The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-11-08
Selected Household Hints.

Here is hint for a careful housewife
who wishes to make the most of every
thing. When your red table cloth is
too much worn in spots to use any lon
ger on the table, cut the good parts in
the shape of napkins, fringe them out
for about an inch, if inclined to ravel
easily overc cast them, and it will be
many long day before any member of
your family will discover that they are
not regular "boughten" fruit napkins.
The mothers of the present day must
form the men and women of the future.
No degree of masculine development
can make up for the lack of mental and
physical cultivation in woman. 1t is
the mother who gives the element of
greatness. No nation can advance where
everything that goes to the cultivation
of woman is neglected; and no nation
can fail of greatn ess and of success where
women are genuinely respected.
For pretty work basket take course
tidy-cotton, and crochet a piece that
can be drawn over good-shaped bowl,
or basket-shaped block, and then, after
stretching it tightly over the form,
starch it we'll, and thoroughly dry,
then varnish it with gum shellac dis
solved in alcohol. In day or two it
can be easily taken from the form and
will then be stiff basket. Line with
some bright goods and tie two knots of
ribbon on either side to match the lin
ing. A fiat crochet border around the
top is pretty way of finishing it.
AS there is now great difficulty in
obtaining efficient domestic help, press
your girls into the service. If a daugh-
ter evince taste and aptness for any
branch of work, encourage her in it,
and pay her for what she does and let
her buy her own clothes. 1t comes out
of her parents pockets any way, and
this will serve to make her feel indie
pendent and take an interest in her
work. Ifparents would take thiscou1se,
they would not need to employ SO much
domestic help; and should misfortune
overtake them, their daughters would
not be left helpless.
A table should be made to look as
attractive as possible, and very sim
pie meal will become appetizing if its
surroundings and appointments are
pleasant. Tired, weary housekeepers
who are obliged to prepare their own
meals, may smile at the idea Of spend
ing time over setting a repast daintily,
or to preside at the table as though they
were entertaining guests, but they will
find that it is well worth the trial, and
that the meal that was hitherto simple
interruption fom the cares and occu-
pations of the day, has become an op-
portunity for the interchange Of pleas
ant thoughts and the rest and refine
ment of the mind as we'll as of the body.
Every housekeeper should be supplied
with sufficient quantity of table linen
that she may be able to change often
and avoid using cloth when soiled.
Clean, spotless linen if not very fine,
looks much better than snowy, hand
some, but soiled damask. Nothing
makes table look prettier than glass,
and no housekeeper need feel sorry that
she cannot use silver instead. Even
cheap, common glassware, that costs
but trife, can be made to look really
elegant OH a table when washed care
fully and polished until bright and
transparent. A snowy cloth, spotless
china, and clear crystal, with water
lily resting on bed of green leaves in
a glass dish, or cluster of wild flowers,
arranged gracefully with fern and grass
es in a vase, placed in the centre of the
table, or even single flower laid upon
each napkin, and the various dishes put
on in order will make of any table
"thing of beauty" where all who come
will be inclined to linger.