The Portland daily press., 1884-01-30

keeping the clothing from contract with other
own clothing by itself, and there should be no
common receptacle for soiled body linen. 1t is
good plan to furnish each member of the
family with bag in which to put the clothing
after it is taken off. and has been aired. This
bag may be perfectly plain, and be hung in
the closet, in which case it should be turned
inside out every time it is emptied, and ex-
posed to the sun and air, SO as to be kept free
from all disagreeable odors, or it may be an Or
namentsl bag, which can hang in one corner
of the room. 1t should be made of cretonne
and silesia or Turkey red to harmonic with
the other furnishings of room. Take square
piece OF pasteboard, part Of stiff paper box
will do nicely, about quarter of yard
square. Cover with the figured cretonns,
which you have decided upon; around this
sew strip of the same cretonne about fifteen
inches in depth, and sew piece of the plain
silesia of equal depth on the top of this; you
will then have your bag with asfigured cre-
tonne lower half and plain top; take strip of
the cretonne about four inches in depth, and
long enough to eneircle the bag, cut the lower
edge into points about three inches deep, leav-
ing the top plain; bind both top and bottom
with bias strips of the cretonne, and finish each
point with q Woosted tassel the color of the up
per portion of the bag; sew this ornamental
strip on to the plain part. just above where it
is joined to the cretonne, arranging it so that
the bottom of the tassel will just reach the
seam. Make broad hem at the top, and ar
range the drawing strings of worsted braid,
which shall match the top of the bag in color,
SO as to form ruf1e at the top when the bag
is closed. You have no idea how pretty your
bag will be. 1t will make very attractive
ornament, and it will take but very little time
to make it. Many ladies have still smaller
bag to hold pocket handkerchief, collars, cuffs
and laces, not liking them to be mixed with
the larger linen. This excessive care may
seem "fussy" to some persons, but the doctors
tell US that much illness would be averted il
just such care were taken always We all
know how necessary it is for each person to
have his or her own set of towels, and how
carefully all toilet articles are kept apart from
Others and the same care, it is maintained,
should be observed with the soiled body linen.
LITTLE THINGS.
made as follows: Buy a cheap willow basket,
either square or round, and instead of running
ribbon through the reeds, use strips of enam-
eled cloth or common shelf oil CLOTH Have
the strips double, with the cloth side in, and
pink both edges; then cut piece of oil cloth
to fit the bottom.
The square splint strawberry baskets, which
accumulate SO quickly in strawberry season,
and for which no other use has been found,
may be utilized as spool baskets by lining
them with silesis, and covering them with
flannel or cool Saline; cut four pieces the
width of each side, in semi-circular form;
finish the lower edge with light bntton-hole
stitch in a contrasting color, and in the centre
work figure in outline; fasten these pieces,
one on each side of the basket, and finish the
top of the basket where they are joined, with a
plating of ribbon, having tiny bow on one
corner, This makes pretty work basket for a
child. 1t may be made more elegant by being
covered with satin or velvet.
An old housekeeper recommends the follow
ing mode of cleaning stained wood work which
is also vanished Save the,,t tea leaves from the
tea pot for few days. Drain them, and when
clean soft water; let them simmer for half an
hour. When almost cold, strain them out,
and, dipping flannel cloth in the water, wipe
off the paint, drying it with another flannel
cloth. One cup of tea leaves to one quart of
water is due allowance.
1T is said that few drops of carbolic acid,
that is, ten drops in one pint of water, will if
poured over the earth in flower pots, kill all
living things except the plants.
Delicious chocolate drops are made by melt
ing the chocolate and dipping little pieces of
pine apple in it; canned pine apple will an
swer.
Double faced cotton flannel should be put on
the dining table under the cloth. 1t will add
very much to the appearance of the table, as it
will throw into relief the figures of the dam
ask; it will preserve the linen threads and
keep them from cracking, and it will also pro-
tect the table and keep it from being marred
by the dishes.