American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-11
USEFUL SUGGESTIONS.

| BoTANIsTs are engaged in planting all
over Europe new plant, imported from
New Grenada, which, if grown success
fully, will be a formidable rival to our
manufactured ink. 1t is known as the
''COriari;. ShymifOlia,' or ink plant. The
juice which escapes from it has been
given the name of '.Changi," and is a lit
tie red in color, but in the space of a few
| hours after exposure to the air turns to
an intense black. This liquid does not
corrOde steel pens, as the ink in ordinary
use, resists chemical substances, and pre-
serves its intensity for many years.
Potato SALAD.-Boil eight large Irish
potatoes; when cold slice them in fiat
dish with one or two raw onions and a
sprinkling of celery and salt. Over each
layer of potato and onion pour the fol-
lowing dressing: Beat two eggs with a
tablespoonful of sweet oil, add small
tea-spOonful each of sugar, pepper. mus
tard and salt /; when well mixed pour on
two cups-ful of boiling vinegar; put
back on the fire and stir till it is as thick as
custard. Let it cool before putting it on
the potatoes. Sprinkle little Cayenne
pepper on the top, and make this i'm the
dish in which it is to come to table, and,
if possible, twenty-fOur hours before it is
to be used.
WHITES OF EGGS FOR BURNS The
whites of eggs are now used for burns
this substance soothes pain, and effectu-
ally excludes the air from the burn. This
simple remedy seems preferable to colo
dion or even cotton. Extraordinary
stories are told of the healing properties
of a new oil, which is easily made from
the yolks of hens eggs. The eggs are
first boiled hard. and the yolks are then
removed, crushed, and placed over fire,
where they are carefully stirred until the
whole substance is just on the point of
catching fire, when the oil separates and
may be poured of. One yOlk will yield
nearly two teaspoonfuls of oil. 1t is in
general use among the colOEists of
Southern Russia, as a means of curing
cuts, bruises and scratches.
To MAKE SOFT SOAP WITH PoTAsH.-To
cleanse the grease, put it in weak lye;
keep it as hot as possible and not boil it.
When all the pieces are eaten up, fill the
kettle up with cold water; let it stand
until cold. when the grease will rise to
the top. Take off and prepare to make
the soap. Twenty pounds of grease to
thirteen pounds of potash are required to
of the cake and dissolve it :; strain the I've
into the barrel. There will be settings in
the best of potash but keep il out of the
barrel by straining the lye.) Melt the
grease and strain into the barrel also, and
thus avoid the filth so commonly found
barrel. The last is thus made as clear as
the first. With stick in the barrel stir
the lye and grease three or four times a
day, thoroughly. 1t will thicken gradu-
ally, and make most beautiful soap. II |
made in cold weather, the barrel should
stand in warm place.
"BLowING bubbles is fine fun, isn't it 20
says Prof. Tryvall. 'Ah! you young |
gentlemen who are beginning to wear
and to cipher in fractions, and |
you young ladies who are learning to b. |
fond of croquet, need not smile so scorn-
fully at the idea of soap-bubbles, because
you think yourself beyond it. How many
years is it since you dabbled in the soapy
water, and cried over broken pipes? Now,
if you want to amuse your younger broth
ers and sisters. let me tell you how to
make soap-bubbles that will look beauti-
full and last good while. You need not
actually make the bubbles for them, but
you can prepare the mixture. Here it is
try it: Dissolve a quarter of an ounce
Of CASTLE or oil soap, cut up in small piec-
rs. in three-quarters of a pint of water,
md boil it for two or three minutes then
add five ounces of glycerine. When cold,
his fluid will produce the best and most
asting bubbles that can be blown. They
nay not last 30 long as the Chinese wall.
out they will last longer than common
'oap-bubbles, and will make a good deal
If sport for the wee ones"