St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-04-10
How to Make a Bed.

The first thing to be done is to put or
the bed-apron, which should be hung ii
the closet of the chamber nearest the
kitchen, that there may be no excuse fol
not using it every time the beds arc
made. The next thing is to place two
chairs about eighteen inches apart, and
near the foot of the bed. Remove the
pillows and lay them on the chairs
grasp the counterpane, and with gen.
tie pull and toss, lay it across the arms
and place it orderly upon the chairs.
Remove the quilts, comfortables and
sheets in the same manner, and lastly,
lay. the bolster across the chairs. Ii the
feather tick is heavy, it is decidedly tire
some for weak backs, and need not be
removed, but with quick motion it
may be rolled up near the head of the
bed while the mattress is being shaken
up.
A word about the shaking: If the
mattress is tick filled with straw or
husks, scarcely two persons would stir
it alike. My mother always makes
splendid looking beds-high, carefully
oval and soft, to degree | can never
hope to equal, simply because l do not
like to occupy them. Railways want the
bed to be level, showing little depression
where the body has lain, and the smooth
mattress, covered in summer with an
eight or ten-pound cotton mattress, and
in winter with a feather tick, suits me
best. Several years ago, when / occu-
pied a bed alone, seldom thoroughly
shook up the straw oftener than weekly.
One summer, when Freddie slept with
me, used to raise a little ridge in the
center of the bed to keep him from roll
ing against me while asleep, as children
are quite apt to do.
After the mattress is arranged at the
foot, the feathers can be carefully rolled
down and the head of the bed shaken
up; the feathers should be stirred and
lightly patted smooth, and the bolster
shaken and laid in place. If two per-
sons occupy the bed, give the benefit of
the fullest end of the bolster to the one
who desires the head highest. Take
hold of the first sheet carefully Git
will be very easy to pick it up if
properly laid down), and with quick
motion toss it over the bed, allowing it
to cover the bolster well, and tuck it
down at the head. Lay on the second
sheet, allowing the hem to reach mid
way of the bolster, and tuck down both
sheets all around the bed. Spread on
quilts and comfortables, and lastly the
counterpart, taking care that all are an
equal distance from the head of the bed.
Shake up the pillows and lay them
smooth, and bring the shams from the
closet where they were lightly folded
the night previously, and the bed is
made.
The advantage of having two chairs
is that as the articles are taken off one
by one they can be laid in order, and
there is no danger of the unpleasant
feeling that the part covering the feet
one night will lie over the face the next.
used to think it very tiresome when
insisted on my removing the
articles separately; but | now see the
wisdom of the plan, and whenever see
my one heedlessly rolling the bed
clothes together and off the bed, I wish
hey could have the chance | had of
earning to remove them properly.
Ii the size of the room will allow, it is
preferable that the bed stand far enough
way from the wall to allow easy access
IN either side. Aside from the con-
'enience, thorough night ventilation is
more easily managed. But under any
one must not forget that
resh air is as essential as sound sleep
n well-made bed.-Gussie Thomas, in
JO1tNtfU Gentleman.