The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-07-20
CARE OF THE HANDS
Something That VIII Interest Every
Woman.

WOtfstus
Says 4 writer in the Lazy A delicate,
well-kept hand is one of the chief points Of
beauty; therefore, every woman who would
add to her attractions should bestow care
full attention to those details which affect
not only her personal appearance, but re-
veal a refined and cultured mind. The
gentlewoman Of to-day is not a useful doll
to show off fine clothes and jewels, but has
many occupations, and devotes some part
Of her time to actual attention to her home,
and is not above arranging and assisting
in such matters as contribute to its beauty
and harmonious effect. Thus, perhaps,
she may have less delicate hands than the
woman who does nothing at all; for, If
constantly used even in such light matters
as writing, painting or sewing, they will
be less white than if always in repose. Bnt
a little care will preserve soft, fine flesh,
and daily attention will keep w~ell-rounded
and polished nails.
Another necessary adjunct to the dress
ing table is the little Partisan box used by
the manicure, and which may be bought for
a small sum of any chemist or perfumer.
It contains a boat-shaped implement, coy
cred in chamois leather, and furnished
with a handle, and there is a tiny box of
fine pink powder of a slightly gritty ma
ture. You breathe on the nails, and then
sprinkle them with the powder. and poll
ish briskIy ON the chamois pad. But be-
fore this process is reached you must first
use the other little implement, which is of
ivory, with one end shaped almost like a
pen, the other fitted with a small brush.
In the center. is a fat file. on which you
carefully shape the tops of the nails. round
ing them off on either side 10 follow the
line of the finger. Scissors should pever
be used for the finger nails, as by cutting
them you make the nails coarse and thick.
With the ivory point you clean the finger
nails, and also gentle push back the flesh
to reveal the white crescent and to prevent
the skin splitting and forming chang
nails" which quickly appeal if the skin
adheres to the nail.
Wash the hands always in warm water,
and do not be sparing with the brush or
soap. If in cold water -FOUR hands are liza
Bile TO chap, keep a small pot of honey, and
just before you dry the hands dip in a fin
ger and well rub the hands round and
round, give a Slight rinse and dry carefully,
dust = little oatmeal on them, and rub off
with a dry towel.
To whiten and soften the hands there is
nothing equal to real almond paste, and
when | so cmpllatically say real I mean
that which IS made from sweet and bitter
almonds pounded in q mortar, and not of
lard or other fatty substances mixed with
almond oil, this composing the ordinary
compound known as almond paste. For
hands which are red and coarse the follow
ing treatment will soon effect a change,
but it must be persevered in, as it is quite
impossible to change the color aud texture
of The skin in a few days, and those who
believe tine wonderful assertions ON some
patent ines must indeed be Of a cred
ulous nature.
To make good almond paste obtain OF
sweet and bitter almonds eaeh two ounces,
pound to paste and work mp with half an
ounce of Windsor soap cut into fine shreds.
To this add two drains of spermaceti and
half an onnce of oil Of almonds, OIL OF ber-
gamot, twelve drops. Subject to gentle
heat. stir well and cool in china pots.
\ mixture Of honey, lemon juice and eau
de cologne is exceedingly useful to whiten
the hands when discolored by sun, wind or
work, and may be kept mixed for the pur-
pose in a small toilet jar. Take a wine
glassful of each ingredient and mix well,
then POM into the jar and keep closely
corked. This may be applied night or day,
and the inside of the fingers rubbed with
pumice-stOuc.
When the hands are Of good color, but
the skin lacks softness, glycerine is useful,
but it has no effect on the color. The
hands may be, however, greatly improved
in texture if, after the nightly wash, they
are well coated with glycerine and dipped
into oatmeal. or well powdered with the
same.
Gloves are, of course, necessary, and
should fit well at the wrists; otherwise the
Loose oatmeal become disagreeable. Bran
is supposed to great influence ON the skin,
and some manicures advise glyeerine aud
bran which has been stewed in water. The
bran is used quite moist, aud is, therefore,
.
of similar type to the bran poultice which
our great grnndmothers used on the neck
aud arms, which, being daily exposed by
the then fashionable deeollete gown, were
no doubt a source Of Trouble to them.
Never plunge the hands into cold or very
hot water, aud do expose them to the air
without stout gloves and a warm muif.
Above all, attend to the wrists and arms,
as wrapping the hands only is Of little
avail. Long, close fitting armlets do more
to prevent chilblains than any outward APP
plications. II chilblains appear in spite of
or from neglect of these precautions, let
not the first twinge be neglected. Get
either of the following mixtures and apply
night and morning, or whenever the chill
blain j. troublesome, and remember that
friction, combined with a stimulating To-
ton, helps to disperse the ehilblain