The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-03-24
The Care u Modern silver Plate.

tainihes quite u SertOuS question, tne mui-
nplication of articles of plate, whether OF
solid silver or only plated ware, isa very
doubtful good. Nevertheless, The in.
genuity of man II tasked year by. year.
to find s.rle new device, some new style
bf knife or spoon, to say nothing Of larger
pieces, to meet the constant demand foi
novelties and so-called conveniences,
whose utility is, after all, somewhat
doubtful
With each new article that comes into
the house, comes an added care to the
housekeeper, who must often be more
inclined to groan, than TO smile, nj the
sight of the bright polished or chased
surface, at first so beautiful, but alas,
soon TO become discolored, scratched
and battered. Our grandmothers had
the advantage of It's in two respects
they were content with less luxurious
surroundings than are obtained to-day
Silver ware was not with them an article
of almost universal and every day use, as
it is now, but veg reserved for state oc-
casienn, Or, at least, was cared for by
careful and appreciative hands.
How many silver porringers or teapots
will our grandchildren seeP Even, how
ever had the silver of fifty years since
been subjected to AS hard usage us is
meted to that of to-day, 1t would rot
suffered to the same extent. AT that time
all plate was either solid silver, or hard
silver alloy soldered to the baser metal in
the brick, before it was rolled or stamped
into the shape of the article. This alloy
which was usually coin silver, Chat is,
all 10
copper,) took a brilliant polish, and kept
it a long time, owing to its greater hard
ness.
Since the art of electro-platifg has
been discovered, much silver plate is
prepared in this way and consists of
some cheap metal with thin film of
pure silver deposited upon the outer
surface by the action of u battery.
This surface, when the article leaves
the manufacturer hands, has a beauti-
full luster; but pure silver, being soft. is
easily scratched, and when once it is
dulled it is almost impossible to restore
its brilliancy, and since the coating of
silver Is very thin 1t soon wears off and
the baser metal beneath stands revealed.
There is still another reason why sill
yer, even the solid article, is a more
troublesome possession now than in past
times. We have to pay, and sometimes
we pay very dear, for our many and
boosted modern improvements. Our an
cesters did without many things which
We consider essential to comfort, but
they escaped more than they lost. We
have furnaces. illuminating gas and
bathrooms in our convenient houses, but
with these, and because of these, we have
almost inevitably more or less sulphur
cited hydrogen gas and sewer gas Our
silver plate is, perhaps, more sensitive
to the influence of these substances than
we are ourselves, and reveals, by its dis
coloration, tarnish and consequent de-
mand for frequent cleaning, the presence
of noxious elements of which we are very
possibly UNCONSCIOUS.
The extent of the trouble laid upon
the housekeeper by her abundance of
silver is indicated by the number of pre-
parations for cleaning and polishing,
which flood the market and thrust them
selves everywhere upon her attention.
Each one claims excellence over all
others, and promises results more
marvellous with the expenditure of less
time and strength than anything ever
before offered for sale. 1T would be IL
teresting to know the amount drawn an
nually from the purses of much-endur-
ing woman kind, by this one class of
articles; it could not fail to reach a pretty
large figure. If these preparations
really do perform what they promise, if
they clean the silver quicker or better
fhat, ,1N-fpY tnr1ly
and if they bestow brilliant and per-
minent polish, as many of them profess
to do, the money spent on them is not
all wasted, or what is better worth pay
ing for than that which really saves
time and laborp The two permanently
valuable possessions of man, and the
basis of all wealth and welfare. Let us
consider for moment the work which
a good silver polish has to do. If silver
is only soiled by ordinary use, it is best
cleaned by careful washing and wiping,
With brisk rubbing with a piece of
chamoise skin. A few drops of am
monia added to the water in which it is
washed, will aid in the process. Silver
does not need rubbing with powder
as often as is commonly thought. If
time or exposure to harsh treatment and
to foul gases has left a tarnish which
fails to yield to this care, it is because a
thin film of some chemical compound of
silver has been formed Oh the surface.
(The dark stain of the sulphide is well
known.) In order to restore the bright
ness to such discolored surface. it is
necessary to remove the Objectionable
film, and since we know of no safe
solvent for the Ozark salts of silver, which
will not as well dissolve the metal, we
must resort to friction. For this. the
substance used must be entirely free
from any gritty OF sharp particles, for
the soft silve. is easily defaced beyond
remedy.
A good silver polish has then to fulfill
three conditions. First, is must be clean.
free from any grease, and it may con-
tain ammonia or alcohol, to take away
any greasy film left in careless washing.
Secondly, it must not contain any chem
zeal which can harm the metal Thirdly
it must contain a very fine powder, free
from any grit or sharp grains, which will
nevertheless be hard enough to remove
by gentle friction, the stained surface.
Three substances fulfill these conditions
rouge, whiting (the purified form, sold
as precipitatcd chalk,) and infusorial
silica, often sold as electro-silicon. OF
these, whiting is, perhaps Justly, the
favoIite: and if the practice of one good
housekeeper is followed, namely, to stir
it up with water and carefully float off
the fine portion and collect it on cloth,