soothing syrups, paregoric and sleeping- drops. All such things injure the constitution of the child.

No child should go to bed hungry, but food taken near the hours of sleep- ing should be of the simplest nature — a cracker, a piece of bread, or a glass of milk.

Always hold a baby with feet next the fire, when sitting in a room with a fire in it. The old adage, "Keep the feet warm and the head cool," means a good deal.

Great care must be taken that children are not fed with milk that has been turned by a thunder-storm. The chemical change is rapid, and extra caution is necessary.

If the children who attend school are puny and do not seem to thrive, take them away from school. Give the child a robust body, whetlier he is at the head or tail of his class.

Parents should teach their children to gargle their throats, for it may be the saving of their lives. It is easier to teach them this difficult and awkward feat in health than when prostrated by disease.

For constipation, bran water is an excellent remedy. Boil two table- spoons bran in a pint of water for two hours, strain and use as food. It must be made fresh every day, and the fresher the better.

To cure the earache. — Take a bit of cotton batting, put upon it a pinch of black pepi>er, gather it up and tie it, dij) it in sweet-oil, and insert it into the ear. Put a llannel bandage over the head to keep it warm.

Let nature wake the children ; she will not do it prematurely. Take care tliat they go in bed at an early hour — let it l)e earlier and earlier, until it is found that they wake up themselves in full time to dress for breakfast.

To prevent a child coughing at night, boil the strength out of ten cents worth of "seneca snake root" in one quart of soft water ; strain through a cloth, boil down to a pint, add one cup powdered sugar made into a thick molasses. Give one teaspoon on going to bed.

Just before each meal let the child have some ripe fruit or some fruit sauce. Apples and berries are wholesome. Oranges should never be given to chil- dren unless the skin and the thick white part underneath the skin and be- tween the quarters is all carefully removed.

Never let the little children go out of doors in winter without being warmiy clad. They lose heat rapidly, and easily contract throat and lung afi'ections. Every child stiould have full suits of underclothing ; and especially let the legs and ankles be well protected with thick stockings and leggings.

Great care should be taken to sliade a baby's eyes from the light. If a strong light shines directly in its face, it often produces ophthalmia, an in.

SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES. 1105

flamation of the eyelids, which is troublesome and dangerous. A few drops of brea.st-milk, applied to the eye and worked under the lid, is very healing to sore eyes.

.1 lump of sugar, saturated with vinegar, will stop hiccough when drink- ing water wiil not. For babies, a few grains of sugar will often suffice. Care must be taken in giving sugar to nursing babies, as it is constipating. Dio Lewis says feather pillows are death to children. jNIake them of straw or h-iir, and not too large.

Children are often troubled with ulcers in the ears after scarlet fever and other children's diseases. Roast onions in ashes until done, wrap in a strong cloth, and squeeze out juice. To three parts juice, add one part laudanum and one part sweet-oil, and bottle for use. Wash ear out with warm water, shake bottle well, and drop a few drops into the ear.

Snuffles need not be known in the category of baby troubles if mothers will have a camel's hair brush and carefully cleanse out baby's nose every morning when washing him ; and also watch for the little hard pieces tliat form in it and carefully take them out, putting up a little oil to soften them, or a little breast milk milked up will cause the baby to sneeze and loosen them.

For symptoms of a cold, such as snuffling, or any slight hoarseness, give immediately a warm foot bath, and then grease with mutton tallow, the nose, neck, chest, and feet; warm the feet well at the tire. Sweet-oil, pig's-foot oil, or any kind of good grease will answer as Avell as mutton tallow." After warming well put them to bed and wrap up well. An oil-rub, as described hereafter, is one of the best things to give.

Bathe children in the forenoon when possible, or, if not too tired, an hovir before the evening meal; never for al least an hour after eating. When pos- sible bathe l^efore an open fire or in a warm room near, and rub dry bef(.tre an open lire. It is injurious to bathe children on rising before breakhist, especially in cold weather. Washing the face, neck and hands, and dress- ing, is enough before refreshing the J3ody by eating.

Probahhj nine children out often who die of croup might be saved b_v timelv application of roast onions, mashed, laid upon a folded napkin, and goose- oil, sweet-oil, or even lard, poured on and applied as warm as can be "borne comfortably to the throat and upper part of the chest, and to the feet and hands, or the onions may be sliced, boiled soft in water until almost dry greese added, and cooked in the greese until browned.

For sore mouth in nursing babies, take a teaspoon each of puiverized aium and borax, half a salt-spoon of pulverized nut-galls, a table-spoon of honey ; mix, and pour on it half a tea-cup boiling water ; let settle, and with a clean linen rag wash the mouth four or five times a day, using afresh piece of linen every day ; or simple borax water is equally good. Half an even teaspoon powdered borax in two tablespoons soft water is strong enough, or use sage tea instead of the water, or simplj^ dry powdered borax.

The Perfect Night Dress is one of the best and safest night wear lor chil- dren. It is one garment, waist, sleeves and drawers ending in feet (regular stocking legs only fitting loosely), can be made of muslin, canton flannel or red flannel and perfectly protects their feet and limbs. Over this, in cold weather, may be worn a flannel sack._ At severe seasons, instead of putting an extra coverlet on the bed, we advise the use of a large bag, made of a light blanket, into which the child may be securely placed, and closely but toned in around neck. Light coverings generally are preferable to heavy ones, if the night clothing and the room are sufficiently warm, as they do not induce prespiration nor check exhalations.

SOMETHING AI50UT liABIEP.

Great Care Mast be Taken that the navel of infants takes its properplace. If not attended to it is likely to puff out and jtroduce a breach. If it shows any si<Tns of protruding, round a piece of cork on one side leaving it pointed in tlie center, with the top side flat, cover with four or live thicknesses of linen, and lay over the navel, fastening it to its place by four or five strips of a |)orus plaster about an inch in width. Let it remain a month or more, or till well, as it will cause no inconvenience, renewing plaster if necessary.

.1 Child's Pen. — It is not only troublesome but very dangerous for small children just able to toddle about and get into mischief, to be free to go where they please. The mother, if she has the care of the house, can not safely leave the child for a moment. The pen, wliich the cut represents, is a perfect protection for the child. It is too high to climb over, it moves at pleasure as the child walks about on the floor, and the mother is comparatively free to leave it and at- ^ tend to other work. With a warm flannel blanket on the floor and play- things, it will amuse itself a long time. A cheaper substitute may be made of a light dry-goods box without bottom, with casters attached, and a box with bottom in with blankets in bottom is an excellent place to put a child, when the mother is necessarily absent for a short time. It is safe from harm, even if it does cry.

.S^^ That a Child')^ Food is well cooked. Never give a child new bread. Always insist that a child thoroughly masticate his food. Avoid too nour- ishing a diet for a child of a violent, fretful temper. Give a nourishing diet to a pale, white-looking, delicate child. Both under-feeding and over-feed- ing are apt to produce scrofula or consumption. Carefully study a child's constitution, digestive powers, teeth, strength, and endeavor to proportion to these the kind and the quantity of its food. Sweetmeats and confection- ery should only be given to children very sparingly, if at all. Never pamper or reward a child with them. A child should never be allowed to go to sleep with damp, cold feet. Neglect of this has often resulted in dangerous attacks of croup, diphtheria, or a fatal sore throat. Always on entering the house in rainy, muddy, or thawy weather, the child should remove its shoes, and the mother should herself ascertain whether the stockings are the least damp. If they are they should be taken off, the feet held before the fire, rubbed with hands until perfectly dry, and dry stockings and shoes put on.

In Cleansing the Ear, penetrate no deeper than you can clearly see. Never scratch or inflame the entrance to the ear. The ear-wax is not dirt, and should not be removed, at least only that ))ortion which is plainly visi- lile should be disturbed. Pins and scrapers inserted in the ear are injurious. The wax will find its way out when too much is accumulated. Scraping pro- duces irritation, discomfort, and calls for a repetition, which after a time, proiluces disease. Sweet-oil, glycerine, etc., are apt to clog the ear and liroduce inflammation. Syringing the ear with tepid water relieves itchinc. if cold air gives pain a little wool, placet! in the ear uhile out of doors, will protect.

Food for Babes. — Mix a babe's food or milk with its due proportions of sugar, and place the pitcher holding ir, in a deep plate — a soup plate or pie- dish will do — and lill the plate with cold water. Take a piece of thin mus- lin, large enough to cover the whol(> pitcher and reach down all sides into the water. Have no cover on the j)it(lici-, wet the doth and coverthe pitcher with it ; put its ends into the water, and set the whoji- into a place where a

SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES. 1101

draft of air will pass over it. A mother tried the plan, and during an exceed- ingly hot summer, through the most sultry days and nights of along season, the milk never turned at all. The rationale of the thing is eas^^ The milk is not confined in a close vessel, or in danger of being tainted by nearness to other, perhaps not wholesome, food ; the thin gauze protects it, yet leaves it open ; the draft of air keeps the temperature down by the constant evapor- ation, while the water is constantly sucked up by the cloth, acting like a wick in a lamp, to supply the moisture. The pain of teething may be almost done away, and the health of the child benefitted, by giving it fine splinters of ice, picked oft" with a pin, to melt in its mouth. The fragment is so small that it is but a drop of warm water before it can be swallowed, and the child has all the coolness for its feverish gums without the slightest injury. The avidity with which the little things taste the cooling morsel, the instant quiet which succeeds hours of fretfulness, and the sleep which follows the relief, are the best witnesses to this magic remedy. Ice may be fed to three months' child this way, each splinter being no longer than a common pin, for five or ten minutes, the result being that it has swallowed in that time a teaspoonful of warm water, which so far from being a harm, is good for it, and the process may be repeated hourh^ as often as the fretting fits from teething begin.

An ivory ring, a silver dollar, or some similar article should be provided for them to bite on. Give plenty of pure water to drink. Or dip the end of the finger in cold water and rub the inflamed gums.

Care of Babies. — It is not necessary to exclude light from room when the babe is born. The admission of sunlight should be regulated ; but a soft and pleasant light is a benefit to both mother and child. The baby should not be carried into a glowing sunshine, but should become gradually accus- tomed to the light.

For restlessness or colic in children, give a warm bath at bed-time, dry quickly with soft towels, and rub well with the hand; tlress loosely, wrap in fla-nnei blanket, warm and lay away to sleep, or give three or four swallows of warm water; place one hand on stomach and one on back, and give a liTely trotting. This is better than a barrel of soothing syrup. If one "trip to Boston" on the knee will not do, try two, or three even, with a drink of warm water before starting. For sore mouth or constipation, give three or four swallows of cold water the first thing in the morning. This is both a preventive and a cure ; or sweet flag which may be obtained in a dried state at any drug store, is an excellent remedy for colic in children. Make a mild tea of it, sweeten, and give a teaspoonful whenever there are signs of trouble coming on.

One of the best remedies for chafing is cocoa butter, which may be had in cakes at any drug store. AVarm slightly, if necessary, and apply to the chafed parts. Cocoa-nut oil is also excellent for greasing in scarlet fever. Among the old-fashioned and good remedies for the same purpose is the fatty inside of the rind of a smoked ham.

For colds, hoarseness, or indications of croup, slice raw onions, sprinkle with granulated sugar, let stand until the juice is extracted (to hasten the flow of the juice, place in heater for a few moments), pour off juice, and give a teaspoonful every hour, or oftener if the case is severe.

Greasing the navel, bowels, and up and down spine, at night before go- ing to bed, promotes regular action of the bowels, and cures constipation. If injections are necessary for babies, warm water with a very little pure soap dissolved in it is better than inserting a piece of hard soap, as is often done. Small syringes with flexible tubes, are now made, and are much safer than the old form of syringe.

In washing children, do not let the water run into the ears. Children should never be washeil in a careless, slipshod manner. The excretions

1108 SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES.

and tlie exhalations of the skin are often acrid enough to produce great ir- ritation and suffering, and careful washing, with liVjeral enough use of water to insure cleanlinef-s, and rapid and thorough drying, removing every par- ticle of moisture in all the crevices of the skin, and that with a gentle hand. Use as little soap as possible, and that the finest kiml, and be sure to wash it off thoroughly witli pure soft water. After tlu; surface is well dried, any liarmless powder, such as corn starch, may be used to prevent chafing.

In the case of a sick child, if the skin is tender when there is pressure, wash with diluted caniplior water. Sick children should not lie long in one position, and the bed slinuld be as smooth as possible. If there is any dis- ease in the head, a hair i)illow or one of finely shredded corn-husks should take the place of a feather pillow. Cool, salt-water baths remove the prickly heat that is so annoying in summer.

The warm bath, the water being at about the same heat as the surface of the body, fs best for young children. As they grow older the bath may be made cooler.

Always be able to have fire in at least one room in the house, even in the warmest season, if there are children in the family. In the Northern States there is rarely a month in the year during which there is not an oc- casional day or evening when fire would be beneficial.

Children should always play on the sunny side of the yard or street in cold weather. The sun-warmed air is what they need. Children less than four years old ought not to play out of doors when the thermometer ranges lower than 25^ above zero.

To ventilate apartments without causing a draft, raise the lower sash four to six inches, and place under it a board i)erfectly fitted to the casing, so as to shut out all air. The cold, outside air then passes upward between the sash, to the uj)i)er part of tiie room, and is diff'used without causing a draft. The niglit air is not objectionable, except in malarious regions. Indeed, in cities, the night air is jMirer than wliat is abroad l)y day. In the hot season, children should be kept out of the sun after ten o'clock, and may sit up later than usual at night to enjoy the cool evenings. Excessive heat is as fatal as excessive cold. Keep the baby cool by baths, but never put it to sleep in a room from which the sunshine is constantly kept. No room can be whole- some where sunshine is never admitted.

ATNT Martha's prkscrii'tioxs.

Give a habe, one to lour weeks old, two teaspoons saffron tea (made by simmering a teaspoon dry saftron in half a teacup water), once every other day.

If troubled with colic, give catnip tea (simmering half a teacup of c;it- nip in boiling water to cover, strain and sweeten) every night before the time for colic to come on. Catnip should always be gathered when in bloom, and before dog-days , then dry in the shade. When dried, place in a paper sack, and hang in a <lry, cool i)lace.

One teaspoon of pure castor oil given to a new-born babe is excellent to carry off the phlegm that usually troubles it.

Babes from one to six months old can safely be given two teaspoons of castor oil at a time when sufi'ering with a cold. Mixing a teaspoon of Orleans molasses with it will ]irevent griping.

A child ten months old, if choked with a bad cold, will be speedily re- lieved by taking three teaspoons of pure castor oil. Children are difl'erently affectedbv the oil, so it is safe to be<;in with on« teaspoon of castor oil, and increase if needed.

SOMETHING ABOUT BABIES. 1109

In scarlet fever, the first symptoms being like a severe cold, treat it in the same way ; keep the bowels open with castor oil, grease the throat, breast, and back with pig's feet oil, goose grease, lard, or smoked ham rinds, or the fryings of salt pork or bacon. Grease very thoroughly. If the throat is Bore, chop salt fat pork and raw onions together like hash, put them in a sack, warm a little, and tie round the throat. Change this poultice when needed, but keep it on until the throat is entirely well. This poultice is much better than those made of hot water, as there is no danger of taking cold in changing it.

To prevent catching contagious diseases, put a small lump each of cam- phor gum, brimstone and assafetida in a little sack, and tie around the body with a tape.

An excellent cough remedy is made as follows. Take enough of hore- hound to fill a three pint cup, pour soft water over it until full, let it simmer until all the strength is extracted (keep the tin full) then strain ; to three pints of this tea add a pint of pure whisky and enough of loaf sugar to make a syrup; dose, tablespoon half hour before eating, and the last thing before retiring. This dose is for an adult. For ten-year-old child, give half.

A good remedy for colic is tincture of assafetida ; take a lump the size of a hulled walnut, cover it with an ounce of pure whiskey (in fourteen days it is tincture, but in a few days it will be strong enough to use ) Begin "with one drop in sweetened water, if the child is very young, and increase as re- quired. Give this to the child an hour before the time for the colic to begin. If a child is given this, as it grows older, each morning a few drops, it will not be troubled with worms.

In croup, redden the throat and chest by ru Doing with a mixture of one- half tablespoon each of camphor and turpentine and one tablespoon each of coal oil and sweet oil. Wet a warm flannel with this, and apply to the throat and neck for a few minutes, watching closely so as to remove it when the skin is well reddened. No time can be given, as some skins are more sensi- tive than others. This outward irritation tends to prevent croup.

For worms in children (these do not appear until after the child begins to eat other food than its mother's milk), give one-eighth of a teaspoonful of santonin mixed with a little sugar and a drop or two of water, once every three hours ; continue for six doses. Follow with a dose of castor oil to which has been added five drops of spirit of turpentine. The above is a dose for a child of one year old; for older children, increase the dose somewhat. Pumpkin-seed tea is also a good remedy for worms, and entirely harmless. All remedies for worms must be taken on an empty stomach.

Luckily for the rising generation, fashion recognizes the necessity for protection of the neck and arms of infants, and while the infant wears "long slips the feet are fairly well x:)rotected m the summer, but if they seem in the least cold to the hand, soft woolen socks should be put on. When short clothes are put on, longer socks should take the place of the short ones. No pains should be spared to keep the legs and feet warm in both summer and winter. "Keep the feet warm and the head cool," is an old but wise max- im. If the opposite condition exists, look out for serious illness. In winter let the baby wear warmly lined shoes, chosen for comfort and not for show. The care of the extremities is very important, and the baby should never be allowed to go with cold hands. The baby creeping about, and the children playing on the floor, are exposed to all the drafts that enter through the crev- ices of the walls. The cold air immediately seeks the floor, and a grown person has only to lie down on the carpet in the vicinity of a window or door to be convinced of the source of many a cold and sore throat. Weather-stripg it) rooms where children play much, are useful ; in their absence, paste a strip

1110 SOMETHIXG ABOUT BABIES.

of paper across where tlie lower sash fits into the casing, and get ventilation by the upper sash. If doors swing inward, a heavj' rug may be placed against it outside, or an old garment. Add to all tliese precautions warm ciutliing. When children are large enough to play out of doors in cold weather, good woolen leggins should be worn. In rainy weather, the light gossain«>r rub- ber cloth, which may be bought by the yard and made at home, makes ex- cellent protection from wet, and yet is not a burden. If replaced by a woolen garment in dry weather, no harm may result. Every school-girl shOuld have a circular cape of this material. Let no desire to have your children in fash- ion induce you to send them out with less clothing for the feet and legs tlian would be required to make a grown person comfortable. The scanty clotliing of the lower limbs brings on repeated attacks of croup and various chseases of the throat and lungs. Not only is this true, but the low temperature and imperfect circulation of the blood" prevents the development of the paits ex- posed and brings on a race of fashionable, but spindle-shanked cliildren. Don't be deceived by the prevailing idea that children of the extremely |)oor, that are half cared for, and of parents who habitually neglect theiu. are "healthy." Among this very class Death makes the heaviest harvest ; and those who live are stunted by neglect in spite of the extra hardiness of con- stitution. Of course, to remove the ordinary clothing and substitute lighter for a party or a heated audience-room, is the height of imprudence. At the close of such an occasion, plenty of wraps should be provideil against the exposure to the cold air when over heated. Young ch

Long Clothes. — A proper dress for an infant, is a liandage of soft flannel, put on loosely about the body , a knit woolen shirt, a piiming- blanket, made of a piece of soft white flannel, three-fourths of a yard scjuare, and taken up about one fourth of a yard at the top by a single box-pleat, three inches wide, and caught together on the wrong side for about three inches from the top. On each side of the box-pleat make a small pleat, to be let out as the infant grows. The flannel should be bound with silk binding l>e- fore pleating, pinned on with safety pins next the flannel shirt: a waist with arm-holes but no sleeves, buttoned behind with one small flat button, and having on the bottom one button in front, one on each side, one in center of back, and one an inch and a half on each side of the last-named. The skirt is fastened to these buttons. The three buttons behind serve this purpose. AVhen child is small, each end is carried past the center button to the ones an inch and a half beyond it, but as the child grows and needs more room, the ends are brought together at the center button. The skirt is made of flannel, seven-eights of a yard long. The dress, which should be about one yard loiig, may be made of any white material.- Add to tins a pair of soft knit socks, and the dress is coni|)let('. A modest wardrobe should conipri.se • two knit shirts, three pinning-blankets, four bandages of diflerent sizi's, three flannel skirts, three waists, six nuislin slips, six dresses of diflerent patterns 1»ut about the same in regard to warmth, or better, of same material, ehecked or striped goods, and differently trinuiied, two finer dresses, which may be made a little longer for style,