Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-10-17
FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.

FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
CN0ERS IN THE EYE.-The simplest
method of removing cinders from the
eye Is to pass a camels-hair brush
dipped IN water over it. The operation
requires no special skill, and occupies
but minute.
TEA STAINs.-Tea stains should be
wet IN equal parts of alcohol and am
m onia. and then washed in tepid soap
suds. If the spots be firmly fixed ex-
pose them to the fumes Of burning
sulphur.
POLISHED FLoORs.-Some persons will
persist in scrubbing and securing
polished tlours, which is both silly and
injurious. They should be swept with a
broom covered with flannel, and polish
ed twice q year:
SNIILAx.-With very little care smilax
can be grown successfully as a house
plant. The seed should be sown in
box, or In pots in the house; should be
kept moist till the young plant
appears. The seed being rather slow to
terminate, you must not think it bad
if it does not make appearance in two
weeks. The young plants should be
potted OIL into three inch pots as soon
as they are three or four inches high.
Once year the bulbs should be al
lowed to dry off and rest; they will
start into growth again in about six
weeks.
MAKING FEATHER SCREENs.-Cut two
rounds of cardboard Of the size YOU
may desire, by putting plate upon it
and drawing the circle. Cover one Of
the rounds with feathers letting the
ends stand out at least an inch and a
half The feathers can be sewed or
glewed on. Put on another row in the
same manner, and continue to do so
until the round is filed up to the center.
Cover the stem with a rosette or bow of
ribbon. Cover the other circle with
silk, and paste the two together. Add
a handle of an old fan, and ornament
with gilded paper.
DRY CELLARS. -A perfectly dry cellar
may be made even below the natural
water level of the ground, by using
asphaltum. For this purpose the floor
should be covered with bricks laid flat
and perfectly level, over this layer of
melted asphaltum poured, and on this
bricks must be laid which have been
dipped in hot asphaltum, so that there
will be asphaltum in the joints between
the bricks instead of mortar. Then
the side walls around the cellar are
built in the same way, with melted
asphaltum between the bricks instead
of mortar.
REMOVING GREASE SPoTs.-Grease
spots can be quickly removed from
paper by sCraping little pipe-clay upon
both sides of the paper, and then put
ting fat-iron over them, taking care
that it is not so hot as to scorch the
paper. Another method is to wet the
grease spot with ether, and then put a
bit of white blotting paper on each side
Of the paper, and apply the hot iron.
If stain remains after the grease has
been extracted, dip a camePs hair
brush into pure spirits of wine and
draw it over the edges of the spot.
UNIFORMED GoWNs.-Solid colored
lawn and muslin gowns need not be
ironed unless the owner pleases, and
she will be very sorry if she do please,
for her robes will be far more becoming
| if she tries the following process:
Wiring the gown out of the water, not
through the wringer, but by hand, so as
to make a long, fine rope, and then
twist it tight around clothes-line, and
let it stay until it is thoroughly dry.
Then shake out, and Grape gown will
appear instead of the humble muslin.
White gowns should be wrnng out of
very weak coffee. If it is necessary to
pack one of these dresses do net up
twist it; stow it away in any corner of
a trunk, and the more it is crushed the
better
NECESSARY KKOWLEDGE.-The mis-
tress Of a household should undoubtedly
have practical knowledge of house
work in all its branches. A knowledge
Of cookery will enable her to point out
to inefficient cooks the cause of mistake
and failure; and she should not only
know how things should look and taste
when sent to the table, but be able to
judge Of, and choose well, every kind of
provision. 1t will not be easy for a
cook to impose upon lady who knows
exactly now much of every ingredient
is requisite for each dish, and who is
able to estimate the quantity of food
required daily for her household. 1t
may not, under all circumstances, be
necessary for a lady to exercise her
knowledge in these important matters;
and if she has cook who has proved
herself trustworthy, she will do well to
delegate large powers to her. But it is
obvious that, to Judge the skill and hon
esty Of her cook, the lady must possess
the knowledge indicated.