The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-06
Uses of Paper.

Much less use is made of piper for ordi-
nary household purposes than there should
be. Almost every house is over-supplied
with newspapers and with wrapping papers.
These may be utilized in hundred differ
ent ways instead of being as they too often
are, allowed to lie and become nests for
rats and mice and vermin, or burned in
large quantities. Good waste paper is one
of the most valuable of all possessions to
the prudent housewife, fact which, per-
haps, many of our readers have never suf-
fciently realized. Let us enumerate few
of the uses to which this cheap, common,
but indispensable material may be put.
First, of course, comes the more or less
fine quality of paper for correspondence and
other literary purposes. How could we
ever remember our innumerable errands-
the stockings for Tommy, elastics for Jen-
ME, shoes for Lucy, gloves for Mary-if it
were not for the tiny memorandum paper,
which is usually the sole link between them
and our overloaded memories? Then the
parcels which the Christmas expresses take
away-are they not wrapped and rewrapped
in masses of paper?
How could we light the morning fire
without paper? And what coverings for
our shelves or Innings for our bureau drawers
are quite so neat and so easily renewed as
paper? A few pounds of white or tinted
paper will suffice for many months for these
purposes.
In sweeping strew bits of wet newspaper
over the carpet The dust will adhere to
it as to nothing else, and your carpet will
be wonderfully frightened.
Polish your windows and your lamp
chimneys and gas globes with old news
papers. Nothing surpasses them to lend
brilliancy if properly used.
Have an old newspaper constantly at hand
near the stove or range when cooking, and
if drop of milk or soup falls on the pol
ished iron, annihilate it instantly with a
wad of paper. Scour the top of the stove
every few hours with paper, and throw the
small bits into the stove. 1t will keep
your stove neat with only half the amount
of backing usually required.
Take out grease spots from clothing by
laying over a fragment of flannel piece of
soft brown paper, and on top of this the
injured fabric Either directly on the sur
face of this, or with only thin cloth be-
tween, press hot fatiron. You will find
in nine cases out of ten that the paper-the
faithful, servile, patient paper-has become
the scapegoat for the ugly blemish.
In the summer behold the wonderful
creations of perforated paper, which are
hung in meat stores and restaurants to at
tract the flies And is there woman liv-
ing who has not worked upon cardboard
Cor perforated paper) bookmarks or other
ornamental (?) affairs for the holiday or
birthday seasons
A skillful brush or pencil can transform
little piece of paper into beautiful pic
ture, so to speak-a thing of beauty and a
joy for many years, at least.
When the whitewasher or the plasterer
is called in of sudden to repair break,
newspapers, ingeniously disposed, form an
effectual protection to carpets and furni-
ture. They are also invaluable to cover
the carpet when ashes are emptied or coal
put into the baseburners or heaters, now
part of every ordinary country dwelling.
In summer there is no more hateful sub
stance to moth existing than newspapers.
They can be most satisfactorily used to en-
velop clothing which is to be kept over
from winter to winter.
When carpet is to be put down, dis
tribute newspaper, layer on layer, evenly
on the bare floor. A dozen layers are none
too many; and they will keep out the cold
and form as soft footing as expensive
''carpet lining"
On very cold nights newspapers laid be-
tween the blankets will aid effectually to
produce warmth. Rheumatic persons can
wrap them around or over painful joint
with benefit; and long ride may be rem
dered comfortable by newspapers laid in or
around the shoes, or under the cloak around
the shoulders. Paper, however, as it alb
serbs no moisture, should be used cautiously
in these ways. When pane of glass is
broken, brown paper pasted over the crack
or aperture until the glazier comes will, for
practical purposes, answer as well as the
glass, excepting, perhaps, in point of light.
Or paper will ''Stuff up" mouse hole or
other opening until the carpenter or mason
can be called in to provide something more
substantial.
Money, handkerchiefs, napkins, water
pals and basins, car wheels, twine-is there
anything which cannot be made of paper ?
How light, how clean, how labor-saving it
is