The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-02-03
Interesting to the Ladies-RenOvating
Black Dresses.

If fashion is gradually introducing
more of color into the toilette, still NJ
wardrobe is complete without at leas
one black dress, and then the number
of those who wear mourning creates fol
it constantly a steady demand. Its un.
failing popularity is proved by the fact
that the prices of black goods do not
decline prOportionallyw with others, mer-
chants saying that their sale is always
sure. But although neat black dress
is thus serviceable, and its wearer sure
of being appropriately, if not hand
somely, dressed in any company in
which she may appear, yet no dress is
more susceptible of improvement from
constant and intelligent care, and il
does seem as if a shabby, ill-kept suit
of black was one degree more shabby
than any other. No lady should ever
don her alpaca, cashmere, or serge
without giving it a thorough busting
with broom or brush. Dust permitted
to settle in the folds of pleat or shirring
will soon be impossible to remove en-
tirely, and give the whole gown that
untidy air so much to be deprecated in
every thing pertaining to lady's per-
son.
But after the constant use for months,
or maybe a year, the most carefully
kept black dress will begin to show the
effects of use, in certain rustiness of
hue and general dinginess of aspect, if
in no place actually rubbed or worn.
Now is the time to eXpend little skill
and ingenuity in its renovation, when
the economist may be rewarded by COM
ing out in an old dress made new, sure
of eliciting the admiration of at least all
those who are in the secret. For the
undertaking provide yourself with ten
cents worth of soap-bark, procurable
at an herb store, and boil it in one quart
OF hot water. Let it steep a while, and
then strain it into basin for use. If
the job is to be a perfect and thorough
one, take the body and sleeves apart
and to pieces; rip off the trimming from
skirt and over-skirt. Brush off all loose
dust first, and then, with a sponge dip
ped in the soap-bark decoction, wipe
over each piece thoroughly, folding up as
you proceed. Have ready a ladies' skirt
board for pressing, and well-heated
irons. Smooth every piece Onthe wrong
side, including even silk trimmings; and
when you have once more put it togeth-
er you will be amazed to see the results
of the simple process. One advantage
of taking the whole dress apart is that,
by putting the trimming on in some
style little different from what it was
at first, the attraction of novelty is adj
ded to make the effect more pleasing.
Ii one has not time, however, to 90
through the whole process, dress may
be greatly improved by being wiped
over with this mixture, and pressed on
the wrong side while damp-indeed, for
a time, it will look quite as good as new.
The process may be repeated from time
to time as shall seem advisable. l have
seen a cashmere, which had been worn
two whole winters, taken apart and
in this way, and the closest OBJ
server would have supposed the dress
TO have been put on for the first time,
such was its soft, fresh look, and the |
vividness of its black. Grenadines NAV
be submitted to the same sort of clean |
ing with fine results.
When black lawn has become limp. |
and generally forlorn-looking, |
he best mode of treatment to subject it |
% is, first a submersion in a pan of |
warm water colored highly with indigo;
hen exposure to the air until Just /
iampness enough is left to enable one
o press it TO advantage with a not iron,
md if this is carefully done, always on
he wrong side, the lawn will come