Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-26

whom the housekeeper cherishes the most
deadly feud is the bedo II is fiction
that should have been exploded long ago
that the presence OF these creatures is,
under all circumstances, y proof of lack
OF cleanliness. In cold climates and in
new houses they usually give little trou-
BILE, but in warmer temperature, and es-
pecIally in old frame buildings, constant
vigilance is required. When these yermin
get into the walls OF houses the task of
dlslodging them is almost hopeless, and il
taeY once become thoroughly domesti-
Gated in mattress on feather bed it may
as we'll be abandoned as beyond help. BY
exceeding care and heroic measures they
may he driven from Dedstead. The busi-
ness is one that cannot be Intrusted to
servants, however Only the mistress
viii attack the evil with sufficient zeal.
Stunning bed has no effect upon the
pests, except, perhaps, pleasureable
one, for they delight IN warmth. FreeZ-
ing would be more etficacious, but as il is
not always consistent to wait SIX months
lor sharp frost, there are other means to
which one must resort. Corrosive subh-
mate is excellent. When every nook and
corner OF the bed has been freed from dust
for the "CineX lectnlarius" has an es-
pecial prediction for creyices-apply the
poison with feather or a cameI's hair
- hois oaAul thtitiN every btnf uOiG WnEIt
the germ OF an insect may have been de-
posted An Irate woman once declared
her belief that the male laid eggs as well
as the females. this being the only hypo-
thesis by which she could account tor
their rapid multiplication. A single APP
plication of corrosive sublimate noes not
mend matters entirely. The treatment
must be continued for three or four weeks,
until long after any trace OF the vermin
can be discovered. A thorough vanishing
OF the ends of the Stats and of the sockets
in which they rest, and of any other clink
where the tiniest bug could seek Judgment
will complete the siege.
Every housekeeper should subject each
bed in the house to a searching eXamina-
ton three or four times a year, looking
under the tufts on the ticking ana in the
seams OF that and Of the pillows for any
marks of the pest. Mrs. Carlyle gives har-
rowing accounts of finding her best beds
infested with these plaques, OF being kept
awake all night at elegant houses aud
high-priced inns by the same trial. In
this country, except in ill-kept hotels,
such experiences are rare. But some
times bugs Will be found in the domains
of even the daintest hOuseKeeper, and
that through no fault of hers. Every APP
proach cannot be guarded and the enemy
will make an incursion from the most uu-
expected quarter. One woman was scan
dalized TO find thriving colony estab-
lisbed in the bed in her guest chamber. 1t
had not been occupied for some time and
she was unable to conjecture whence
came the root of the evil. The mystery
was at last explained by learning acciden-
tally that when the cook came in at din
ner time from her afternoon OUT she
had pleasant habit of leaving her bon
net and shawl on the spare bed in order to
save herself the eXertiOn of mounting an
other flight of stairs to her own room.
Another similar visitation was traced to
the basket of clean clothes brought home
from the house of the lauudress. A seri-
Gus ''case'' that was with difficulty broken
up was caused by a pillow from a SER
wants apartment being brought into the
chamber OF one of the family during their
summer absence from the city When one
reflects upon the miscellaneous tumble on
steam and horse cars and ferry boats, the
wonder grows not that there are so many
such occurrences, but so few. For some
time after the war the trains that had
| been used for transferring soldiers were
fairly alive with these and other vermin
and one Ventured TO travel in them at the
risk of returning home with her clothing
populated.
The moths probably rank next in mis-
chief making, although they are far less
offensive. They can be best guarded
against by putting temptation out of the
way. Clothing wrapped securely in
newspapers or N stout cloths that leave
no openings through which a moth can
creep, aud then packed into trunks or
dra wers, are safe, unless the egg has al
ready been laid in their folds. To avoid
this contingency each article should be
thoroughly beaten in the open air before
it is put up. Camphor, tobacco leaves
ETC., are added preyentiyes of danger
The buffalo moth is harder to cope with.
| Among the modes recommended for get
ting rid of him is that Of laying a damp
/ cloth over the border Of the carpet neXt
| the wall and pressing it with a hot iron
! The steam destroys both insects and eggs
! LAYING strip of tarred paper under the
! edge of the carpet is advised, and spong
/ ing it with turpentlne is also urged
| This last plan, however, has obvious draw
! backs.
Fleas sometimes take possession OF q
| house TO the serious inconvenience of Its
other occupants. In old days in Virginia
! when this plague visited the dwelling, a
sheep was driven through the rooms, and
| at his departure bore the intruders of
with MIN in his fleece. one would think
| that even the most stolid specimen Of
| that proverbially dull-natured depart
ment of the animal kingdom would resent
being thus converted into a scapegoat
An easier and pleasanter method is tC
scatter dried pennyroYal about the
| house, and the efforts are noless sattsfac'
! tory.
Cockroaches are long standing griev'
ance, although they are not frequently
found in new houses. A writer recently
suggested the use OF cucumber rnds for
! their determination. The green peel il
strewn about the floor and the insects
! fasten upon il greedily, sucking the juice
until they are so enfeeDled that they eau
/ be swept UP and destroyed without d. I'll.
Guilty. The same result Is claimed fOl
| hellebore scattered about room, and
! also for fresh catnip, while it is said that
| the latter has marvellous effect in driv-
! ing away ants, both red and black.
! In September wasps often become a
! great nuisance by swarming into room
and choosing some corner for their rest.
! ing place. While this plague may he a
! short-lived one, 1t is unpleasant aud even
! dangerous while it lasts. If, however
/ the mal0dorous stingers are once thor
oughly eyicted from an apartment they
will not try TO cluster there again that
! season.. Promptness, determination, and
a par Of scissors are the best agents fol
! their destruction.
Countless remedies have been proposed
! for getting rid of rats and mice, but In
1 spite OF the projections Wanted by the
1 manufacturers OF "Rough on Rats" tue
creatures will persist in "dying IN The
] 49,. .,J f,asapaIfv a gouna arnh I'm.