Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-06-30
From the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.
The Housewives Handbook.
BY A HoUBE-KEEPER.


FURNITURE. Bedsteads should be taken
apart at least at the fall cleaning, washed
thoroughly in the crevices subject to the
attacks of bugs, and when dry, coated
with corrosive sublimate dissolved in al
cohol, mercury mixed in beaten white of
egg, or, for common coarse furniture, fill
all the crevices not likely to come in con-
tact with the bed clothes, with strong,
common brown soap.
Then rosewood, mahogany, or any fine
furniture, must be freed from dust and
wiped clean of fly specks Or other soil,
and after rubbed over with very fine rot
ten stone mixed with olive oil, and when
dry rubbed off with soft silk cloth. If
your fine furniture needs varnish, get
firstrate professional hand But, with
good cabinet makers. varnish and suitable
brushes, for common furniture. you may
do the job quito we'll yourself. BE sure
to have the articles clean when you begin;
have the varnish thin; put on small
quantity at time, and rub it in well,
following the grain of the wood
If you live out of reach of a cobinet
makers aid, you may repair and varnish
up considerably, if you have patience and
skill. If a piece of veneering is off, cut
off the edges of the break smoothly, fit in
a piece veneer exactly, (thc grain run
ming with that of the furniture paste it
in with glue, and tack it in with num-
ber of common pins slightly. When the
glue hardens, draw out the pins, and with
piece of glass, scrape the newly joined
edges perfectly even. Now, if the piece
of furniture is much scurfed, scrape off
aH the OLD uarnish with glass carefully;
then rub it with coarse and fine sand
paper successfully, until smooth as satin;
proceed to varnish, and you will be aston
ished at the result Of your labor.
\ fine feather brush and soft silk cloth
should be used daily on fine furniture.
The dust should be beaten out of the
cushions with the hand; brocatelle or
hair cloth wiped with clean cloth; vel
vet with a worsted plush roll, or better
still with the hand only.
MARBLE,-All marble should be wash
ed commonly with luke warm water and
a sponge; grease spots or stains can be
removed by washing with sNlts of tarter
Or repeated applications of line chalk.
IEoN SPoTs may be removed by rub
bing with piece of lemon, and washing
after with cold water
ALABAsrtE should be washed with a
brush thoroughly with aqua fortis in clear
water-(an ounce to half pint then
rinsed in cold water and set in the sun
to dry.
INK SPoTs on wooden furniture may be
removed by rubbing on oil of vitfiol
mixed with two parts of soft water. The
white spots from heat may be removed
by rubbing first with oil, and after with
alcohol, Or with spirits of kaytshorn.
UNvARNIsHED MAHOGANY, or any other
furniture wood, may be polished several
ways, and by frequent rubbing be kept
very nice.
A piece Of beeswax as large as an egg.
half as much rosin, melted in pint of
spirits of turpcntine, spread over table
evenly, and vixen cold well rubbed with
a cloth, looks well.
A gill of spirits of turpentine, one of
sweet oil. and a pint of sweet milk, makes
an excellent polish-rubbcd after-or
Take cake Of pure beeswax, rub it
all over the surface you wish to polish;
then wrap linen cloth over a warm
smoothing iron, and rub it over the table
until the wax is evenly spread; then with
a woollen cloth rub until smooth and
bright. We used to spend much time in
an old pioneer house, the best rooms OF
which were finished with black walnut,
and kept, nth this polish only. as bright
as mirrors.
PIcTUhE FRAMES, gilt ornaments, &C.,
and the glass over pictures and engrav.
ings, should be cleaned with whiting as
directed in previous receipts for cleaning
glass. Water may injure both picture
and frame. The gliding should be brush.
ed or wiped very softly and carefully.
OIL PAINTINGS may be wiped with luke
warm water and soft sponge, and dried
with soft cloth. The gliding cannot BE-
cleaned by any trials I have made. and ]
have had woeful experience ii trying.
BRONZE cannot be improved. and car
be kept clean by washing in warm water
and wiping dry. The glass pendents
shades, &c, belonging to lights and va
ses, can be cleaned in soap suds-cold
unless there is grease to remove-rinset
in clear water, drained dry. and rubbed
with buckskin or an old silk handker
chief.
On BLINDs must be stretched out on Q
table, held firmly and washed quickly with
mild tepid soap suds, and wiped dry.
| Our devil says that getting in love
is somewhat like getting drunk, the more
fellow does it the more he wants to.