Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18

BOSTON FERNERIES-THE MATTER OF CLOVES
BATCH OF USEFUL RECIPEs--rHE BUTTON PROB


BOSTON FERNERIES-THE MATTER OF GIovEs-A
BATCH OF USEFUL RECIPEs-THE BUTTON PROB
LEM, &C, &C.
WATERCREss SALAp.-Miss Juliet Corson gives
this as her way of making watercress salad:
Carefully pick over, wash aud drain quart of
Eatercresses; dress them with tablespoonful
OF vinegar, three OF salad OIL a saltspoonful of
SAT- and quarter saltspoOnful of pepper.
APPLES AHEAD OF PorAToEs.-It is asserted
that the nutritiousness ofapples has never been
properly appreciated and that they are far more
nourishing than potatoes. Cornish workmen
say that they can work better on baked apples
than on potatoes There is dish In Cornwall
called squad pie, made of mutton with slices of
potato. apple and onion. and, strange as it may
seem to many, it is excellent.
DRAPERIEs FOR STANDS upon which to place a
vase OF flowers or some beautiful ornament are
exquisitely made by ladies. The materials are
rich, and always selected with an eye for color
effects. Metal lace is brought into use very
literally in putting the finishing touches TO these
nome productions Decorations fer sofa cusi-
ions are very elaborate: the embroidery is done
IN feather stitch: the applique work is of plush
and satin.
How SIZE SOLVED THE PUzzIE-"It is a
curious fact, said the father Of family that
although you seem always to be sewing buttons
On those boys clothes. there are never any
there. 1t was puzzle to the mother also
she was haunted with vague sense of disaster
from the buttons which fell off the children's
clothes as leaves in autumn. The waist bands
with eight or nine buttons. aud with button
holes to match in various garments. did not
serve a wise purpose. So. though the bows
seemed too small and young for it. she bought
suspenders She was surprised to find that she
could buy those which were elastic aud yet not
stiff enough to hurt their shoulders. These she
fastened to the paEtaloOBs in the usual way. In
the inside Of the waist-band she put two metal
buttons for the stocking supporters: the metal
buttons being more durable and less likely to
cut the thread than porcelain ores. This was a
clear saving OF eight buttou-hcles. After a few
days the children became accustomed to them
ana the only d1fl1cufty that remained Was 10 con-
vince them OF the necessity of coats even if one
does wear suspeaders.-N. 7. Post.
How TO CLEANSE CAShNERES AND WsoILEE
pREssEs.-Take one-quarter OF pound OF
white CASTLE soap. four ounces Of carbonate OF
ammonia. Two ounces of glycerine two onnees
OF chloric ether and two ounces of alchnI. Shave
the soap into thin slices. and turn over it one
quart OF boiling water and let it dissolve over
the fire, stirring it rapidly. Add the elycerine
ana the ammonia when the soap is nearly dis
solved. Stir well. add three quarts of cold
water, and when quite cold stir in the aicohol
put into gallon jug and turn in the chIoric
ether Shake up the Jug cork tightly. and it
VIII keep good till used up. To cleanse the
dresses-Put teacupful of the mixture into
three Or four quarts Of lukewarm water and stir
it up: then dap the fabric into it and rub off ali
the grease and soil. Rinse in strong bung
water to give good color to black or blue
goods, and iron with moderately heated irons
while damp For taking soil cut Of coat collars
vests, etc, turn some Of the mixture into cup
OF tepid water and apply with a SPENCE then
clean, rinse Off with cold water ard clean
sponge. 1t will fresIen old clothes wonder
fully.
The SCIENCE OF WARMING APA RTMENTs, and
OF securing therein. at the same time a pure and
healthy atmosphere. has become important since
nferlaces went out for the most part aud stoves
or furnaces came in as a rule. The hygieiiists
assert. Orat least one OF them DR.. Polli of Milan
does. that the common practice of placing on the
stove a pan of water, to purify the air by absorb
ing carbonc acid. is a dangerous one. Water he
says, does not absorb carbonic acid but on the
contrary. adds to it by the decomposition of the
carbonate OF lime contained. more or less. in all
Gilnkable water. The doctor atfirInS that the
white incrustations found Oh the sides of the
vessel are formed by the deposits of sub-carbo-
mates and sulplateS of lime. produced BIZ the
evaporation OF the water. the principal part of
the carbo1ic acid having been given of TO the
surrounding atmosphere. DR.. Polii's plan is to
place upon the stove pans containing Cuick lime
Which absorbs the cafb0nic acid in the air. This
puriles the atmosphere. but at the same time
makes it very dry. To obva5a this dfficuty.yes-
room in positions where they are not exposed
to the action OF the fire.
FANCY FERN PANs.-With but little pains the
fancy fern pans, Or Boston ferneries'' as they
are called by florists can be flied These will
grow and remain fresh for months. if well
Watered. If the woods are visited on an open
winters day variety Of pretty mosseS and
terms may be gathered. basket should be
taken in which TO place rock moss. wood moss
and swamp moss. which will be found in rock
cTeylces, at the roots of trees and in the
swamps. This is used as the foundation for the
lefnery AT any tin shop pan hall an inch
deeper than round tin pe-ian can be made
In this mix the several kinds of moses The
prettIest collection to gather is graceful
branches OF pine. pitcher plants, snake roots,
wintergreen. fungus. wood berries, lycopodiIm.
Wild cranberries, acorns, pterris linun. ard ferns
Ross, rlunging the roots and stems we'll into
it. The fernery should be soaked with water
morning and night. The water should be well
drained off by tipping the pan. If these fern
cries are placed On the round 9ilded baskets so
popular this season. they make charming and
economical centre piece for the dianer-table g.
Hrs. Benson In "Cur Contiaeat."
enthusiastically insists that long loose
gloves shall be de ,iJeur. The fat woman gets
into them and has the satisfaction of affording
infinite amusement to those who are not en-
tirely lost to a sense of humor. Her arms look
Inc tNiH bologna saUSaIeS. Inc woman with
beautiful arms spoils one of the rarest of
charms. The woman with thin. ugly
arms alone covers herself with more or less
glory. AS matter Of fact no two beings are
fashioned alike: many are fearfully and wonder
fully made, and hands and arms are az distinc-
tive as eyes and mouths. There are women
whose arms cannot well bear more than six
buttoned gloves even in ball dress. Why
should they injure their appearance by imitat-
ing an actress who would be the first to rail at
such folly! Have they not taste enough to
Judge of effect? Admitting taste. do they not
possess sufficient strength CT mind to have the
courage of conviction? The wearing of gloves.
be they tour. or six, or twenty -buttoned, is
scarcely subject upon which to wax eloquent,
yet this same apparently trivial detail involves
principle, the principle of Individuality Of in
dependence of thought, of propriety in adorn-
mcnt There is no such thing as senseless
beauty. There is always reason why beauty is
beauty. however ignorant the many headed may
be Of the cause of objective pleasure-Kate
Field IN sour Continent"
VARIOUS REcrpEs.-Dried apples can be used
for mince pies when it is impossible to procure
fresh ones. Take nice. we'll dried fruit. soak it
over night in cold water, chop fine and use in