Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-23
IBO1Il; TOPICS.
Some Useful Hints.

Ii the chamber carpet is dusty, throw
snow over it and sweep quickly and thor
oughly.
Mortar and paint may be removed from
window glass by applying hot sharp vine
gar.
Starch makes a better paste to use in
papcring walls than flour, and is less ex-
pensivc also little will go so much fur
ther.
To clean carpet rugs take wet Indian
meal and sprinkle over them. Let it re-
main for n short time and then sweep
off, and your rugs will look as bright as
new.
Two ounces of soda in quart of hot
water make good wash for n painted
wood work preparatory to repainting. The
finish should afterwards be wiped over in
clear water.
The table doilies are now often embroi-
dered in the centre only. An initial let
ter is frequently selected, and within n
fanciful or grotesque figure is carried out
in raised dotted embroidery.
Scrap baskets are decorated with hang
ings of crimson or deep brown plush, in
laid with satir. and vandyke. Each point
is specially ornament with tassel of diff
ferent colors, while the handles are cover
ed with shaded ribbons.
A stick of hard wood, made in the shape
of a tiny oar, is the most convenient thing
to stir cake with. An old wagon spoke
will furnish material, and any man or boy
can easily make one. Sketch n bit OF
'water-scapo" on the handle.
The blackened lights of old pictures
can be instantly restored TO their original
color by touching them with deutoxide OF
hydrogen, diluted with eight times its
weight of water. When dry wash the
part treated with clean sponge and luke
warm water.
Make mattress of charcoal, broken in
small bits, to fit common flower pot
put it in the bottom of the pot, with a
mattress of sand over it, each about five
inches thick hang this pot on faucet,
with vessel under it to receive the wa
ter, and the water will be thoroughly fill
tered.
A unique and decorative piece of furni.
ture is a combination sofa and cabinet,
the very high back being furnished with
shelves for ornaments, AMI the lower part
| fitted up as a sofa and elegantly upholst-
cred. The spaces between the sofa and
shelves furnish opportunity for exhibi
tiou of art needle-work
Pretty spreads for small tables, intend
ed for tete-a-tete sets of china, are made
Of square Of every heavy linen, with /
border worked in outline or kensingtor
stitch, in bright-colored silk or cotton
You can for small sum have pattern
| l d. af.,1 l. ~.
or working cotton before using it, to max,
sure that it will not fade. Small napkins
to match are much used, and they ma,
have n simple decoration i'll one or tw,
corners, if you do not care to spend s,
much time on them as border will neces
state.
Sofa pillows are used made of ever,
conceivable material and of all sizes
Two or three are often found upon a sin
glo lounge and where this is 80 the,
should be of colors that either harmonic
well with each other and with the lounge
or that contrast prettily. When one cai
not cmbroder, or does not wish to Civ
the time to it, very pretty substitute 70
it is found in applique, Get the fine
nice cretonne with bright-colorcd flowers
Cut these out and bastc upon your foun
dation, winch may be of satin, silk, plusl
or satinc. Hem them down with fine cot
ton, and then embroider them down, Sc
lecting carefully the silks that mate
with the flowers. Use but.onhole site
for that purpose. Make the stems wit
the silk rather than those of the calico
The effect when completed, is as hand
some as painting and more durable, an
anybody can do it. The great thing is t
accomplish it in a neat manner.