Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-12

A Woman's Hand.
It's KEEPING, PROTECTION AND PREsER-
WALTON.

/ WALTON.
How few pairs of well-kept, white and
shapely hands we see! When we 90
chance to find such. the possesser is often
J a woman who does all of her own work,
which includes, of course, much that peo-
pie are pleased to term drudgery. The
possessor has naturally, or by care. learned
to use her hands and keep them very
presentable She has also learned not to
abuse them. They are never subjected to
extremes; that is, never put into very hot
nor very cold water. nor to scrape pots
and pans, nor used in any way where an
implement to save the hands has been de-
signed for the purpose.
Too much cannot be said against the
disagreeable habit acquired by many
children, -that of biting the nails 1t
makes the flesh at the ends of the fingers
thick. There is an effort made by nature
to supply the loss of nail the result is
thick cushion u flesh at the finger-ends,
extending beyond the ends of the nails.
as protection. II the nails are allowed
to grow, this does not form. The nails
should never be trimmed shorter than
one-sixteenth of an inch. Ii the middle
is cut rounding, and little longer in the
center, it adds to the taper. They should
never be scraped on the outside, nor IN
cleaning them. Sc.aping on the outside
makes them grow thick. and underneath
causes them to stain easily. The dirt
comes ont readily, if a very dull knife
blade is used to clean them with, imme-
distely after washing in warm soapsuds
with nail-brush.
A lady. famous for her beautiful hands,
is said to have gained the exquisite taper
of her fingers by wearing steel thimbles
during her sleep. Children will rebel
against this generally, but thank their
mothers later on. A slight pinching is
said to produce the same result. The child
can be taught to do this herself. and will
not object to it.
The flesh at the root of the nail should
be loosened or pushed back with an ivory
blade or dull pointed steel. 1t is easily
done after soaking the fingers in tepid
water about 90 minutes. This will dis
close the half moon which, in most cases,
is nearly or quite covered, which adds
greatly to the beauty of the hand. A
manicure has tiny pair of scissors, which
are made for the purpose, with which he
cuts away all the superfiuous flesh at the
roots OF the nails, after rubbing them
back.
When the nails are in good condition. a
few minutes care and attention daily, will
keep them so. Every time the hands are
washed the flesh should be pushed back
with the towel ,anda very few minutes rub
bng with chamos skin with powdered
pumice stone moistened with sweet oil,
will polish the nails. The finest polish is
said to be given by hand polish which
the manicure gives to a pair of hands by
an hours polishing.
Water can easily be softened if rain
water is not available. with a few drops
of ammonia, or, what is better, small
piece of lump borax. Warm water, into
which enough borax has been dissolved to
make the water feel little slippery when
pressed between the thumb and finger, is
very good for washing the hands. Hands
kept dirty are never smooth and white.
Absolute cleanliness is necessary Many
people who do no work wash their hands
but seldom. The days accumulation of
dirt is allowed to remain on the hands all
night Upon rising, the hands are washed
in cold water, The possessor wonders
WHY, when she does no work that her
hands do not look any better if as well as
her chamber maids The hands should
always be washed before going to bed in
warm soap suds. White soaps are safest
Highly scented and colored soaps are al
most invariably made from rancid and i'll
smelling fats After the hands are thor
oughv dried, use few drops from bot
tie of mixed glycerine and camphor,
which your druggist can prepare for you
Drop into the palm OF the hand and rub
on the hands. This will be all that will
| L.. Ial
ment
If the hands are stained, use a handful
; of clean sand in the water rubbing it on
the stains. This sand can be rinsed off
and kept in a dish for daily use. Oxalic
acid will take off stains, but it is rank
poison and dangerous to have about; it
also makes the hands exceedingly harsh.
+ They must be washed thoroughly in
tepid water to insure its entire removal
: then rubbed with glvcerine. The use of
too much glycerine makes the hands moist
and cold or clammv. and very disagree
able to the touch. Never hold the hands
near the fire while rubbing with glycerine
as it dries in places before penetrating,
leaving the hands harsh.
MANY housekeepers have rough hands
in winter, which grow very painful crack
|
tending into the palms of the hands. They
take their hands out of hot soapsuds, or
, starch, to hang clothes in the wind. 1t they
did not use hot water, and the hands were
thoroughly dried before going out, this
would be avoided. A pair of white wool
en- stockings, cut off rounding at tine ankle
fand sewed across, with thumb sewed in
make a very comfortable pair of mittens
for hanging up and taking off clothes. Pin
them fast to the sleeve with large safety
pins. before going out have first stretched
the arm upward. then they will not come
loose and the wrists will be protected
After bringing in the clothes, If the nit
tens are put in he clothespin bag they
will be kept clean and in the right place
Hands are injured in very cold weather
BY lack OF protection at the wrists as
large veins and arteries are exposed
The blood is chilled in passing into the
hands. Every one cannot have handsome
. white and shapely hands. but every one
can have clean and comfortable hands
: Good HouSekeepfng.