Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1882-06-23
HoMELETTER.

DEAR EDiTRESS.-l take inc tlMe
this warm morning, to send in a few
words Of geeeting to the readers Of our
home department, at the same time
wishing that we could hear more fire.
quently from those correspondents who
used to favor us with their friendly let
tiers. What in the world has become
of thems "Millicent" with her dear,
kind, motherly, homelike ways; and
Phoenix" with her spicy, forcible let.
tiers There was "John Christopher
Constant" tool always thought he
was a woman-Where, oh where is he
gomez do not see why those old
correspondents cannot come before us
once month and be company for the
new ones who occasionally drop in. l
have been SO much pleased that we
women folks" are allowed corner
all by ourselves, where we can talk of
cooking, housework, the fashions, flow
ers, or scandal, without having a mas
culine nose poksd in, to inquire what
we did with that last five cents We had
to 60 to market with. have received
much benefit from the various valuable
recipes; there are also few questions
that would like to ask but will refrain.
as it seems like wasting time to ask SO
many questions that no one answers.
Instead of asking, will give my mite
and retire. Having tried several ways
to get rid Of those pestiferous varmints
the black ants, l thought of new
plan, as l had had such poor success
with the old ones. | turned a basin
bottom upwards in ten quart tin pan;
on the basin sci the sugar bucket, the
molasses on top of that, and then put
LAYER of corn meal around the basin,
sprinkling over it plentiful supply Of
cayenne pepper. This plan worked
well for while, until forced by hunger
or a desire for sweet, the ants crossed
the Rubicon, ie.. the corn meal. and
found their way into the sugar.
My next attempt. was tub contain
ing water about an inch deep, a tin pan
turned upside down IN the water, ana
the sugar and molasses set on top of
the pan. In less than twenty four hours
the perseyering little toIments, had
swan safely over and were joyfully
helping themselves.
Then l daubed ring of tar around
the outside of the pan. set it on the
shelf, with the bucket Of sugar in place
on top oft, and awaited results. In
a very short time they gave 1t up and
retired from the field.
To rid the house ofred ants, I placed
on shelf plate smeared with syrup,
and in little while it vas covered with
The little red imps, as busy as bees. l
had a pan of boiling water waiting on
the stove, in which l remorselessly
drowned my enemy. and set the plate
back to catch more; keeping this up
until the whole colony is destsoyed.
was three or four days about, it and for
some time afterward there was not an
ant to be seen, when they appeared in
another part ofthe pantry. The same
ceremony with the new corners silenced
hem as effectually as the first. This
,ufficed for the season.
| find that can keep quite clear Of
lies, ants, and reaches, by keeping my
,itci:en, pantry shelves, safe, and dish
perfectly clean-washing the
shelves over with weak brine, alum
sa,er, ammoniated water. borax water,
" weak I've. All of these are good,
nd sometimes use one, and
ometimes another Of the preparations. I
nut carbolic acid IN the water in I
shich l mop my floor; this takes away
II bad smells. My rooms are kept :
sell aired every day. In summer the v
arpets are taken up all over the house, ,
ell beaten, sprinkled with ammonia, S
ired thoroughly, and put away until
eptember. My floors are painted and :
re easily kept clean. My parlor floor G
co, cred with mating, which is both t
Dol and pretty. !.
When have an, thing which l do s
OF really need, either books. news ii
.pers. articles of clothing. pictures, d
in fact anything that ! do not expec q
, use again, / always give it 20 some !,
,orer person; thereby doing good g
led. and at the same time Kidding my h