Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-21
UNDERCLOTHINQ.
Ats AySienic Uses and Hint. an the
Material To Use.

Material to Use.
"a, !" "ham A. Hammond In the New York Journal.
1nefe are few matters concerning health
tnat are more completely misunderstood by
.ne average man or woman than the subject Of
sa'ss'e'ceotasng. AS now is the time at which It
=. po.tant to begin to exercise special care
"to'o taxing cold it will not be out OF place
~. ne 70 say few words ON this important
quss1on 70 the readers Of The Morning journal
w.. "ao want 70 know what Is right in regard to
Ine care OF their health, and vet perhaps do
NOT know exactly what to do.
NECESSITY FOR UNDERCLoTHING.
~. 'ne nrst place, may say that in our eli
.."so eome Kind Of undertaking should be
"n Wy man, woman and child all the year
nourSa summer as well as wtnter-though. of
season. There are doubtless many who wear
hova OF the sort, winter or summer and who
aay lea saus far escaped ali i'll consequences
mUwevet, they are deceiving themselves. They
my not yet have suffered any serious inconve-
they aee cutie te
th ho;ngn the process goes on slowly, weakening
tnemse1v ssih 1p powers and are hence rendering
tue at.acks which morbid influences are con-
ent ~ making. Every year finds them more
wfhich Sah;i. from slight ailments each one OF
,nEa t uienliltates the system; advancing age
n. as tnem more susceptible and at last pneu-
lmohn ;s pieurlsy dysentery or some other ser-
IN our climate are SO sudden and severe as to
IequIre az the vital strength of the organism to
Uratecte mem, and If the body be not properly
$1,000 rsn the danger. is greatly increased
Even with all the care that can be exercised
tH H, purifiers are often broken down.
.ns.e are many men and women within my
personal knowledge who cannot even for a sim
S.e Jay omit their customary WOODEN shirts or
u t s,E without contracting cough or becom-
ny suDJect 70 rheumatic or neuralgia palms.
one OIL tnesesis a gentleman holding a high
S States uhder the government of the United
TO his skin. and has repeatedly tried to harden
ninseii to the point OF being able to dispense
with the thick hannel shirt that his
vic insists on his wearing. AS often, how
ever, as ne has made the attempt he has been
Obliged after few hours abstinence to return
TO the disagreeable garment, for IA gentle re-
minder comes to him in the form of a slight
stitch In his side while he is shifting the fresh
morn air on his way, to his office. BY the
or IN MS carriage, it is painful for him to
breathe, and the suffering goes on increasing
Lille, li ne forced to go home and put on the pro-
tectihs shirt very much TO his wite's delight at
the Imminent OF her predictions.
MATERIAL TO BE USED
There is widely prevalent idea that silk is
the best substance from which to make under
clothing, and have known many poor girls to
stint themselves in the necessaries of life in or
ger 10 save enough money to purchase silk un-
dcrgarments. But silk is not the best material
With which to make underclothes SO far as con-
Germs their health-preserving qualities what
ever may be its advantages SO far as beauty and
immediate comfort are concerned. The chief
OBJECT OF understanding Is the retention OF the
natural heat OF the body in such way that
low temperatures and sudden changes will not
affect the surface Several years ago performed
some experiments which went to show beyond
doubt that silk Is below wool in it's power to
prevent the loss of heat from the body and very
little superior to cotton. Indeed, nothing is in
TINS respect preferable to wool, and of this ma
teriai all undertaking meant for winter use
should be made. In summer mixture of wool
8 ia M hi
1or 1t Is not such ready absorber of the perspir-
alton as is wool, and hence allows the body to
known as parboiled. Wool, however, taking
up, as 1t does, the moisture from the body, eX-
poses it to the action of the atmosphere, it is
evapOrated, and the process being a cooling one
Keeps the skin from becoming overheated.
Rabbit skins, cushions of various kinds and
the sO-called protectors worn over the chest
are horrible affairs, as they prevent the escape
OF the excretions from the skin and hence ia
cilitate the collection of dirt well as impeding
the proper exercise OF one of the most i'm pOrtant
functions of the body. have frequently seen
persons-men and women-divest themselves
Ola half o dozen layers of skins aud pads before
l could get at the naked chest to examine it
with the stethescOpe. The odor was disgusting
aud the effect upon the organs they We're sup
posed to protect certainly deleterious No un-
derclothlng should ever be SO thick as to pre-
vent the free passage of the cutaneous excre-
tions and the atmospheric air. The skin re-
qulres ventilation as we'll as do the lungs.
ChamOis skin undergarments, "perfOrated" or
unperforated, are denominations.
COLOR OF UNDERCLOTHING.
A notion exists that red is particularly ad-
vantageous color to give to the undershirts and
drawers worn in very cold weather. There is
no foundation in fact for such an idea. 1t has
been said that the dye stuff used for the pur.
pose of producing the color in question is more
irritating to the skin than the other substances
employed, but, even If this were true land am
strongly inclined to question the correctness of
the statement-it would be no reason for using
red-colored undergarments in preference to
that Is wanted when we put on underclothing
but protection from cold and sudden viciss.
!ules OF temperature. When 1t is necessary to
irritate the skin 1t is better to make use of a
mustard plaster or a blister, and not to divert
the clothing from Its proper objects. Under
clothing should be made of achite materials
Theoretically, black would be preferable ior win
ter use, as it is a better non-conductor of heat
and a better absorber of moisture than any
would probably be difficult to get people to
ciothe themselves in clothing of this color or to
lind the necessary articles in the shops. What.
ever color be worn, the garments should be ire
quently washed, as the eXhalatiOns from the
SKIN cling with great tenacity to WOODEN ma
taken be n never we after t having been
been thoroughly aired in the open air.
HOW TO BE MADE.
1t is the fashion now to have all the under.
clothing made Of the knit material called
"stockinet,' but am quite sure that flannel
shirts and drawers such as our ancestors re-,
are preferable TOR winter use, and q mixture oi
wool and cotton for summer. The chief Objec.
ton to stockinet is that the garments made IF
II hit too close to the skin to be comfOrtanle or
to fulfil all the objects to be obtained from mn.
derclcthing. When, however the garmenis
are made out of piece-gOOds and expressly for
the person who is TO wear them they cannot he
SO formed as to embrace the body as tightly al
though they were made OF india-rubber Strata
OF All, therefore, are formed at various poi MS
ana these help to retain the heat Ii stocl,inet
be used the articles made vi IL should be IarSe
ana roomy, ana should not therefore tit close In
the skin. ~ W
How to Stew Oysters.
From the Caterer.
Take twenty-five bearded oysters (fresh ones
are always better than salt, for they do not
shrivel In the cooking), strain them from the
liquor, and put them in bowl and add to them
teaspoonful Of lemon juice. Then put the
liquor of the oysters, together with the boards
into a saucepan, adding little whole mace
four or five peppercorps. a pinch of CAYENNE
pepper very little grated nutmeg and q piece
OF leinon-rlnd the size of '.nickel.'' Place the
saucepan over the fire; let the liquor simmer
very gentiy lor fifteen minutes; then strain il.
anu tiilchen IL with a teaspoOnful of flour. in
Wnlcn an ounce of butter has been smoothly
ruDDed. NOW add gill of cream, and stir the
nquor over gentle fire until it becomes thick
me pan remain only long enough for them to
peg heatea through. Do not allow them to
DOH or tney will shrivei and become tough. Az
soon as they are heated have ready some slices
OF TOAST ON o hot dish, and over these pOur tue
oysters, with their gravy, and serve lmmedi.