The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-05-11
Ladies' Department.
A Modern Linen Press.

which recalled to me the inquire OF an
old lady who in the far distant years
of my childhood used TO stand before
Just such roomy press. her hair
gathered back under the frilled cap,
leaving only narrow crown OF white
above the rosy. CHEEKY face. beaming
with gentle satisfaction, as she sur
veyed the heavy piles of snowy linen
which filed its capacious depths
Oh, ye changing years! Her spin
ning-wheel, which together with the
linen press had been relegated to the
garrett, has been reclaimed by some
fair descendant, and now occupies,
gayly bedecked with ribbons, con-
spicuous place amid heterogeneous
collection of bric-a brac in my lady's
parlor.
The silent wheel exchanges mourn
tul glances with pair of bellows
hung upon the opposite wall; both
chaie inwardly at their aesthetic rib.
bon bows, and vainly try to solve the
mystery of the tiny flames twining
noiselessly yet surely in and out
among the chinks of the heavy logs
which lie within the brilliant fire.
place, yet ever leaving them untouch-
ed and uncOnsumed.
Our neighbors of more recent Ger.
manor French descent still possess
the instinct of the linen lover, and
although some must sacrifice to IL
some personal or household adorn-
ment, most Of them can with pardon
able pride throw wide their closet
door and say, '.BeholGl"
I recall one of these now. and for
the benefit of those who might wish
to initiate her, and possess what on
the whole was not expensive, l will
describe her linen closet.
1t was built into niche in the
bedroom wall, and its identity was
concealed by mirror set into the
door; only small circle of brass be.
traying the Yale lock led one to sup.
pose the mirror was other than a
toilette accessory. Unlocked and
swung open, one could see behind it
the closet, whose floor dimensions
were about two feet and a half by
one foot and half, and whose height
equalled that of The room. 1t was
stelved in regular spaces from top to
bottom, and completely filed with
snowy linen There were in all sew
en- shelves, and these, to repeat the
possessor's words, II covered with
ordinary bed-ticking. held in place
by carpet tacks, under the edges of
which / twice year strew Persian
insect powder to prevent any en-
trance OF vermin; above this, so as
to exclude possible dampness, have
laid strips of .Shite glazed cloth.
This two inch cotton lace, which by
hanging down conceals the wooden
shelf, is basted along the front edge
of the ticking, and if washed twice q
year always looks fresh and white;
this is inexpensive, and makes a
pretty finish to the shelf. On the
two upper shelves keep my re
serve' stock; 4. e., such table and
household linen as are not yet taken
into USE"
Following her upward glance, !
saw, guarding either end of the top
SHELF. pile of neatly folded sheets,
aud between them two piles of pillow
cases; noticed that the heavily fold.
ed edges only appeared in front, and
that all loose ones were turned
toward the back.
The sheets numbered six to each
pile, and the pillow -slips six pairs;
this nearly equalized the height, and
each set was separately bound to-
gether by bright red ribbon. Where
the narrow ribbon ends met in
small bow label was hung descrip-
tive OF the articles behind it. This
idea was so unique that I will de-
scribe the label, and 1 am sure it will
be widely copied. 1t consisted simp-
" of piece of white muslin, stlffiy
starched, and edged all around with
narrow Italian lace; it was obleng,
and measured perhaps seven inches
in length by two and halt in height.
Plain cross-stitch letters worked with
red marking cotton formed the
necessary names for each; as "Linen
Sheets" Muslin Pillows,n "Quilts,"
"Dish Towels" etc. Reading the
labels, / saw that the sheets and
pillow.slips on the right were linen,
and those on the left were muslin
"See," she continued, ION this sec
ond shelf are table.clOths of differ.
ent lengths, napkins, and towels. l
am sorry my reserve is not as large
as usual. but have recently replen-
ished my lower shelves, which had
been gradually thinning, and have
not yet finished hemmiHg the new
ones. / make it rule always 10 re-
place in my reserve every half.dozen
that the natural wear and tear COM
pei me to take into use."
Here, as on the first shelf, the
bright ribbons and dainty labels per-