ELDERLY LADIES

["\"Young people sometimes feel that it makes little difference how mothers and graufhnothers dress as long as they themselves can make as fair a show as the family circumstances allow — a mistake which is unjust and prejudi- cial to all parties. It is a disgraceful, and in a great measure, a purely American notion, happily banished now from large cities, but still hanging about the country, that a young lady, even if her parents are not rich, must be gaily, and as far as i)ossible richh' clothed, and be able to show soft jeweled hands as white as tlie piano keys she touches deftly or otherwise, as the case may be, while mamma spends her overworked time in the meanest of clothes, and by reason of shabbiness is seldom seen by her daughter's friends, or by anj- one else except at church. Too often it is conscience rather than choice that takes her there, where the comfort of the the service is swallowed in the consciousness of the utter forlorness and awkwardness of", "DRESS MAKING AT HOME. 128S", "her appearance in obselete dress and antiquated mantilla that were bought long before the daughters grew up to monopolize what little comfort and luxury life in narrow circumstances can give. The mother who allows her- self to be set aside in this way, and brings up her daughters to feel that hers is the secondary place to theirs, fails dismally in her duty to them and reaps her reward in the want of respect rendered to her. But if the mother of a family is herself to blame for the want of nicety in her dress, the same can not always be said of the grandmother, whose failing strength takes her par- tially out of the active cares of life, and Avho ought to be the object of tender consideration from every one in the household ; and it should be every one's care to have her comfortable and well-dressed — an object of pride, a \"sort of show-piece, instead of a poor, pushed-aside, forlorn object, to be kept out of sight. Some clever writer says that a highly-presentable and well-appointed grandmother in a famih' is a patent of respectability.", "There is no arbitrary dictum requiring certain things, but custom re- stricts them to a narrow choice of color — brown, purple, blacky and gray be- ing the only ones allowed. Artistically considered, brown should be' also excluded, on account of its unbecomingness to the dull tints of hair, eyes, and complexion. The ideal dress for an old lady — and one maj' as well know what the ideal is, even if there is but small hope of investing it in the real — is severely plain velvet, with soft tulle handkerchieffolded across the breast, rich lace ruffles at the wrist to shade the withered hands, and a decorous cap, which makes no attempt to be a head-dress, but has protecting strings of lace of ribbon to tie loosely under the chin. We can not all dress our dear old grandmothers thus grandly and picturesquely, but we can make them comfortable, and fashion their clothes as tastefully as our means will allow, remembering that the love of pretty things to wear begins with a wo- man's life and generally lasts as long as she does — perhaps she is never too old to be gratified with a pretty cap or dress.", "A black silk dress is not always a possible thing for an old lady, but if, by any economy the purchase can be made, it is a wise one, for it will last any length of time as a best dress, and be such a comfort to the owner as to repay any sacrifice incurred when it was bought. It should be made very plainly. If the lady is very stout, and likes the style, it can be made a close fitting' Gabrielle or princesse, but the usual style 'is preferable. The wai.st should fit comfortably, and, imless the wearer has delicate lungs, may be cut with the neck open down to the waist, and filled in with a lace or lawn handkerchief. An over-skirt is not too youthful, if not long and entirely unlooped, but many old ladies prefer single-skirted dresses. In that case the breadths are l)Ut little gored ; the one in front may be shaped like an apron, and the others left straight and sewed upon the waistband in large plaits, except right in the center of the back, where they may be shirred for a short distance, to the depth of an inch or two. The botto'm ^f the dress may be left plain, or may be bound with velvet instead of the usual braid, or may be trimmed with one or more wide flat bands or folds of the silk. The sleeves may be trimmed at the hand to correspond with the finish on the skirt ; and if the waist is not open as suggested, a small square collar trim- med in the same way can be added. If circumstances do not allow the silk, black cashmere is certainly the next choice, and will be verv handsome made up in the same way. I*- can be made to look richer by edging the folds and bias pieces with milliner's folds or narrow pipings of s'ilk. Failing the cashmere, black alpaca of the best", "A comfortable and welcome fashion for old ladies, which was perhaps sug- gested by the rage for fichus of all kinds, is a shoulder cape, in shape like a", "1234 DRESS MAKING AT HOME.", "Sontag, except that the fronts fasten like a dress ^vith buttons, instead of being crossed. This is made of black silk, quilted in tiny diamonds over a single thickness of wadding, and edged with a double cord, or with a very narrow black lace plaited on. It can be worn with any dress, and is becom- ing so much adopted by old ladies in the East that they frequently have cloth or crocheted capes of the same made to wear in change with the more dresssy one.", "Circulars are frequently mentioned in fashion journals as being well adapted to old ladies, but tliey are really far from being the best shape for their wraps, as, having no sleeves, they drag heavily from the neck, and be- come very tiresome. A better style is a loose-fittingdouble-breasted sacque, rather long, but not enough so to be heavy and bunlensome.", "Caps and bonnets are delicate points, and the old lady whose means are too straightened to allow her to call professional skill to' her aid (and even that is not always equal to the occasion) is fortunate if she has a friendly relative with taste and capacity enough to undertake the critical task, which, to be successful, should be really a labor of love. The cap should be pure white, and the bonnets black. A well-defined border or ruche of white is pretty and becoming, but an indefinite mingling of black and white in either cap or bonnet is unbecoming. Small bonnets are out of the question for old ladies who need a shape that will amply protect the head, an<l even the back of the neck, where so many nerves center that embrace the slightest oppor- tunity of exposure to ache remorselessy. Still the bonnet must not be too large, unless to shade a large fat face ; a small head and delicate features in a great coal-scuttle of a bat look like a caricature, and the beautv of a bonnet lies in its fitness.", "They say there are no old women in modern times, so it would not be gafe to mention an age to which the plainness of attire advocated in this article belongs. But it was designed for those who honestlv feel themselves beyond the period when", "\" Oue a cliarm irom dress can borrow.\"", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1235", "MISCELLANEOUS.", "For Ivy Poison. — Apply sweet-oil.", "For Burns. — Apply the white of an e^g.", "Rust in Iron. — Kerosene-oil will remove it.", "Lamplighters. — Make in proper lengths in pine wood.", "To Scour Tins. — Use whiting moistened with kerosene.", "To Remove Finger-ring. — Hold hand in very cold water.", "Melted Snoiv — produces one-eighth of its bulk in water.", "Squeaking Boots. — Drive a peg in the middle of the sole.", "Worms on Currant Bushes. — Sprinkle freely with buttermilk.", "When to Paint. — Oil-paint lasts longer when put on in autumn.", "To Drive Nails. — Nails dipped in soap will drive easily in hard wood.", "Morocco Leather — may be restored with a varnish of white of an egg.", "Leaky Roofs — A cement made of sand and white-lead paint will stop leaks.", "Stove Polish. — Add little sugar or alum to the blacking and let stove be cold.", "To Keep off Flies. — Paint walls or rub over picture frames with laurel-oil.", "Door-latches and Locks — will work easily and quietly if oiled occasionally.", "To Clean Ermine. — Rub with cornmeal, renewing the meal as it becomes soiled.", "Paint. — New woodwork requires one j^ound of paint to the square yard, for three coats.", "To Clean Steel. — Unslaked lime cleans small articles of polished steel — like buckles, etc.", "To Harden Wood. — Cut the wood in the shape desired, and boil eight minutes in olive-oil.", "To Clean Russia Iron, mix blacking with kerosene, and it will look nearly as well as new.", "Coal Fire. — If your coal fire is low, throw on a tablespoon of salt and it will help it very much.", "Silver^vare;—Keep in paper or canton flannel bags, with a little piece of camphor gum wrapped in a cloth and tie the top with a string, and it will keep as bright as new.", "Ink Spots on Books. — A solution of oxalic acid will remove them without injuring the print.", "1235 MISCELLANEOUS.", "Leaks about Chimneys — may be stopped by a cement made of coal-tar and sand, neatly applied.", "Postage Stajnps — will stick, and not turn up at the corners, if the face is wet after applying them.", "Berry Stains. — The fumes of a brimstone match will remove berry stains from a book, paper or engraving.", "Varnish for Faded Rubber Goods. — Black Japan varnish diluted with a little linseed oil.", "iWi'ce.— Pumpkin seeds are very attractive to mice, and traps baited with them will soon destroy the little pest.", "Gas Lighter. — This is very convenient and some- , thing which every house, using gas, should have.", "Dry Paint — Is removed by dipping a swab with a handle in a strong solution of oxalic acid. It softens ft at once.", "To Keep Walks Clean- — Sprinkle with weak brine through a water- sprinkler, or scatter salt along the walks.", "To Clean Black Kids. — Add a few drops of ink to a table-spoon of salad- oil ; rub on with a feather, and dry in the sun.", "Shingles. — Dip well-seasoned shingles in lime, wash and dry before lay- ing, and they will last longer and never take on moss.", "To Clean Straw Bonnets. — First brush them with soap and water, then with a solution of oxalic acid, or rub with a cut lemon.", "To Clean Wells of Foul Air. — Throw down a pack of unslaked lime. The heat procured carries out the foul air with a rush.", "When a Chimney Takes Fire — throw salt on the fire, and shut off the draught as much as possible, and it will burn out slowlj'.", "Dish-water and Soap-suds — poured about the roots of young fruit-trees, currant and raspberry bushes, etc., lacilitate their growth.", "Cheap Paint for Iron Fencing. — Tar mixed with yellow-ochre makes an excellent green paint for coarse woodwork or iron fencing,", "Dirty Coat collars. — Apply benzine, and, after an hour or more, when the grease has become softened, rub it or remove with soap-suds.", "To Reyiew Stained Floors — that have grown a little dull, rub thoroughly with beeswax and turpentine. Repeat this whenever they need it.", "To clean kettles easily, pour a little hot water in them and put a cover on»; the steam will soften the dirt so that it may be easily removed.", "Onion Odors. — When cooking onions, set a tin-cup of vinegar on the stove and let it boil, and it is said you will smell no disagreeable odor.", "To Soften Leather. — The best oil for making boots and harness leather soft and pliable, is castor oil. It is also excellent for greasing vehicles.", "Color of Paints for Tools. — Tools exposed to the sun should be painted with light-colored paints, as they reflect instead of absorbing the heat.", "Glue. — Powdered chalk added to glue strengthens it. Boil one pound glue with two quarts skimmed milk, and it will resist the action of water.", "To Keep Pearls Brilliant. — Keep in common magnesia, instead of the cottonwool used in jewel cases, and thej' v.ill never lose their brilliancy.", "Brooms. — If worn sideways, dip in hot soapsuds till soft, straighten and lean against a flat surface to dry, then trim off the uneven edges. If th«y ar« dipped in boiling suda once a week they will last longer.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1237", "Overshoes. — Mark name of owner with pen and ink on the woven inside lining.", "Cement for Cracked Stoves. — Three quarts wood ashes and one quart bar- rel salt, mixed in a mortar with water.", "Nickel Stove Trimmings, Etc. — To keep them bright, polish with a damp cloth dipped in common dry baking soda, and rub with oil afterward. Or simply rub with a cloth dampened with ammonia.", "To Clean Lamp Chimneys. — Moisten a small cloth in kerosene and rub ; then wipe them clear with a clean cloth.", "To Clean a Refrigerator. — Use bicarbonate of soda dry on a damp cloth. Rub the zinc well with it. It destroyes all musty smell.", "Dish Cloths — Mosquito netting that has been used for a season on windows, may be washed and used for dish cloths, by folding together and stitching through it.", "Sticky Fly Paper. — Thin common glue, so that it can be brushed over manilla paper, then when it is quite dry, melt together one ounce castor oil and three ounces rosin, and spread over the prepared paper.", "Scrubbing Brush. — The advantage of the brush, as illustrated, is that it has a handle which is movable.", "Lime in Ca7is. — Lime ground and pulverized for white- washing purposes is put in cans and sold by drug- gists. It is convenient in form and excellent.", "To clean a brown porcelain kettle, boil peeled potatoes in it. The porce- lain will be rendered nearly as white as when new. This will also take off lime, if formed on any kettle.", "To Make Shoes Durable. — A coat of gum copal varnish applied to the soles of boots and shoes, and repeated as it dries until the pores are filled and the surface shines like polished mahogany, will make the soles water-proof, and make them last three times as long.", "Ebonizing Wood. — Wash any close-grained wood with a strong boiling decoction of logwood two or three times, allowing the wood to dry between the applications. Then w^ash with a solution of acetate of iron (made by dissolving iron filings in strong vinegar).", "To Remove Rust From a Stovepipe. — Rub with linseed oil (a little goes a great way) ; build a slow fire till it is dry. Oil in the spring to preveni it from rusting.", "To Cure a Kicking Cow. — Take a strap an inch wide and buckle tight around each hind leg, just above the hock, tight enough to slightly com- press the ham-string. Then she can not kick. In fly time take in the tail with the leg and you will not swear.", "Handles. — Knife and fork handles that have become loosened may be fastened by taking a piece of quill, putting it into the handle, and pushing the knife or fork in firmly, after first heating it.", "Branches of the elder-bush hung in the dining-room of a house, will clear the room of flies. There is an odor which the insects detest.", "An Easy Way to Clean Silver Articles. — Set fire to some wheat-straw, collect the ashes, and, after powdering it, sift it through muslin. Polish the silver plate with a little of it applied to some soft leather.", "To Clean Old Marble. — Take a bullock's gall, one gill soap lees, half a gill of turpentine : make into a paste with pipeclay, apply it to the marble ; let it dry a day or two, then rub it off, audit will appear ©qual to n«w; if very dirty, repeat the application.", "1238 MISCELLANEOUS.", "To extract Oil from Marble or Stone. — Soft soap, 1 part; fullers'-earth, 2 parts; potash, 1 part ; boiling water to mix. Lay it on the spots of grease, and let it remain for a few hours.", "To make Boots and Shoes Durable. — Applj' to the soles four or five succes- sive coats of gum-copal varnish ; and to the uppers, a mixture of four parts of lard to one of rosin. Apply while warm.", "To get Light in a Well or Cistern, — Reflect in it by a looking-glass. Any steel or metal lost in a cistern mav be drawn out bv lowering a strong mag- net.", "To make Artificial Butter. —Render beef suet at a very low temperature, churn it in fresh buttermilk and yolks of eggs, and treat like butter when removed.", "Pounded Glass — mixed with dry corn-meal, and placed within the reach of rats, it is said, will banish them from the premises ; or sprinkle cayenne in their holes.", "Spots on Varnished Furniture are readily removed by rubbing them with essence of peppermint or spirits of camphor, and afterwards with \"furniture polish\" or oil.", "To Keep Seeds from the depredations of mice, mix some pieces of cam- phor with them. Camphor placed in trunks or drawers will prevent mice from doing them injury.", "Furniture Filling. — Mix two gallons plaster of paris, one pint flour, one ounce each of pulverized pumice-stone and prepared chalk ; add one half gallon boiled oil and one gill Japan drying.", "Corn-Bread. — In cutting do not forget to hold the knife perpendicularly, that the spongy interior of the loaf may not be crushed into heaviness.", "To Blow out a Candle. — If a candle is blown out by an upicard instead of a downward current of air, the wick will not smoulder down. Hold the candle higher than the mouth in blowing it out.", "Time to Cut Timber. — Hard wood for timber or fire-wood should be cut in August, September or October. Hoop-poles should be cut before frost comes ; cut at other times, there is danger of worms.", "A Wet Silk Hat, — Shake ofl'the water, rub the way the nap lies with a clean linen cloth or silk handkerchief, and hang some distance from the tire to dry ; a few hours after, brush with a soft brusli.", "To make Old Varjiish Dry. — \"Sticky\" varnish may be dried by apjjlying a coat of benzine, and, after two or three days apply a coat of good varnish, and let dry thoroughly before using the furniture.", "Discoloration on Custard Cups. — To take the brown discolorations olf cups in which custards are baked: Rub with damp flannel dipped in l)est whiting. Scouring sand or sand soap will answer the purj^ose.", "To Preserve Steel Pens. — Steel pens are destroyed by corrosion from acid in the ink. Put in the ink some nails or old steel pens, and the acid wdl ex- haust itself on tliem, and the pens in use will not corrode.", "To keep Russia Iron Pipe or Stoves during the summer : Give them a good coat of coal-oil all over, and put away in a dry place. In the fall give it a fresh coat of oil or benzine, and rub it all off clean and dry.", "Buckeye Polish. — Take one ounce each shellac and coal-oil, half an ounce each linseed oil and turpentine, bottle and keep well corked, shake well be- fore using and apply with a sponge. Good for marred furniture.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1239", "For Voultry. — Fish are an excellent food for poultry, largely increasing the production of eggs. Those who have tried the experiment have discarded all the patent egg-producing foods in the market, and feed fish.", "Darning Woolen Socks. — Make the first layer of stout thread, and the cross threads of woolen yarn. It makes a firm, smooth darn, which wears well.", "Foot Muff. — A cold night one will appreciate this and for aged people it", "is a great luxury.", "Painted Fails. — To draw the taste of paint out of new wooden pails that are painted inside, fill the pail with hutter- milk and soak from twenty-four to thirty- six hours.", "Moles. — Procure a small pair of bellows and blow the fumes of burning sulphur into the holes made by moles in the garden.", "Toast Rack. — Where one has not a folding toast rack, it is easy to im- provise one by taking the upper grate from the oven and placing it on top of the stove or range,. and toasting the bread on it.", "Chicken Lice. — Whitewash the hen house and nest boxes, putting in the wash a good deal of salt or old brine. Also put half a cup of salt in the bot- tom of each nest, and your chickens will never be troubled with the pests.", "Mustard Plasters — If molasses is used to mix the mustard with they will remain flexible and will not dry, as when mixed with water. Lay a fine cloth over the plaster ; then it will heat without blistering.", "Paint Buckets. — Fill half full of dry dirt and there will be no trouble about getting the paint ofi\"; or boil ashes and water in them until the paint is soft, wipe out and wash with soap-suds or clean with turpentine.", "Covers for Jars. — For covers to jars that haA'e none, in which you keep salt, etc., use a paper flour sack ; cut the top off\" until just the length of the jar is left, then slip it over ; it is so much harnlier than tying every time.", "White Ink. — INIake by stirring Flake White into clear mucilage, and re- ducing with water till it will flow easily.", "Curling Plumes. — Sprinkle a teaspoon common salt on a hot stove, hold plume over it, and when airy enough, take a butter knife or pen knife, and curl each sprig carefully.", "Furniture Polish. — Take a small bottle and fill it two-thirds full spirits turpentine ; then fill the bottle up with the best linseed oil. Shake well, apply with a very thin cloth, and wipe \"'ith the same. This will make the furniture look nearly as good as new.", "Varicose Veins. — Procure a rubber banaage one and one-fourth incnes wide and swathe cai-efully the entire limb. Bathing in hot water will relieve the burning.", "Candles. — Mutton tallow is perhaps better for candles than beef tallow, and is usually cheaper. Prepare the wicks for tallow candles by steeping them in coal oil. They make a bright light.", "Bed-Bugs.— To banish bed-bugs after they have got into the walls and ceilin. s of a house, close all doors and windows and bum brimstone or sul- phur, by throwing it unon red hot coals is an iron kettle set in the middle of the room. Or heat a piece of iron red hot, place in a kettle, throw in the", "1240 MISCELLAJNTIOUS.", "brimstone, and leave room closed for twenty-four hours. It is death to the vermin.", "To Make Hens Lay in Winter. — Keep them warm ; give wheat screenings twice a day with shelled corn at night. Feed them with meat scraps when lard or tallow has been tried, or fresh meat. Some chop green peppers finely, or mix cayenne pepper with corn meal, to feed them. Let them have a frequent taste of green food, a little giavel 'ind lime, or clam-shells.", "For Lice on Children. — AVet the head in just clear alcohol or whiskey ; or even strong cider vinegar will do the work. Sometimes a second appli- cation may be necessary to destroy the eggs and all.", "Moths in Furniture. — Dust in all the cracks and seams pulverized borax. Strong alum water, spirits of turj^entine and salt mixed together and used to sponge with is also good.", "To Make Covers for Milk Pans. — Bend thin barrel hoops, tie or tack the right size, and sew over them pieces of thin dairy cloth. Drop over the pans of milk to protect from dust and flies.", "To Clean Bottles. — Cut some raw potatoes in pieces, and shake them in the bottle with cold water. Or use shot, gravel or tacks instead of potatoes, or kernels of corn and table-spoonful of ashes, shake and rinse thoroughly.", "Onion Flavor. — A little washing soda dissolved in the water used for washing knives and dishes in which onions have been cooked will remove the strong odor that remains upon them.", "Labels on Tin. — These may be fixed upon tin boxes, etc., exposed to damp by the following method: White of egg is diluted with one-half quart of water and applied with a brush to the surfaces to be united. A hot iron is then passed over the surface of the paper, so as to coagulate the albumen.", "Hair Falling Out. — Steep a handful of sage leaves in a quart of water ; strain and dissolve in the liquid one ounce borax, then add a small teasponn- ful of spirits of camphor. Wash the scalp once or twice a week in this preparation.", "To Clean Tin. — Use sifted coal ashes, moistened with kerosene oil ; rub briskly, and wash with soapsuds. This will make all tin that is not burned as bright as new. For nickel on stoves and flat-irons it has the same effect.", "Eye Wash. — Cut fine a piece of beef-steak an inch square ; sprinkle on a little salt, put in a small wide-mouthed bottle, and pour over an ounce or two of vinegar. Pour a little in the hand and bathe the eyes several times a day.", "Removing Tar From Black Silk.— B,uh some lard on the tar, then wash the silk with castile soap and soft water, rinse well, repeating until clean; then dry by pinning to a sheet stretched tight on ironing board or carpet.", "To Raise a Nap on Cloth. — Clean the article well, soak it in cold water for half an hour ; put it on a board, and rub the thread-bare parts with a half- worn hatter's card filled with flocks, or with a teazel, or a prickley thistle until a nap is raised ; then lay the nap the right way with a hatter's brush, and hang up to dry.", "Black Varnish for Chip and Straw Hats.— Best alcohol four ounces, pul- verised black sealing wax one ounce ; put them in a phial, and put the phial into a warm place, stirring or shaking occasionally until the wax is dissolved. Apply it, when warm, before the fire or in the sun. This makes a beautiful gloss.", "Bed-Bugs. — Use gasoline wherever they are. One can use it freely and not injure the floor or carpet, as it does not leave a grease spot like kerosere. Do not us© it with a light or fire near it. Air the room well after using.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1241", "Black Ink. — To one gallon of water either hot or cold, allow two ounces logwood; stir occasionally till it is dissolved. Then add half an ounce bichro- mate potash, and one-fourth ounce prussiate potash ; stir till this is also dis- solved, and your ink is ready for use. This is very cheap costing about 15 cents.", "Cabbage Worms. — Into a twelve quart pail of water stir a coffee cup of barrel salt, and throw three or four handfuls of brine on each cabbage where worms have appeared ; apply about twice a week and the worms will die. Or dissolve tablespoon Persian insect powder in a gallon water to every thirty plants. Or simply use nearly boiling water.", "Dish Drainer. — A home-made one is to put an old tin pan with nail holes in the bottom in a large wooden bowl. The dishes will be clean and shin- ing and wiped with much less trouble than usual.", "Sleeve Protector. — When washing dishes, having on a clean dress, draw on a pair of old clean stocking tops, hemmed at the bottom. These are easily drawn on and off, and since fashion requires that sleeves be worn too tight to roll up, one can thus avoid changing dress. These are nice in doing many kinds of ^ork.", "Wood — may be fastened to stone with a cement made of four parts of pitch, four parts of powdered brick-dust or chalk, and one part of beeswax. Warm it before using, and apply a thin coating to the surfaces to be joined.", "Outside Garments. — Bonnets, cloaki, hats, shawls, scarfs, and the like, will last clean and fresh much longer if the dust is carefully removed from them by brushing and shaking after returning from a ride or walk.", "New Rope — may be m»de pliable by boiling in water for a couple of hours. Its strength is not diminished, but its stiffness is gone. It must hang in a warm room until thoroughly dried, and must not be allowed to kink.", "Razor Strops — are kept in order by applying a few drops of sweet-oil. After using a strap, the razor takes a keen edge by passing it over the palm of the warm hand; dipping it in warm water always makes it cut more keenly.", "Mica Windows — in stoves (often wrongly called \"isinglass\"), when smoked, are readily cleaned by taking out and thoroughly washing with vinegar a little diluted. If the black does not come off at once, let it soak a little.", "Snoiv on Roofs — may_ be prevented filling the gutters by placing small stools or benches along in the gutters upon which the snow will lodge, thus thus leaving a clean space below for the water to run off.", "Medicine Spoon. — Have a a tea or table spoon bent in this shape, in order to stand level when medicine is to be dropped into it. It is very con- venient where there is only one person carmg for the sick.", "Arrange Flat-irons — on the stove in two rows, \"heel and toe,\" or so that when ready for a hot flat you can take the next one in order without loss of time in trying or \"sissing\" them, being sure to get the one that has been heated the longest.", "Chapped Hands.— Grind one side of a pumice stone; wet, and with th« KiAooth side, rub the hands. If badly chapped, oil th«m at night, and dry ]«", "1242 MISCELLANEOUS.", "V)y the fire; or, at night, wet the hands, and rub a little honey over them, drying it in before the fire.", "Chickadees in Winter. — A cup of pumpkin-seeds, set on the window-sill, will attract chickadees, and they will become quite tame, and are very amus- ing with their antics. They may be kept about the house from December to May by feeding and kin<l treatment.", "Shellac Varnish. — Put schel ac in a bottle, pour 90 per cent, alcohol to cover, cork tight and put in a warm room, shake occasionally, and if not all dis.soIved in three or four days, add more alcohol. This is good to varnish almost anything, and will dry in half an hour.", "Friction Matches — should never be left vhere the mice will get them, as they carry them to their nests, and sometimes ignite them. They are poisonous to children, and are dangerous to women, who ignite them by stepping on them, endangering their clothing from fire.", "Pilinrj Wood. — Lay the sticks with bark side down and bark will come off in drying. If laid with bark up, it will remain fast to the wood.", "To Prevent Pumps from Freezing. — Take out the lower valve in the fall, and drive a tack under it, projecting in such a way that it can not quite close. The water will then leak back into the well or cistern, while the working qualities of the pump will not be damaged.", "Valuable Cement. — Two jiarts, by weight, of common pitch and one part gutta percha, melted together in an iron vessel, makes a cement that holds together, with wonderful tenacity, wood, stone, ivory, leather, iiorcelain, silk, woolen or cotton. It is well adapted to aquariums.", "Cows and Turnips. — To prevent the odor and flavor of turnips from ap- pearing in the milk, feed while milking, and the flavor will have dis- peared before the next milking. \"With this precaution, feeding turnips will increase the flow j^ithout injuring the quality or flavor of milk.", "To Clean Varnished Furnitur'., there is nothing so good as a woolen rag dampened in spirits of turpentine. This takes all the dust and cloud from carvings and panels. When they have been thoroughly cleaned with the tur])entine, go over the surface again with a bit of flannel dipped in linseed oil, rubbing it well into the wood.", "Dried Grated Corn. — One of the best articles for drying the grated corn for Corn Fritters or Oysters, is the Fruit Evaporator as described on page :U0 — There is then no danger of burning, as is often the case if dried in oven on account of the greater quantity of milk from the corn, than wlien simply sliced. One must be very particular to break apart the little lumps as they dry on outside, so inside may 1)e thoroughly dried.", "To Freshen Old Hickory Nuts /or Cake-Baking. — Put large ones in boiling water for half an hour and small ones for a quarter hour, crack, ]iick out meats being careful not to mix in any jjieces of shell or the film tliat divides the two halves, If the meats seem damp, place for a few moments in the oven to dry out. Now place in a sieve and rub gently to remove all the dark portions that adhere to the meats, and they are ready to be chopped for the cake. Chop very fine for icings, but only moderately fine fur cake.", "Use of Borax. — Borax will instantly remove all soils and stains from the liands, and heal all scratches and chafes. When the borax is dissolved add more to the water, until at last the water can absorb no more, and a resi- duum remains at the bottom of the bottle. To the water in which the hands are to be washed pour from this bottle enouirh to make it very soft. It is very (deansing and healthy. By its use the hands will be kept in excellent condition — soft, smooth and white.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1243", "Stove Polish. — Add to one pint benzine, one ounce pulverized resin ; when dissolved, mix any good and finely ground lead, using the above as you would water for mixing stove polish. Apply with a small paint brush ; and rub it smooth, as it dries rapidly; when dry, polish with a soft stove brush ; very little rubbing is required. For sheet-iron use the benzine and resin alone, apply with soft rags, and rub rapidly until dry and shining.", "To Keep Silk. — Silk goods should not be folded in white paper, as the chloride of lime used in bleaching the paper will impair the color of the silk. Brown or blue paper is better; yellow India paper is better still. Silk in- tended for dress should not be kept in the house long, as lying in folds causes it to crack or split, particularly if thickened with gum. White satin dresses should be pinned up in blue paper, with coarse brown paper on the outside sewed together on the edge.", "To Keep Paint-brvshes. — Turn a new brush bristles up, open, pour in a spoonful of good varnish, and keep it in that position until dry, and the bristles will never 'shed\" in painting. The varnish also keeps it from shrinking and falling to pieces. As soon as a job is finished, wipe brush clean, wrap in piece of paper, and hang it in a small deep vessel containing oil, letting the brush descend into the oil up to the wrai^ping cord. This will keep painting and varnish brushes clean and ready for use.", "A Good Cement. — Persons who use brass letters on glass windows or doors, are often troubled by the dropping off, from unequal expansion, or from too violent efforts on the part of the window-cleaners. The following is said to be a sure cement. It should be mixed just before using : Litharge, two parts; white lead, one part; boiled linseed oil, three parts; gum copal, one part.", "Mosqiiitos. — Take a piece of gum camphor about one third the size of a hen's egg, and evaporate it by placing in a tin vessel, holding it over a lamp or candle, taking care that it does not ignite. The smoke will soon fill the room and expel the insects.", "Mucilage. — One ounce each gum tragacanth and gum arable ; put into wide mouthed bottle and add quart cold water. Or put into a cup ten cents worth of gum arable, and a piece of alum the size of a hickory nut and fill with soft water; put it where it will keep just warm until all dissolved. Then add water to make half pint, and bottle for use. A few drops of extract of lavender will prevent any mucilage from molding or becoming sour.", "To Keep Eggs. — Pack in either August, September or later in oats, either end down in barrels kegs or boxes. Fill the package full, head or nail the' package and place in dry cellar, and turn the package over every week or ten days.", "Cement for Wood, Glass, Marble and China. — Two quarts water, one and a half pounds glue, two ounces white lead, three pints whiskey; dissolve the glue on the stove in the water, take from the fire, stir in the lead, and add the whiskey ; when wanted to use, warm and stir.", "Wash for the Hair. — Use salt and water strong enough to taste quite salty as a wash for the head and to wet the hair thoroughly as often as once in two or three days ; one might think it would make the hair harsh and stiff, but on the contrary it has the eft'ect of some soft dressing. Bay rum and glycerine make a good dressing also for the hair.", "Scorched Food. — As soon as you discover your food scorching, plunge the vessel into cold water; and even if your food is burned on the bottom, it is saved from any taste of scorching. Some people always have a i^ail of cold water standing by the stove. Try it, and you will be surprised at the effect.", "IWi MISCELLANEOUS.", "JRed Edge$.—^iix red diamond dye to a light or dark shade with cold water, and use it to tint the plain or white edges of your books, which unless stained or gilded, soon look soiled. Aj^ply with a brush, holding the book firmly, and when dry rub with a cloth till no more color comes off.", "To Clean Wash Basins etc . — Rub with a little baking soda on a damp cloth, it is also good to clean unpainted wood work ; and a tablespoonful added to a pail of mop water will clean your floor easily and make it look well. Or use a little kerosene on the basin with a cloth, rubbing dry with a larger cloth and expose to air a few moments,", "A Ventilator. — There is, in these days, line upon line and precept upon precept upon the subject of ventilation. Every chimney ought to have two flues — one for smoke and the other for ventilation. The form of ventilator represented in cut is neat and inexpensive, and fits a space in a chimney large enough to take in an ordinary stove-pipe.", "Cure for Sleeplessness. — Wring a towel out of cold water ; fold it smooth about a quarter of a yard long and and eighth ^", "wide, bend the head forward, lay \"the cloth on the back of the nead just above the neck, then bind a dry towel over it around the head. It cools the brain.", "Hernia. — Take a piece of adhesive plaster an eighth of a yard square, put under it a small piece of cotton batting and a piece of linen — the latter next the flesh ; press the plaster on to an inch in depth all around. Do not disturb till it wears oflT; then put on another if necessary.", "Renewing Old Rag Carpet. — Have the carpet very clean, dissolve Dia- mond dyes according to directions, and dilute with 'warm water; take a breadth at a time, and lay on the colors with a tooth brush. If it is a dry- ing day it will soon do to walk over.", "To Keep Celery. — Take a box five or six inches deep and large enough to hold the celery you wish to keep. Fill nearly full of dry sand. Set in single bunches in the sand in upright position, as deeply as possible; pressing the sand close about each bunch, not allowing the buiiches to touch each other. Keep box in cellar, away from frost.", "To Remove Grease from Carpets. — Dissolve an ounce of pearlash in one pint of water, and to this add a lemon cut into thin slices. Mix wall, and Keep the mixture for two days, then strain and bottle the clear liquid for use. A small quantity poured on stains occasioned by grease, ail, or pitch, .will speedily remove them. Afterward wash in clear water.", "Superfluous Hair. — One ounce fresh lime-stone, and one dram pure potassa, to be reduced to a fine powder in a mortar. Wet the hair first for ten minutes in warm water. This mixture formed into a thin paste with warm water and applied while warm will efTectually destroy superfluous hair in five or six minutes. It should be removed as soon as it' begins to in- flame the skin, by washing with vinegar ; this softens the skin, and kills the effect of the alkali.", "Cement for Rubber t Leather. — Dissolve one ounce of gutta percha in one half pound chloroform. Clean the parts to be cemented ; cover each with solution, and let them dry twenty or thirty minutes ; warm each part in the flame of the candle, and press very firmly together till dry.", "Insurance. — Suppose your barn or house should take fire to-night and be burned down, would you know, without investigating, that it was fully in- sured and that the policy was good and tight? Some insurance companies have a keen scent for flaws in policies and often find them. Don't let them find one in. yours. Always insure in companies known to be sound.", "MISCELLANTBOTJB. 1246", "To make Old Paint Dry. — Old paint which is \"sticky\" may be made hard and dry by applying a coat of benzine, then after a day or two, if the coat of", "Eaint is good, go over it with a thin coat of laquer mixed with one-third of its ulk of boiled oil. If paint is thin apply a second coat in which more laquer is used.", "To Renovate Hat-bands when Stained by Sweat. — Dissolve one and a half ounces white castile soap in four ounces alcohol and one ounce each of sul-. phuric ether and aqua ammonia, apply with a sponge or toothbrush, rub smartly, rinse out with clear rain-water. This is equally good to renovate cloth with fast color.", "To Thaiv Out a Pump. — Pour hot water directly on the ice through a tin tube, lowering it as fast as the ice thaws. Ice may be thawed in this way at the rate of a foot a minute ; while, by pouring hot water into the pump, the ice would hardly be affected, the hot water being lighter than the cold, and rising to the top.", "Water-proof Shoes. — To make shoes water-proof and make them last a long time, dissolve beeswax and add a little sweet-oil to thin it. Before the shoes are worn, warm the soles and pour the melted wax on with a teaspoon ; and then hold it close to the fire till it soaks into the leather ; then add more till the leather ceases to absorb it.", "Diamond Cement. — Dissolve thirteen ounces of white glue in a tin dish containing a pint and a half soft water (set in a kettle containing boiling water) ; when the glue is dissolved, stir in three ounces of white lead, and boil till well mixed ; remove from fire, and when cool, add half pint alcohol ; bottle immediately, and keep well corked.", "A Good Paste. — To one pint cold water add two heapingtablespoons flour. Put the flour in a pan, add a little of the water, stirring until smooth ; then add the rest of the water, stir thoroughly, place on the stove and stir con- stantly until it boils. After taking from the stove, add one-fourth teaspoon ground cloves to keep it sweet.", "Piece-Bags. — White cotton piece-bags hung in the linen closet are a great convenience ; have them made with a string to draw from both sides ; mark in large letters in indelible ink, \"Merino and Cloth,\" \"Cotton and Linen Sundries,\" \"Dress Pieces,\" \"Old Linen,\" \"Worsted and Yarn \" \"Old Silk,\" \"Thread and Tape,\" \"Old Gloves,\" etc.", "To Remove White Spots on Furniture, caused by a hot iron or hot water, or to restore blistered furniture. — Rub with a No. 1 sand-paper somewhat worn, or apply pulverized pumice stone mixed with a few drops of linseed oil, then with a cotton clotn rub on some shellac varnish thinned well with turpentine. Or, rub with spirits of camphor. Or pour some oil on the spot, and rub hard with a soft cloth, pour on a little spirits of wine, and rub dry with another cloth. The marks will disappear leaving the furniture as bright as before.", "Weight of Grain.— Wheat 60 pounds in all states except Connecticut, where it is 56 ; corn 56, except in New York, where it is 58 ; oats 32 ; barley 48 ; buckwheat 46 to 50, but generally 48 ; clover seed 60, but 64 in Ohio and New Jersey ; timothy 44 ; flaxseed 56 ; potatoes 60 ; beans 60, but in Ohio 56, and New York 62.", "TJnfermented Wine for Communion. — Weigh the grapes, pick from the stems, put in a porcelain kettle, add very little water, and cook until stones and pulp separate ; press and strain through a thick cloth, return juice to kettle, and add three pounds sugar to every ten pounds grapes ; heat to sim- mering, bottle hot, and seal. This makes one gallon, and is^good.", "1246 MISCELLANEOUS.", "To Cure Worms in Horses. — Put a handful of sifted wood ashes in a quart bottle, and till the bottle with cider vinegar. It will foam like soda water. It should be given to the horse the moment it foams. Two bottles will cure the worst case of worms. Forty years' experience attests the efficiency of this. Never known to fail.", "Harvionious Color Contrasts. — The following list of harmonizing colors will be found very useful in selecting wall decorations (jr colors for any jjur- pose : Red with green, blue with orange, yellow with violet, black with warm-brown, violet with pale-green, violet witli light-rose, deep bhie with golden-brown, chocolate with light blue, deep red with gray, maroon with M'arm-green, deep blue with pink, chocolate with pea-green, maroon with deep blue.", "Method of Bleachivf/ St rair. — Dip the straw in a solution of oxygenated muriatic aci<l saturated vvitli potash. (Oxygenated muriate of lime is much cheaper.) The straw is thus rendered very white, and its flexibility is in- creased. Or bleach by sim])ly exposing it in a closed chamber to the fumes of burning sulphur — an old flour barrel is the apparatus most used for tlie purpose by milliners, a flat stone being laid on the ground, tlie sulphur ignited thereon, and the barrel containing the goods to be bleached, turned over it. The goods should be previously washed in pure water.", "A Match Safe. — Most people think any kind of a match safe will do, and matches are phu-ed in all sorts of receptacles, exposed to all sorts of accidents. Occasionally a baby is poisoned I by picking them from the floor and putting them in its mouth, and oftener houses are burned up by stray matches that are ignited nobodj' knows how. The only proper place to put matches is in a metal box with a self- closing lid. The one represented in cut is of metal, and the lid closes by its own weight.", "To Bleach Linen . — Mix common bleaching powder in the proportion of one pound to a gallon of water ; stir it occasionally for three days ; let it set- tle, and ])()ur it oft\" clear. Then make a lye of one pound of soda to one gal- lon of l)oiling soft water, in which soak the linen for twelve hours, and boil it half an hour. Next soak it in the bleaching liquor, made as above ; and, lastl)', Avash it in the usual manner. Discolored linen or muslin may be re- stored by putting a portion of bleaching liquor into the tub wherein the arti- cles are soaking.", "Raising Tomato Plants. — Take building paper (any thick paper will do), cut in pieces eleven inches long and three wide ; lay one end over the other and fasten ; and fill with dirt after setting it in a dish, (an old waiter is good). Put only one seed in a cup, and when large enough to transplant, cut the thread whicli holds the cup together and set the cup with the dirt and plant in the ground, leaving the cup around the plant to keep cut worms away.", "To make a Long Mat. — After stringing on the twine the small pieces of cloth, muslin, etc., as described in the Scrap ]\\Iat, cut them into the lengths required, and lay them side by side. Sew the strips strongly together, and cli]) the scraps until the whole mat is of a uniform thickness, and no ragged pieces staiid up. To make the rug handsonu-r let the piece of twine intended to go outside be strung with ])ieci's of the same color and nuiterial, red, black or blue, which will make a border. The center may be of mixed colors and materials.", "Worms on Gooseberry Bushes. — \"When the first worms appear on goose- lierry or currant bushes, sprinkle thoroughly with strong alum water. Re- peat, if necessary. This dries up the worms without injuring the bushes, and is better to use than hellebore.", "MISCELLANEOUS.", "Tiling Comforters. — Take raveled yarn, wash woolen socks and mittens, when worn out, cut out the good places, and lay away; then, when com- forters are to be tied, use the raveled yarn, leaving the ends a little long; they \"kink\" down and look nice, and the woolen yarn does not tear the calico as cotton yarn does.", "Tile Easel. — A very neat contrivance for holding ornamented tile is an easel of white wire, and is represented in one of the accompan- ing cuts ; in the other it beiirs the tile. Nothing neater or better suited to the purpose could be devised. The very beau- tiful decorated tiles now so easily obtained, may thus be made appro- priate and effective or-", "naments for tables, mantels, etc.", "Soft Eggs. — For hens that lay soft eggs, give them wheat screenings ; also give every day to sixty fowls one pint of the following mixture, viz : A peck of ash of burned bones or oyster shells, finely powdered; one pound flour of suljihur, one peck of wheat bran. Mix with some scalded meal, well moistened so that the mixture will adhere to it. This supplies a lime, which the shell needs to make it hard.", "Kitchen Economy. — This may be practiced eyery moment of the day and in not any one thing is it so necessary as in the' littles that may be wasted. The bits of butter sticking to the plates after meals if carefully saved in a small tin can, will in a few days make a good-sized cake. In cooking mush, or mashing vegetables the spoonful or two left in saucepan or kettle to go into the dish-water each day, would soon have made a meal. Being careful to take out all of whatever article cooked, will save quite a little during the week and will make cleaner dish-water.", "Care of Boots and Shoes. — When they are water soaked, fill with drv oats, and set away from the fire; the oats will absorb the water, and will swell and the leather will be prevented from shrinking.", "Movable Table. — Have it three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and two feet and a half high, with stout legs and castors. A strip of molding to stand up an inch and a half above the top, placed around the edges to keep things from slipping oflT. During tlie meal it affords a convenient place for the coffee-pot out of the way of the little toddlers, also for an extra loaf of bread, extra dishes, and so forth. You can have it made at a trifling cost, and it saves the work of setting and cleaning the table one half at least.", "To Cleanse a Barrel. — Put in a quart of unslacked lime, then pour in three or four gallons of hot water, bung up the barrel and roll it about, until every part of the interior is wet with the mixture, pour out the lime water and \"rinse with clean hot water, or dip tape or a long piece of cloth into melted sulphur, this being lighted slip one end into the bung hole and fasten the other to the edge until the sulphur is burned off.", "Everlasting Paste. — Dissolve lialf an ounce of alum in a pint of boiling water; to this add an equal weight of flour, made smooth in a little cold", "1248 MISCELLANEOUS.", "water, and a few drops of oil of cloves, letting the whole come to a boil. This paste will keep for months, and insects will not eat it. It may be kept in a glass or ordinary ointment jar, and will often come handy.", "To Clean Lamp Fixtures. — Remove the wick and boil the fixture in strong lye water, or water having soft soap in it, for three hours. A smok- ing lamp treated in this way will be as good as new. For simply brightening the burners take common salt and strong vinegar mixed and rub them well, then rinse in soapsuds and rub dry, they will look like new ones and do not cost much.", "Quick Dish-washing. — Have dish-pan nearly full hot water, with a clean cloth ; spread a large, thick towel over the table at one side. Wash dishes quickly and turn up on the towel to drain: dry knives, forks and spoons, then wash and wipe pans. etc. Pour out water, spread wij)ing towel over the dishes and leave them. After a while set them away if you like, for i^ water was warm and clean, they will be dry and shining.", "Rust on Pious. — The following preparation applied to the surface will prevent any rusting on plows or any other metal surfaces : Melt one ounce of resin in a gill of linseed oil, and when hot mix with two quarts kerosene oil. This can be kept on hand and applied in a moment with a brush or rag to the metal surface of any tool that is not going to be used for a few days, preventing any rust and saving much vexation when the timy comes to use it again.", "Stocking Knees. — Children's stocking knees can'be mended by picking up a row of stitches below the hole and knitting a strip wide enough and long enough to cover the hole good. Then wliip down the edges to the stocking with yarn the color you knit the strip with. If you have yarn like the stock- ings it can hardly be seen. New heels and toes can also be knit by cutting off the old ones, \"and picking up the stitches. Knit the heel and sew in.", "To Pack Laces. — Fold them in blue tissue paper or soft linen, because white paper contains bleaching acids, and discolors and decays the ribbon or lace. The same is true of white shoes or gloves, and especially silver orna- ments. The latter, though worn every evening, retain their purity and bril- liancy for months if kept closely in blue tissue paper. Shoes and slippers should never be folded together without a cloth or paper between them, as the sole of one soils the upper of the other. Put one in the cloth, turn it over. Then add the other.", "To Cleanse Wool. — Make a hot bath composed of water four parts, urine one pqrt ; enter the wool, opening it out to admit the full action ot the liquid ; after twenty minutes' immersion, remove from the li(iuid, and allow it to drain ; then rinse it in clean running water, and spread out to dry. The liquid is good for subsequent operations ; only keep up the proportions, and use no soap.", "Fuller's Purifier for Cloths. — Dry, pulverize, and sift the following ingre- dients : Fuller's earth six pounds, French chalk four ounces, pipeclay one pound ; make into a paste with rectified oil of turpentine one ounce, alcohol two ounces, melted oil soap one and one half pounds. Make up the mixture into cakes of any desired size, keeping them in water or small wooden boxes. A less quantity can be made by using same proportions.", "Substitute for Casters. — Casters on heavy chairs, tables, bed-steads, etc., are always getting out of order, and are very destructive to carpets. A sub- stitute, which is a vast improvement in every respect, is a polislied lialf-globe of steel, with a screw projecting from flat side. This screw is turned into the bottom of ihechair-leg, and the rounded and polished surface rests on the floor or carpet, and the chair is moved with ease and with almost no wear to carpet*. \"When hard wood floors are used a rubber tip is better than steel.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1249", "Rat-trap. — The cunningest old rat may be caught thus : Set an ordinary steel trap on a level spot near his run or haunts and set so it will spring easy. Spread a thin piece of white muslin or piece of old bag about two feet square ©ver the trap, and on this scatter carelessly some crumbs of cheese or cake, but not too many. This will fool him and he will be caught in the trap, which should have a good spring. If the cloth gets bloody or soiled change for a fresh one if there are more rats to catch. Or, fill a common wash boiler one- third full of water, and sprinkle over the surface a few handfuls of oats. These will float on the surface and look like a tempting feast, but the rat that ventures in is drowned. By placing a block of wood in the center large enough to float one rat, its cries will often call more in. This trap will prove effective when others fail.", "Foot Stools. — Worn-out hassocks can be prettily covered, and made fit for sitting room foot stools with cuttings from carpets. Cut them into squares, bind them with common braid, such as is bought for the bottom of ladies' dresses, and then sew the pieces together; a long piece, bound top and bot- tom, will go round the stool to which the top is sewn, and a piece of strong glazed lining ■^ill serve for the under part. If a round shape is preferred, the pieces of carpet must be cut into triangles.", "Window Hook. — It is often difficult to find or contrive a hook on which to fasten the bird-cage or a hanging-", "baeket, which needs to be hung op- '^<i^ \"\"^ I,.? '^1\"^,, '?., ' *", "posite the center of a window, with- out marring the casing. The cut represents a neat hook which is per- fectly adapted to the purpose. The two upper arms end in rings through which screws pass into the upper edge of the window casing, while the end of the third arm simply rests against the front of the casing. It is firm enough to sustain any ordinary weight.", "To Remove Letters from flour sacks : — First wash the sack in cold water to get the starch out ; then rub soap on the paint, put it in pretty strong cold lye water, set it on the stove and let it come to a boil ; then wash it in the usual way, or before the sack has been wet, grease the letters, hang up by the stove half an hour, then cover with soap, roll up tightly, and let soak a few minutes. Then wash and boil in the usual way.", "Jn Knitting children's hose worn above the knee, it is a good idea to knit a gore for the knee by widening. Begin to make two stitches, say an inch from the top. Widen, twice every three or four rounds till the gore is an inch and a half or two inches wide, then narrow in the same order. The gore must of course be exactly opposite the seam.", "An Excellent Dust-pan. — Have a tin box made with three sides, the back part six inches high, the sides sloping down towards the front, let it be level on the floor, insert a long upright wooden handle (a broom handle will do), in the center of the upper side of the back : a socket must be made for the handle. The common dust-pans that have to be held with one hand while the dirt is swept into them are very defective — with one made in this way it is not necessary to stoop at all.", "Redding. — Once a week, or as often as possible the year around, hang the bedding out on the line to air in the sun and wind. This is not only a sani- tary precaution, but it is a great pleasure to have the bedding smell so sweet and fresh. If there is anything detestable and unwholesome it is a bed reek- ing with the accumulated odors of washing, frying and stewing which pene- trates to the remote&t corners of many houses. There is no need of it. Even tixe poorest can hsive fresh air, at least in the country.", "MISCELLANEOUS.", "A SparkGuard. — Half the pleasure of an open fire is lost if there is not some protection against sparks that are more prone to fly out on the carpet than they are to fly upward. Guards are now made to fit any shape or size of open- ing in the fireplace, and are a perfect protection against sparks, while nut materially shutting in the heat or affecting the draft. The frame is made of woven wire, and is lined with guaze wire.", "To Clean Ostrich Feathers. — Cut some white curd soap in small pieces, pour boiling water on them, and add a little pearl ash. When the soap is quite dissolved and the mixture cool enough for the hand to bear, plunge the feathers into it, and draw them through the hand till the dirt appears S(iueezed out of them : pass them through a clean lather with some blue in it ; then rinse them in cold water with blue, to give them a good color, Beat them against the hand, to shake off the water^ and dry by shaking them near a fire. When perfectly dry, coil each fiber separately with a blunt knife or ivory folder.", "Scree7is. — Ingenious persons may make screens out of two-fold towel or clothes rack, the rack is covered with stout unbleached muslin or thin can- vas, and on this is pasted Japanese wall paper that is very effective. The bars may be stained or painted according to fancy. On one of these screens may be pasted Christmas and birthday cards, arranging them very prettily. The spaces may be filled in with dead gold paper having a delicate fl riated design. The effect will not be unlike the Japanese paper screens. Or c^ver with a soft blue paper and over this a flight of swallows cut from dull black paper may be placed.", "Hang ers for Plaques. — It is not easy to find a safe and convenient way of hanging up the beau- tifully orn a m e n t e d plaques, now so much in fashion. One of the cuts given here shows an ingenious and cheap hanger, and the other the hanger in use. They explain themselves.", "To Start Seeds. — Use good manure in the hill ; cover with the soil ; then set a common bowl where you wish the hill to be, and bring the soil around it ; press down and level with the top ; remove he bowl and plant in the bottom of the hole thus made and lay a pane of glass over it for a few days ; or some take sod, cut into squares of two or three inches soak good with liquid manure, put in a sheltered sunny place and put a couple of seeds in each square. Then later in the season the pieces of sod can be put in the garden and the plants will not be stunted by trans- planting. Some covering should thrown over them if there is likely to be frost after the plants are up.", "Disinfectant. — Dissolve half drachm nitrate of lead in pint boiling water aLso two drachms common salt in bucket of water. I'our two solutions together and allow sediment to settle. A cloth dipped in this will sweeten an impure atmosphere immediately; or the solution poured down a sink, or otlu-r pipes or over a heap of refuse, will produce like results.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1251", "To Bleach Feathers. — Place the feathers from three to four hours in a tepid dilute solution of bicarbonate of potassa, to which, cautiously, some nitric acid has been added (a small quantity »nly) . To remove a greenish hue induced by this solution, place them in a dilute solution of sulphuric acid, in water, whereby the feathers become perfectly white and bleached.", "To Oil Floors. — For light color, use boiled linseed oil clear, rubbing it in thoroughly with a piece of flannel. For dark color, add burnt umber, (a small box of it costs 25 cents), making it darker or lighter as you choose. A very pretty way is to use the clear oil for every alternate board, and for the others the umber and oil. This is especially handsome for narrow boards, (three inches wide) giving a soft pine floor the appearance of oak and walnut. It can be cleaned with clear water.", "To Destroy House Insects. — To rid a house of red and black ants, cock- roaches, spiders, bedbugs and all crawling pests that infest our homes, take two pounds of alum and dissolve in three or four quarts of boiling water. Let it stand on the stove until all dissolved, then apply while hot to every joint and crevice, in your closets, bedsteads, pantry shelves and the like. Brush the crevices in the floor and base boards, if you suspect theyjiarbor any vermin. Cockroaches will flee the paint whicli has been washed in cool alum water. If in washing a ceiling, plenty of alum if added to the lime, it will also serve to keep insects at a distance.", "A Blower Rack. — One of the most difii- cult things to dispose of, after it has served its purpose in kindling a fire, is the blower. It is too hot to come in contact with carpet or floor or wood work, too hot to hang up, and in fact too hot to dispose of in any way. Just here a happy thought has struck some ingenious fellow, and the rack represented here comes to the front. The difficulty is solved, and there is a place to put the blower after its work is done. Like many other good things it is so simple that everybody wonders why it was not made before,", "A Home-made Lounge. — A long packing box, such as may be had for a trifle at almost any dry goods store, of the right height, lined with wall-paper, the cover put on with hinges, and if of more than one board, strengthened by cleats on the underside, and the whole neatly cushioned and covered with tastily selected calico, makes a very pretty lounge, and may be used also for a recepticle of the best dresses. When more than one dress is to be stored in it, and it is important to avoid crushing, a thin board resting on strips nailed on the ends inside half way up divides the box into two equal apart- ments. Place the dress least used in the bottom, drop the dividing board into place, and lay in other garments more commonly used. Nothing injures good dresses more than too close packing and much folding.", "A Cheap, Durable Hearth. — Mix sifted wood ashes, salt and water, mak- ing a stifFmortar. Pour this into place for the hearth, and beat down Avith a maul or something of that kind ; as it beats down put in more and so continue till it is full enough ; then smooth off the top with a knife or anything that will make it very smooth. Make up a big fire in the grate or fireplace and let it dry before cracking. If it cracks put more mortar on, filling the cracks and smoothing. It is white and smooth as glass almost, and very hard. The proportions of salt and ashes are a tablespoon of salt to one gallon of of ashes.", "To Drive Away Ants. — First of all perfect cleanliness is essential. Pul- verized borax sprinkled in places where they frequent, also the free use of", "1252 MISCELLANEOUS.", "green wormwood scattered among their haunts ; or a sponge can be wet in sweetened water, squeezed out and laid upon shelves where they are numer- ous. The next morning plunge it into boiling water and the intruders will be destroyed. Repeat this a few times and they will be efTectually cleaned out. Little red ants cannot trav-d over rag or wool carpets. .Set the meat- safe on apiece of rag carpet, and cover the closet or pantry shelves with with flannel, and the ants will disappear, this is better than to have tar around your larder, for although it has a healtliy pine odor, still it is too strong a scent to have near most kinds of food. And last, but not least, anta of any color or size may be driven away by using a solution of corosive sub- limate in alcohol. Put this solution on the shelves and in the crevices of closets, and when dry cover them with paper. Apply with a brush.", "Remedies for Roup. — This disease is common to all fowls, the result of cold. The ordinary symptoms, — swollen eyes, running at the nostrils, and the pur- ple color of the wattles. Part birds' so aflected from the healthy ones, as when the disease is at its height it is as contagious as glanders among horses. \"Wash out the nostrils with warm water, give daily a peppercorn enclosed in dough ; bathe the eyes and nostrils with warm milk and water. If the head is swollen, bathe with warm brandy and water. When the bird is getting well, put half a spoonful of sulphur in his drinking water. Some fanciers presi;ribe for this disease half a spoonful of table-salt, dissolve in half a gill of water in which rue has been steeped; others, pills composed of ground rice and fresh butter ; but the remedy first mentioned will be found the best. As Ihere is a doubt respecting the wholesomeness of eggs laid by roupy hens, it would be as well to throw them away. The pip is a white horny skin growing on the tip of the bird's tongue. It should be removed with the point of a penknife, and the place rubbed with salt.", "A Safe and Register. — It sometimes happens that houses are so planned hat a stove-pipe passes through the floor to the room in second story before", "passing into the chimney, a drum being used for heating the upstairs room. The illustra- tion represents the upper end of a safe and register through which the pipe passes. The length of the safe is equal to to the width of the joists plus the thickness of the floor and the lath and plastering. The space between tin' two walls (tin or Russia iron) of the safe is tlii'ee inches ; they are connected together be- low by a perforated cast-iron circle, and above by the circle shown in cut, which is fitted with a sliding circle which opens or closes the apertures. When open, the warm air from the room below rushes up to the upper room ; when closed it is simply a perfect safe, tha large air space between the walls being per- fect protection. The slide or the register is operated from below by cords which drop to a convenient distance below the ceiling.", "Vijca for Furs. — Brown — use tincture of logwood. Red — ground Brazil- wood half a pound, water one and a half quarts, cochineal half an ounce; boil the Brazil-wood in the water one hour; strain and add the cochineal ; boil fifteen minutes. Scarlet color — bod half an ounce safl'ron in half a pint of water, and pass over the work b(»fore applying the red. /?/«<■— logwood seven ounces, blue vitriol one ounce, water twenty-two ounces ; boil. Purple — logwood eleven ounces, alum six ounces, water twenty-nine ounces. Green — strong vinegar one and one half pints, best verdigris two ounces (ground fine), sap green one-quarter of an ounce; mix all together, and boil.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1253", "Colors for Artificial Flowers. — The French employ velvet, fine cambric and kid for the petals, and taffeta for the leaves. Very recently thin plates of bleaclied.whalebone have been used for some portions of the artificial flowers. Colors and Stains: — Bhie — Indigo, dissolved in oil of vitriol, and the acid partly neutralized with salt of tartar or whiting. Green — a solution of distilled ver- digris. Lilac — liquid archil. Red — carmine dissolved in a solution of salt of tartar, or in spirits of hartshorn. Violet — liquid archil, mixed with a little salt of tartar. Yellow — tincture of turmerie. The colors are generally ap- plied with the fingers.", "Broom Holder. — A place for every thing and every thing in its place ap- plies to a brush-broom as well as to other household neces- sities The neat wire-frame represented in cut is one good way of disposing of that article, and may serve to suggest to ingenious housewives many other Ways just as good.", "To Hake a Handsome Scrap Mat. — This is good work for children. Take a ball of twine and a large needle, cut pieces of cloth, muslin, silk, or any thing you have, into squares about an inch each way. Thread these on the twine until you have covered about three yards. Then cut the twine and fasten it well to prevent its slipping, and roll it round and round, taking long stitches through and through to keep it steady and flat. When quite firm take a large pair of scissors, and, laying the mat flat, cut the rough edges until the mat is pared to nearly half its former thick- ness. It should look like a child's worsted ball, and is the BrooiiTHoidcr. Same on both sides. These mats were made during the war by the Southern ladies, and if well done are warm and pretty.", "School Dinners. — In preparing them, omit the pies and cakes. There is something about the business of studying and teaching that renders the sys- tem unable to cope with these delicacies; put up instead of bread, graham gems, Johnny cake, crackers, any kind of meat, canned or fresh fruit, rice pud- dings baked in a small basin, baked apples, celery, onions, eggs, pot cheese, •cornstarch custard, jnckles or cheese occasionally, radishes, once in a while a little honey, jelly or marmalade, or even sugar on the bread. I am sure that would be variety enough for one term. If your little student has not suffi- cient appetite to relish plain lunches without much variation, he is not in a proper condition to be studying at all. Hunger is the best sauce.", "How to Detect Poison Ivy. — The poisonous ivy and the innocuous kind differ in one particular which is too easy of remembrance to be overlooked by any one who is interested enough in the brilliant-hued leaves of autumn to care for gathering them ; The leaves of the former grow in clusters of threes, and those of the latter in fives. As somebody has suggested in a juvenile story book, every child should be taught to associate the five leaves in a cluster with the fingers of the human hand, and given to understand that when these numbers agree they can be brought into contact with per- fect safety. It may spare our readers no little suffering to bear this point in mind during their bctober rambles in the fields.", "Oil Stoves.— For a kitchen, help in saving work and fuel, they are cer- tainly what a friend of ours claims for them. • \"Mine is a four burner. The oven is as large as in an ordinary cooking stove, baking well in any part, which cannot be said of all cooking stoves. I have the oven, steamer, boiler, and sad iron heater, the cost including these being fifteen dollars. It is no more work to keep clean than a lamp, nor is there any more danger of explo- sion ; and it is such a saving of work and heat. It takes five gallons of oil per month, making the cost of fuel sixty-three cents in our family of three.", "1254 MISCELLANEOUS.", "I do all of my work, even the washings. I do not know how servants would manage them, but to ladies who do their own work enough can not be said in their praise. The oil can I use has a pump, so it is very easy to fill tke stove when necessary. Ladies have asked me if it did not smoker It does not at all, if kept properly trimmed and if not turned up too high ; judgement has to be used as with every thing else. I like mine so well, that if I could not get another, twice the cost of it could not buy it.", "To Prevent and 'Jure Gapes. — If the chicks have been troubled with gapes in former years, set the coops away from the poultry yard this year on fresh, well drained soil. As a further preventive use the ointment we have before recommended, made as follows : One lb. lard, one oz. liquid carbolic acid, two oz. coal oil, one oz. spirits camphor. Mix by melting the lard and stir- ring all togetlier. Make the application in the evening wlum the chicks are first put out with the hen. With the tip of tlie finger apply just enough to moisten the down on the head about the beak, under the throat, and at the vent. Repeat twice or three times every ten days or two weeks. If the gape worm gets in after using these precautions, drop a i)inch of air-slaked lime in the mouth of the chick, or put tlie afTected ones in a box, and a piece of open cloth on the box. Place air-slaked lime on the cloth and jar slightly. The chicks will cough and sneeze and dislodge the worms. Be careful not to give too large a dose and smother the patients.", "Coal Vase. — This furnishes a neat receptacle for the coal-hod, which slides to its place inside, completely out of the way and out of *ight, and for the i)oker, shovel and tongs, and is withal a very neat article of furniture. The box is made of heavy tin, japanned and neatly orna- mented. No living room is quite complete without an open fire, and no open fire is quite complete without one of them.", "A Unique Umbrella Stand. — Go to a plumbing or pot- tery shop and buy a common red tile, such as used for drjiins, about six inches across and three feet long. Paint it black, two or three coats if necessary; then get a large supply of Japanese scrap pictures. Cover the tile pretty thickly with these, and give coats of varnish until the flowers and figures have the raised appearance some- times seen on china. Then get a large earthen pie plate _._.", "or meat platter ; paint it black and cover all but the middle of the dish with scrap pictures in the same manner, and varnish. When all is })erfectly dry, set the tile in the dish. Then get a small bottle of liquid gilding, and with a. small camel's hair brush gild the edge of the dish and the top edge of the tile The whole stand, when done, will cost about four dollars, and will be very unique and beautiful.", "Care of a Carriage. — A carriage should be kept in a dry coach-house, with a moderate amount of light, otherwise the colors will be destrove.d. There should be no communication between tiie stables and the coach-house. The manure heap or i)it should also l)e^kept as far away as possible. Ammonia cracks varnishes and fades the colors both of i):iint,ing and lining. In wash- ing a carriage, keep out of the sun and use plenty of wafer which apply with a large, soft sponge. This, when saturated, S(|ueeze over the panels, and by the flow down of the water the dirt will soften :'.nd harmlessly run ofi', then finish with a soft chamois leather and old silk handkercliief. Never use a brush, which, in conjunction with grit from the road, acts like sand-paper on the varnisli, scratching it, and of course eftectuallj- removing all gloss. Never allow water to dry itself on carriage as it invariably leaves stains.", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1255", "Uses of Charcoal. — Charcoal laid flat while cold on a bum, causes the pain to abate immediately ; by leaving it on for an hour the burn seems almost healed when the wound is superficial. Tainted meat surrounded with it, is bweetened. Strewn over heaps of decomposed pelts, or over dead animals, charcoal prevents any unpleasant odor. Foul water is purified by it. It ia a great disinfectant, and sweetens ofi'ensive air if placed in shallow trays around apartments. It is so very porous that it absorbs and condenses gases rapidly. One cubic inch of fresh charcoal will absorb one hundred inches of gaseous ammonia. Charcoal forms an excellent poultice for malignant wounds and sores. In cases of what is called proud flesh it is invaluable, It gives no disagreeable odor, corrodes no metal, hurts no texture, injures no color, is a simple and safe sweetener and disinfectant. A teaspoonful of charcoal, in a glass of water, often relieves a sick headache. It absorbs the gases and relieves the distended stomach pressing against the nerves, which extend from the stomach to the head. It often relieves constipation, pain or heart disease.", "Sun-printing on Fruit. — Monograms, initial letters, or other designs, can be printed on such fruit as apples, pears or peaches by the action of the sun. with very pretty effect of either a light or dark color. To do this, draw the monogram, letter or design on a piece of writing paper, and paste it with mucilage or glue upon the side of the fruit exposed to the sun, just before the fruit begins to color, and when the fruit is ripe, and the paper re- moved, the design will appear in a lighter or different color to the rest of the fruit ; as, for instance, If the experiment is tried on a yellow-fleshed peach with a red cheek, the design will appear in gold si^mounted with red. If the opposite effect is intended, take a small oval or circular piece of paper, and cut out or pierce the letter or design in it, and paste on the fruit, which when ripe, will have the design in high color on a yellow#or on a light green ground of the shape of the paper, and this again will be surrounded by the brighter color of the fruit.", "Granular Butter .-r-These complete directions for making butter were given by one who makes gilt-edge butter. The milk is set in %, Cooley Creamer for twenty-four hours. The cream is churned every other day and is kept sweet till the night before churning, when it is set in a tub and boil- ing water poured around the can ; it is stirred rapidly and constantly until it reaches 80 degrees, then set in a room where in cold weather it will not fall below 62 degrees. The cream is churned at from 60 to 62 degrees in sum- mer, and 62 to 64 in winter, according to the temperature of the weather, in a Batcheller churn ; churning is stopped when the butter is in granules size of mustard seed. It stands about five minutes for the butter to rise to the top, then the buttermilk is drawn ofi\" and two pails of water at about 43 de- grees is poured over butter, cover is screwed on and churn revolved twice, when water is drawn off\" and two more pails full poured over it, and churn again revolved twice, and so continued until the water runs off perfectly clear. It is then let stand five or ten minutes to drain, when it is salted with Higgins salt. 1^4 oz. to the pound. A little salt is sifted over the top of butter, tlien the churn is tipped forward till the salted portion is covered by fresh granules, when a little more salt is sifted over the top of it, then the churn is tipped a little more at a time, and salt sifted over till the bottom of the churn is 'visible ; then it is tipi>ed backward and salt sifted over the granules as before. The cover is then screwed on and the churn revolved very aJowly for 20 or 30 times ; it is then let stand for one hour that salt may be completely dissolv", "1256 MISCELLANEOUS.", "Weather Strips. — It is often desirable to close the crevices of doors and windows with weather strips. There is now made, and kept for sale at all rubber stores, a strip which is well represented in the ongravinj.', Jialf an inch wide, ready for tacking t() the edges of door or sash. It is made of a narrow rnbber sheet, curved over to make a cushion, and sewed to a thin strip of tin. Through the tin strip tacks are driven two or tiiree inches apart, fastening the strip to the edge of a door or sash, and the elastic cushion eCfectually shuts out the air, while not inter- fering with the use of either door or window. It is sold in lengtlis of twenty- five to fifty feet, coiled as shown in right hand cut. and is sent by mail post- paid anywhere at about five and a half cents a foot. Pleruy of fresh air is necessary to health, but it is well to be able to control the currents and take them when and where they are wanted.", "To Soften Sponges. — A sponge when first purchased is frequently hard, stiff and gritty. To soften it and dislodge the particles of sea-sand from its crevices, having first soaked and squeezed it through several cold waiters, put the sponge into a clean tin sauce-pan, set it over the fire, and boil it a quar- ter of an hour. Then take it out into a bowl of cold water, and K(|uecze it well. Wasli out the sauce-pan, and return the sponge to it, filling up with clean, cold water, and Woil it another quarter of an hour. Repeat the pro- cess, giving it three boils in fresh water, or more than three if you fin<l it still'gritty. Take care not to let it boil too long, or it will become tender and drop to pieced.", "E.ttras Throvm in. — To purify a room of unpleasant odors, burn vinegar, resin, or sugar; to make chicken gravy richer, add eggs found in chicken, or, if none, 5'olk of an egg ; soak garden seeds in hot water a few seconds beforr planting; to prevent cholera in chickens, put assafatida in water they drink, and let them pick at coal ashes ; in using hard w-ater for dish-water, add a little milk ; to clean i)aint, add to two quarts hot water, two table-spoons tur- pentine and one of skimmed milk, and only soap enough to make suds, and it will clean and give luster; iron rust on marble can generally be removed with lemon-juice ; a tliin coat of varnish applied to straw-matting makes it more durable and adds to its beauty.'", "Tlie Cistern. — An abundant supply of good water is a necessity for every house, and capacious cisterns are a necessity. The essential requisites are good hydraulic hme and clean pure sand. The hydraulic cement becomes in a few months as hard as sandstone, Vjut the sand must never exceed two parts to one of lime. The cheapest form of cistern is simply a hole dug in the ground with sides sloping like those of a narrow bottomed tub. The water lime mortar is applied directly to these sides, the shape of the sides sustaining tin; mortar until it hardens. The breadth of such a cistern, if lar<»e, makes it dillicult to cover, but this may be done with a plank sup- ported by strong scantling, over which should be placed earth to the depth of the lowest frost. There must be a hole through the covering, left for cleaning, which should be curbed, and may admit the pump if the locality is ri<'ht'j or a pipe may go from cistern into cclhir below the frost line, and thence to the kitchen. The mortar on the walls should never be less than an inch thick, and they should have at least two coats, aTid three are better. As the mortar begins to dry in a very short time after mixing, it is best to mix the lime and sand dry, and apply water in small quantities at a time as", "MISCELLANEOUS. 1257", "ileeded. A more capacious cistern may be made at a greater expense by digging a hole with perpendicular walls, and laying walls of brick in form of the upper half of a barrel, on which to lay the mortar. This form has a smaller top, and is much more easily covered than the other. The wall should be laid as well as plastered with water-lime. A filtering at- tachmeut is made by building a small receiving cistern beside the larger one, with filtering apparatus between them^ or a strong wall may be built through the middle of the cistern, receiving the water in one division and filtering it through into the other. To ascertain contents of cistern, the fol- lowing table may be used ; it gives the contents of a cistern for each foot in depth. If the diameter at top and bottom difi'er, strike the average and use that as the basis of the estimate :", "5 feet diameter 4.66 barrel.^'", "6 \" \" 6.71", "7 *' \" 9.13", "8 feet diameter 11.93 barrels,", "9 \" \" 15.10 10 '* \" 18.65", "Lime- Water and its Uses. — Place a piece of unslaked lime (si/e is imma- terial, as the water will take up only a certain quantity) in a perfectly clean bottle, and fill with cold water ; keep corked in a cellar or cool, dark place ; it is ready for use in a few minutes, and the clear lime-water may be used whenever it is needed. When the water is poured oft', add more ; this may be done three or four tim^s, after which some new lime must be used as at first. A tea-spoon in a cup of milk is a remedy for children's summer com- plaint ; also for acidity of the stomach ; wlien added to milk it has no un' pleasant taste. When put into milk that would otherwise curdle whe . heated, it prevents its curdling, so that it can then be used for puddings an pies. A 'Small quantity of it will prevent the \"turning\" of cream and milk. It also sweetens aud purifies bottles which have contained milk. Some add a cujiful to a sponge of bread to prevent it from souring.", "The Lightiung Rod. — When properly put up, the lightning rod is a per- fect protection ; but, when not scientifically constructed, is only a source of danger. The following are essentials: 1. It must extend several feet into the ground so as always to be in contact with vioist earth, or into a never-failing supply of water; 2, It must be sharp at the top, and, if there are several points, all the better ; 3. It must be half as high above the top of the build- ing as tlie distance horizontally to the most remote part of the roof of the building ; 4. It should b