American citizen., 1881-04-02
The Linen Closet.

Sheetin1S for double beds SnOulu DC
two wards and Il half wide ut the very
least, and their lengths, when finished,
not less than two yards and three
fourths. A sheet of niggardly size is
an abomination to the tidy housewife,
who loves to see the edges of her pre-
cious mattresses safely tucked away
from the hands of the restless sleepcrs.
The hens of sheets are broad at the top
and narrow Mt the bottom. for reasons
| UNNECESSARY to mention Fine sheets
hem that is hem-stitched. or may be n
cluster of tiny tucks is added to sheet
close to its widest hem. Ii the latter
ornamcntation be selected, a provision
for its tucks must be made when plan
ming the length. The decoration of the
sheet makes turn-overS or Sheet-shams
quite unnecessary, and there is some
thing in the very word "shams' that
gives an unpleasant look to such bed
ornaments, be they ever SO elegant.
Sometimes, however, they appear to be
requisite to the agreeable appearance
of the sleeping room, but they might
have pleasanter name without injury
to their elegance.
The ends of the pillow slips should be
finished like the tops of the sheets, pro-
yided they be not-closely fitted and hut
A practical housewife has found out
by experience that the handsomest cot
ton sheeting, and by far the most dura-
BILE variety, is unbleached. Such of
her family as once insisted upon having
woolen sheets upon their beds at mid
winter are likely to take more than
kindly to unbleached goods. They are
soft, fuzzy and clinging, and everybody
knows that white, as white, is no long
er admired for anything. Unbleached
cotton are among the elegancies of the
lady's wardrobe. and why not for the
linen closetP If unbleachcd sheets are
not pleasing to the eye, they certainly
will be to the touch. Therefore the
unbleached material, in fine, smooth
texture, is neatly hemmed and brought
into use in the chambers of domestics
until they are perfectly white, when
they are promoted to the best shelves
of the closet and a new supply of un-
bleached articles takes the places they
have occupied. Pillow slips of un-
bleached cotton are treated in the same
manner.
The table cloths of the kitchen, if they
to break, should be cut up,
hemmed and devoted to the dish wash
ing department, and new ones of un-
bleached linen damask made to take
their places. Glass-wiping cloths should
not be of elderly linen, because of its
fibers, and because there is a
linen provided for glass sufficiently in
expensive for the purse of even the
most economical housewife. A plenti-
ful supply of kitchen-na -napery is marked
incentive to housewifely tidiness in the
busy part of ones establishment.
From the dining room table linen
choose such table cloths rs are very
nearly worn out, cut them into large
towels, hem them nicely, and keep them
TO lay over accidents that ,bcfall fresh
table cloth. or devote them to the usos
Of the children, who require almost un-
limited supplies of clean wipes"
Of course. q careful shopper is al
ways alert for pretty patterns and good |
qualities of table linen, opportunities |
'or good bargains coming now and then |
within her reach all the year around,
out seldom SO frequently or so satisfac-
orIy as during midwinter. Many
aides prefer for their handsome cloths |
| plain, round-threaded and not too-fine |
inen, which they embroider in quaint
patterns of trailing vines, buds or bios
oms in fadeless fosses. Sometimes
,bove a lace border is worked a suta-
Die quotation in large German text or
I'D English lettering upon each of the
our sides, each text being selected SO
Is to extend quite across its own side
# the cloth. OF the same sort of linen,
pieces one yard by three-fourths of
ard in size are frequently embroidered
n similar patterns to lay over the cloth
beneath the carver's paraphernalia and
llsO to sustain the coffee or tea tray, or
perhaps to receive the soup tureen.
which is usually in the hostess care.
Counterpancs and bed blankets cost
much less money toward the end of
winter than they do earlier in the sea-
on, because the merchant desires to
make space for his new spring goods,
which always occupy more room than
10 the goods for other parts of the year.
ladies' are not always practical. They
ometimes fail to take these matters
nto their minds with sufficient intelli-
.encc. II lady can secure seven
er cent. interest for her money she
on siders herself exceedingly fortunate.
T she secures the necessaries of her
ouse at ten per cent. reduction from
heir usual cost it is equal to ten per
ent. investment, and is quite worthy
cr careful consideration. -IHila. Record