The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-02-24
AGRICULTURAL & DOMESTIC.
Items In Domestic Economy.

Items In Domestic Economy.
Baskets should never have any wet
substance placed in them, such as apple
parings, or anything that will wet and
decay the splints and spoil their appear
ance.
Waste Noine should be neatly wound
Into balls and kept for future use, and
not thrown into drawers In tangled
mass. This will save time when one Is
In hurry, and imparts habits of neat.
ness.
Tubes without casters should always
be carefully lifted from one place to an.
other. Nothing destroys q table more
rapidly than showing it on its legs across
a floor.
Matches should always be kept in a
match safe. 1t is neither neat nor Sc.
cure to leave them scattered on bureaus
and stands. Every good tin shop sup
plies the article, but If nothing better
can be had, empty mustard boxes with
smooth fitting lids will answer.
Thermometers. Every house should
be supplied with several thermometers.
Apples will keep better In a cellar with
low temperature, which may be main
tanned If one or two thermometers ore
always at hand to Indicate the approach
of freezing. They are always of use in
dairy and other apartments.
Creaking Hinges. hung on butt
hinges often make an unpleasant noise
by creaking. The best way to prevent
1t is to place drop or two of kerosene,
by means of a feather, on the top of the
bolt connecting the two parts, as we'll as
at the sides working the door backward
and forward at the same time. The oil
will run down and the difficulty will
cease.
Pdint.-It is always convenient to
have paint at hand for doing small Jobs.
If kept in common paint pots, IT soon
dries. An empty fruit jar with close
fitting cork answers an excellent pur-
pose; and If the handle of the brush is
short, so as to go inside, it is always
ready without washing. Putty always
ready for use may be kept in the same
way.-Maine Farmer.
Lamp LIGHTERS may he easily
made by tearing waste papers into strips
an inch wide, and rolling these strips
neatly, by beginning at the upper cor
ner and rolling nearly but not quite pa
allel with the side of the strip. Whe
completed, bendu and pinch the lower
end, to prevent unrolling. A little prac-
tice will give them very neat appear
ance. If desired, they may be made
long enough to run down the chimney
of kerosene lamp.
Paste for Ready Use.-Mucilage made
of gum arabic is good for many pur.
poses, but rather costly. A cheap kind
and better adapted for pasting unsized
paper, is made Of gum tragacanth. A
few cents worth may be procured at
druggists, and will last years. Place o
stratum of the gum half an inch thick
in tho bottom of the bottle and fill it
two.thirds with rain water. In few
hours 1t will be ready for use, and will
last several weeks in hot weather.
Ventilation.-Those who occupy or
work in close rooms often suffer in
health for want Of fresh air. Apart
ments not supplied with ventilators
should have the windows so construct
ed as to let down one, two or three in.
ches from the top. This will let in a
moderate and steady current, which will
become well mixed with the other air
before 1t reaches the floor, and be more
pleasant than sweeping gusts near the
feet through windows raised from
below.
Lereling Clocks.-.Clocks often run
badly by not being set level-ticking
unequally and stopping easily. They
may be wedged up so as to be perfectly
level, and an acurate ear will know by
the ticking when this is effected. But
a more perfect way is to tack card or
paper behind the pendulum in the eve.
ming, and place bright lamp at dis
tance exactly in front. Then mark with
pencil the shadow of the rod, move it
very slowly to one side until it ticks,
and then make another mark. Move it
to the other side and mark it when it
ticks again. Measuring the distance of
these three marks will enable the opera.
tor to level the clock to a hairs breadth.