The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-04-04


Il Il peteaps moro difficult to find pretty
hand than q pretty face, not that we are born
with an uglier hand than face, but because
the hand becomes coarse and rough from the
work it has to do. Curiously enough, also,
less attention is given to the hands than @
the face, although they really require more
care, precisely on account Of their exposed
position and the hard work they are ire
quently called upon to do. And yes
white and delicate hand is very
charming, and worthy of quite a:
much attention as the face, il not more; and
even cook may have less coarse hands II she
will by always using glycerine or honey
after washing her hands, and by never using
coarse yellow soap, but little bran or oat-
meal (which one can keep in the soap stand)
instead Of soap, and which will clean the
hands quite as well as soap and keep them
soft at the same time, whatever may be the
amount of work she may have to do, and to
whatever exposure to heat and cold the hands
may be subjected. These same precautions
may be adopted by ladies who occupy them
selves with any rough work in the house, and
moreover they should always wear gloves,
which will, more than anything, keep the
hands soft and clean, and thus dispense with
the necessity of too frequent washing. 20 ,sfu
Many ladies, however, who never do any
kind of work have coarse red hands, espe-
cially during the cold weather, and they make
them worse and redder by holding them to
the fire, causing them also not unfrequentIy
to crack and chap. Better rub them with Q
little lavender water or eau de Cologne TO re-
store warmth and aid to make them moro
delicate and soft. would, moreover, advise
| ladies' who have naturally rough, coarse
hands to rub them at night with cold cream,
and to wear loose, long gloves. Another
thing, never use soap, unless this be mixed
with almond paste or meal. 1t is better In
any case to use only almond paste or honey
and almond paste, which you can procure al
ready prepared at any Of our great perfum-
ers. The only objection to these pastes and
meals for the hands is their expense, but
economical ladies can dispense with them by
using glycerine and honey instead of almond
pasteS, and plain bran and oatmeal instead OF
almond and other fancy meals.
Should the hands become hard or horny
through any unusual work, the best thing
is to wash them for the time with pumice'
stone and lemon. Lemon, indeed, is al
ways good for the hands. 1t cleans them as
we'll as soap, and makes them soft
1t also prevents the skin growing up the
nail, if the fingers be well rubbed with II
after washing Apropos of nails, never use
pick or file to them. Clean them with
brush, if required, but they should never bt
allowed TO require brush, nor will they re
q,iire one if tho hands are frequently washed
and the fingers we'll rubbed with the half OF
lemon, into which the fingers arc thrust
and turned until the nails are perfectly clean
Lemon not only prevents the skin at the root
of the nail from growing upward, but 1t alst
prevents the skin shedding at the sides OF tn
fingers. When cutting the nails care shoulc
be taken to cut them Of the shape Of the fin
gers themselves, and neither longer mol
shorter than the fingers. Very long pointet
nails are as ugly in their way as very shor
and square nails The use Of cold cream
and gloves at night will also preserve tn
nails soft, and prevent them from cracking
which they will do if the nails are hard.