The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-28
USEFUL HINTS.

To sMEor nutmegs, pick them with q
pin If they are good, the oil will in
stantly spread around the puncture.
WHEN you drive O nail into O wall,
clothes press or closet, to hang things
on, drive it through spool to the head.
THERE arc several ways OF keeping
cider sweet. One in use among pro-
fessional cider-makers, and perhaps
open to AZ few objections as any, is
the addition of sulphate Of lime in the
proportion Of one-eighth of an ounce of
sulphate of lime to every gallon of cider
after fermentation has proceeded until
the cider has attained the required
flavor.
A CEMENT for cast-iron ware is made
of five parts of fire clay and one part of
fine iron filings, mixed into paste with
linseed oil. When this becomes hard it
resists heat. but it does not close cracks
in stove unless these are held by
means of plate and rivets, as the ex-
pansion caused by red heat causes the
cement to crack.
For preserving fresh meats in warm
weather To six pounds of salt add one
pound of brown sugar, two ounces of
saltpeter, three ounces of saleratus, and
half pound of finely powdered char
coal. Dissolve in sufficient water to
| cover the meat two inches with brine,
pack close and weight down. Sufficient
for fifty pounds of meat. BY soaking
the meat in cold water few hours be-
fore using it will add to its freshness.
A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
Evening Post tells how to ascend long
flights of steps: "Always go up while
inspiring, or drawing in the air; never
while respiring. At the first step l
begin inspiring, at the fourth or fifth
step stop long enough to respire and
to begin inspiring as l start again.
Thus the fatigue is greatly lessened-
indeed, reduced to a minimum. Elderly
persons, or delicate persons, should
never run to catch train; better by far
to take it easily, and quietly take the
next train"
sponge which has become dirty with
long usage. Old sponges that have been
employed tor some time, and have be-
come full Of grease and dirt, may be
again used in place of new ones. To
clean it, a solution Of permanganate of
potash and water is prepared of such
strength that it appears of wine color,
and into this the unserviceable sponge is
immersed and allowed to remain in the
liquid for some time. When taken out
and squeezed, il is next put into diluted
muriatic acid of ordinary commercial
quality, being immersed and kept satu-
rated therein for some time rs before.
The most appropriate strength of this
acid solution is about ten parts of water
to one part acid. The sponge is taken
out alter sufficient treatment, squeezed
well to free it from acid, and then washed
well i'll good spring water. When taken
out it will be found to be quite clean, to
have assumed its light color, and to be
free from all foreign matter. Sponges
treated this way become like new
sponges. The main thing to be attended
to in this plan of purifying sponges is
to see that it is thoroughly saturated
both by the permanganate and the acid
solutions, which should be allowed am
pie time to soak through the mass; care
must also be observed to wash the
sponges thoroughly with plenty OF water
at the end of the operation.