The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-05-07
OLD NEWSPAPERS.
THE VARIOUS USES TO WHICH THEY
MAY BE PUT.
The Many Excellent Purposes Which the
Daily Paper May BE Made to Serve
In Household Economics
Health Hints.
lHarper's Razar.l


Old newspapers are of more use than
would appear at first glance. We sub
scribe to the daily newspaper because we
must be informed on all the affairs of the
day. Then many think the next thing IL
to relegate them to the kitchen in order to
provide kindling for the household fires,
and 1t must be confessed that Bridget
makes very free use of them in that way.
But they serve so many excellent pur-
poses besides that it seems a pity to let
Bridget have full sway, though she may
try to convince you that it is impossible
TO get the breakfast without even using
those of the very latest date.
It has been several times suggested by
economists that newspapers can be made
to take the place of blankets in guarding
from cold, and it is a fact well worthy of
notice that they have been proved very
satisfactory in making light, convenient,
and warm bed coverings when others can
not be had. Travellers would do well to
bear this in mind when far from the re-
gion of hotels, and not throw their paper
out of the car window, or leave it on their
seat in changing cars, for there is no tell
ing how useful 1t may prove In some
emergency to ward off cold. AS pre-
ventive of that fatal disease, pneumonia
a folded newspaper laid beneath the outer
clothing across the chest is said to be in
fallible
This has been confirmed to the writer
by the testimony of an individual whose
avocations kept him constantly exposed
to all weathers, night and day. He was.a
resident of a country village, perfect
type of hearty, strong, vigorous man,
and he accounted for his robust health,
notwithstanding his exposures, by saying
shat although inheriting consumptive
tendencies, he had been able to resist
them through the simple precaution of al.
ways wearing newspaper over his chest
under his coat
As a preventive of cold feet, q piece
Of newspaper folded in the sole is quite
equal, If not so elegant or expensive as
cork or lambskin soles, being light, soft,
and easily renewed. If you wish to test
the power of a newspaper in excluding
cold, try lacking one, doubly folded, be-
tween your window and your stand of
plants, and see how nicely they will be
protected, and how frosty the window
will consequently be. Newspapers will
in the autumn, before severe black frosts
come on, effectually protect greenhouse
plants, before you take them up, from
cold and wind.
The writer remembers once driving up
about dusk to a country place and being
startled at seeing what looked like pia.
toon of ghosts drawn up in white array
before the house. which turned out to be,
on closer inspection, rows of tender plants
all tied up in newspapers to protect them
from the sudden frOsts incident to the
season. that in one night might cut them
all down. We have known tomato plants
protected in the same way, and made
90 ripen in the open garden much longer
by this inexpensive, easy precaution
within everyone's reach
Old newspapers are admirable as floor
coverings under carpets, or even spread
under hensington squares, retaining all
the dust which neither remains in the
carpet nor sits through to the floor; then
then they can be so easily removed that 10
Is great saving to use them in this way,
especially as, the dust well shaken out.
the papers are equally serviceable for
kindling purposes afterWard, so can do
double duty besides the legitimate one of
heralding the news of the day.
Weather strips are now almost uni
veTsal, as well as double windows, for Sc
curing warm rooms; but where, as is the
case in some old-fashioned country houses,
they are not procurable, newspapers can
supply the deficiency very well by being
cut In long strips, neatly folded over, and
stuffed in the interstices and so most eff
fectually exclude the cold winter air.
Old newspapers are excellent to clean
windows with. Slightly damped, then
rubbed till clear they serve the purpose
much better than even linen cloth, for
their is no lint to rub off. Newspapers
wrapped around the feet under the stock
ings are an effectual protection against
mosquitoes, as, with ali their virulence,
they can not bite through paper.
Old newspapers are faithful mirrors Of
the past. As they increase in age the very
advertisements become curious There
fore, those who have no use for the mod
ern newspaper in all the various ways we
have pointed out must find intellectual
profit In storing them away till the time
when some circumstance may drag them
forth from their long forgotten hiding
places to claim an interest in human eyes
which perhaps they never had to such an
extent before.
Illustrated papers are very useful in
adjoining the walls of rooms, sovering up
unsightly wallpaper or obnoxious holes,
the delight of children as well as their in
structors, affording CLEANS of cheerfulnesS
and pleasure in else gloomy apartments.
They are of such infinite variety, too.
with their lovely illustrations of poems, of
natural history, and comic sketches. as
well as portraits of beauties and notabili
ties, that they continually educate the
public taste and give the impecunious q
glimpse of real art they cannot else af-
ford