Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-05
Nothing Like Straw.

DIR. Do LEWIS writes: "Of the eight
pounds which man eats and drinks in
day, il is thought that not less than five
pounds leave his body through the skin.
And of these five pounds considerable
percentage escapes during the night while
he is in bed. The larger part of this is
water, but in addition there is much
effete and poisonous matter. This being
in great part gaseous In form, penetrates
every part of the bed. Thus all parts of
the bed-mattrass, blankets, as well as
sheets-soon become foul and need purifi-
cation. The maitrass needs this quite as
much as the sheets. To allow the sheets
TO be used without washing or changing
three or six months, would be regarded
as bad housekeeping; but must insist If
q thin sheet can absorb poisonous excre-
tons of the body to make 1t unfit for use
in a few days, u thick mattrass, which
can absorb and contain thousand times
as much of these poisonous secretions,
needs to be purified as often GER
tainly as once in three months A sheet
can be washed. A mattrass cannot be
renovated in this way. Indeed, there is
no other way OF cleaning mattrass but
by steaming or picking il to pieces, and
thus in fragments exposing IL TO the direct
rays of the sun. AS these processes are
scarcely practicable with any Of the ordi-
nary mattresses, am decidedly OF the
opinion that the good old-fashioned straw
bed, which can every three months be ex-
changed for fresh straw, and the tick
washed, is the sweetest and healthiest OF
beds. If in the winter season the porous
ness Of the straw beds makes it a little
uncomfortable, spread over ii a comforter
or two of wooden blankets, which should
be washed as often as every two weeks.
With this arrangement, If you wash the
bed.covering as often as once in one or two
weeks, you will have a delightful, healthy
bed. Now, If you leave the bed TO air,
with open windows during the day, and
not make il for the night before evening,
you will have added greatly 10 the sweet
ness Of your rest in consequence, and TO
the tone Of your health. | heartily wish
this good change could everywhere be
introduced. Only those who have thus
attended 10 this important matter can
judge Of its influence on the general health
and spirits"
REAL PUYF PAsTE.--This recipe, al
though too rich for ordinary family use,
should not be entirely discarded, as il Is
an indispensable finish TO many elegant
dishes, and not unwholesome as an occa
sional indulgence for persons in good
health. Allow one pound Of shortening
to heaping quart Of -four, viz, half
pound OF butter and half pound OF lard;
season with q: :easpoonfui Of salt; mix
half the -four with quarter Of the snort
ening, and enough cold water--let is be
ice water In summcr-to make II just stlff
enough 10 bear rolling out with we'll
Toured rolling. pin, and with knife cover
the dough with bits of butter and lard
alternately; then with dredge-box
sprinkle thickiy with -four; double over
and roll out. Again stud the dough with
bits Of butter and lard, sprinkle with flour.
etc, until the proportions allowed for all
are exhausted. II is very desirable to
have a marble slab for pastry board, but
failing this common biscuit board
answers A low temperature ID best suit
ed for success in the art of pastry-making
Good pastry should be white, light and
fiaky, which result Can only be secured
by careful attention TO each step OF the
process, by light handling, and baking in
moderately heated oven. Experts say
that the rolling out should be repeated at
least five times, and seven times IL the
paste is expected to be superlatively nice.
---Authoresses sometimes drive good
bargain when they exchange sentiment
for sauces and chivalry for chicken broth.
Marion Harland Is an instance. Her re-
cent cook book has melted her more
money than alone" or "The Hidden
PATH Her Common Sense In the
Household Is more popular than her
romance anywhere else.
1T has been decided in Missouri that
a cheap Of boysn means any number