The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-14
HINTS FOR THE HOME.

declared to owe it's superiority over our own is
that of simplicity-the idea prevailing, for
some reason, that rich food and high seasoning
are comparatively recent innovations A glance
over the cook books in use forty years ago, or
study of the recipes for preparing various viands
which have descended in many families as heir
looms, suffice to show that simplicity was not a
characteristic Of the Dishes whatever may have
been their merits otherwise.
The cakes and buildings, the pies and pre-
serves, in which our ancestors reveled, were, as
described in these recipes, compounded with
such disregard for dyspeptic stomachs that the
considerate cook, now, can but raise her hands
in dsrnay at the thought of following the direc-
tons.
In spite of the lavish use of shortening and
sugar and spices dyspepsia was not prevalent in
those days. This may have been because the
food was always well cooked and therefore rem
dered harmless but this is mere supposition.
There is, on the contrary, reason for the belief
that the cooks then. though they could prepare
toothsome dainties on occasion, were no better
accomplished in the culinary art than their de-
scendants; that, in fact on the average dinner
table today is served up more wholesome food
than was set before the grandfathers
Where the raw foreign servant girl reigns
the victims compelled to partake of the work of
her hands have cause to complain of the spelling
of good material Poor cooking is common
enough, no doubt, but is not little of the fault
finding due to the fact that the eaters dyspep-
tic and hard to please, not to say incapable of
judging of the merits of what is set before them,
60 ,,,h ;s in
digest;ble9 All the learned dissertations upon
the proper preparation of food which overwhelm
the reading public are doubtless useful in their
way but they might be suspended for time to
give room for instructions that may enable
grumbling groaning dyspeptcs to fit themselves
for the ministrations of cooks.
Napkin rings are frequently of satin made
over cardboard, with the monogram and favor
tie flower painted in Oil or water-colors.
To stain wood blue, boil pound indigo, two
pounds OF wood and three ounces of alum in
gallon of water; brush we'll over until thorough
ly stained
Jam potts. to be placed on the table. are paint
ed with the fruit therein. A cluster of cherries,
spray of raspherries, ETC., is laid on with few
touches of oil and afterward vanished.
A simple test for the detection of lead in.
drinking water is provided by tiucture of coch-
meal, few drops of which will color the water
blue if there be the remotest trace of lead pres
ent.
Tides of cream, colored silk canvas are painted
in water colors and edged with Fedora lace,
which is fulled around the corners until it turns
over on the tidy, forming roSette caught with
ribbon bows
A pretty little catch all is made of child's
wooden pail. The handle is removed and the
pail is painted with large clusters of roses
q
ened in at the top and suspended with long rib
bons.
A very good way to clean rag carpet is to cut
fresh grass and sprinkle over the carpet and
sweep. A good way to clean wallpaper is to
take new baked cold bread and rub the paper.
1t will take off almost all kinds of dirt.
Chamos leather makes an excellent fltering
medium. 1t should be previously washed In
soda solution to remove grease, and we'll washed
in water after each using Tinctures, elixirs,
sirups and muci.ages will run through it In
most satisfactory and expeditions manner.
An orange charlotte is made by lining deep
dish with sponge cake, precisely as If you were
about to make a charlotte russo; then cut enough
orange to fill the dish, cut them in thin slices,
sprinkle sugar over them Pour rich boiled
custard over all, let it stand long enough to
moisten the cake before sending to the table
clothes-pin apron is made of two pieces of
ticking the same size; these fastened to-
gether in band for the waist, the lower corners
rounded; in the upper piece of ticking make
two round hole large enough to admit the
hands, bind. or stitch firmly around the edge.
This is convenient for hanging out or taking in
Clothes and the pins can be kept in it and be
always ready for use.
To make very pretty and serviceable mats for
the saving of carpets in front of couches beds or
other places where the carpet is much used take
pieces of old ingram carpeting and cut them
in strips like carpet-rags. Ravel two or three
fnOofhnp nd
wind them in balls and weave like rag carpeting.
1t will ''fuZz up" and look very pretty. You can
cut any length you wish.
The pierced incense burners of Eastern work
are put to use in pertaining rooms, to guard
against impurity of air. Pastiles are better
than nothing, but the finer usage burns lavender
stalks, cherry prunings and cedar chips, resin
Gus pine knots sifted over with ground spice,
and the dry stems of garden sage and marjoram,
which yield refreshing odor, said to prevent
disease and benefit the lungs.
For Scotch shortcake mot strawberry take
one half pound of slightly sailed butter and one
pound of -four then mix -four and butter with
the hands; then add four ounces of loaf sugar.
and work all into a smooth ball; then roll out
until it is an inch thick; prick over with a fork
and pinch round the edges, and bake for half an
hour in an oven, with moderate fire, in a round
Or square pan, according to taste.
French experimenters speak with much favor
of the vapor of tobacco an inseetcide deem
ing it more desirable than the smoke, especially
to rid delicate plants of thrips, lice, scale and
slugs. The juice of the stem or leaves of the
weeds, extracted by soaking or boiling, is simply
diffused through the closed green houses, CON
servatory, or covered tub, by being placed over
chatting dish or the flame of lamp.
writer in an exchange says many persons
find speedy relief for nervous headache by wash
ing the head thoroughly in weak soda water
We have known cases almost wholly cured in
ten minutes by this simple remedy A friend
finds it the greatest relief in case of 'rosA cold"
the cold symptoms entirely leaving the eyes
after one thorough washing of the hair The
head should be thoroughly dried afterward, and
avoid drafts of air for little while
Miss Parloa's recipe for tomato salad is as fol-
lows: Select ripe tomatoes, plunge them in
boiling water for moment to loosen the skin,
peel them and put them the ice. Chop a.
small onion very fine, and when you are ready
to make the dressing slice the tomatoes. add the
chopped onion and dress with teaspoonful of