The Portland daily press., 1890-03-01
THE HON &.
HOUSEHOLD NOTES.

10 cure hiecoughs, sit erect and initiate the
luLgs fully. Then, retaining the breath,
bend forward slowly until the chest meets
the knees. After. slowly rising again to the
erect position, slowly exhale the breath. Re-
peat this process a second time, and the
nerves will be found to have received an ex-
cess of energy that will enable them to per-
form their natural functions.
Almonds are blanched by pouring water
over them after they are shelled; when they
have remained for a few moments in the
water they can be rubbed in a soft, dry
towel, and the skin will slip off the kernels,
leaving them white and entire.
Ii you dip the wicks of lamps in strong,
hot vinegar, and then dry them, it will do
away with most Of the disagreeable smell.
A retired plumber thus gives point for
the gratuitous relief of householders. Just
before retiring at night pour into the clogged
pipe enough liquid soda I've to fill the trap
water runs in it until the next morning.
During The night the I've will convert all the
offal into soft soap, and the first current of
water in the morning will wash it away and
clear the pipe clean as new"
1t is very common thing for young house
keepers to scorch their linen when learning
to iron. Do not be discouraged. Wax your
irons thoroughly and keep them in dry
place. This will prevent their sticking If
you find scorched place. expose it to the
hottest rays of the sun. 1t will be obliter-
ated in a short time.
Before the days of sewing machines, sew
ing-silk was to be found in all work-baskets.
Now machine-silk is generally found instead.
But for thanksgiving the old-fashioned sew
ing silk is much better 1t does not fray so
readily as machine-silk, and hence Is more
durable. Tailors understand this, and al
WAYS use il for hand-seWing
Thread of all kinds should be kept as much
as possible from the air, which rots it. If
one buys thread by the quantity, which is
the economical way Of buying 1t, only so
taken out, and the rest put away in COW
cred box protected from the air.
In using ammonia for domestic purposes
one tablespoonful to quart OF water is
about the ordinary proportion.
Clothes that have been sprinkled will not
mildew for days, even in summer, if kept
away from the fire.
Use silver spoon when cooking mush-
rooms. The silver will be blackened if any
injurious quality is present.
Air the house thoroughly every day, even
though the rain comes down in torrents or
the snow beats in in drifts"
Do not be deceived by agents who have a
superior furniture polish" for sale. Use
linseed oil. there is nothing better.
Clean white paint with whiting sprinkled
on piece of damp flannel.
Grease may be removed from silk by ap-
plying magnesia to the wrong side.
New iron should be gradually heated at
first: it will not be so likely to crack.
FANCY NETTING.
: Netting, kind OF neealr-wors 80 old that
mention is made Of it in the Bible, is popular
as a finish for sashes, scarfs, curtains and
for great many other uses where crocheted
work or lace is generally used. 1t is not so
easily learned as crochet work, and if not
we'll made has no merit for decorative or
useful purposes.
Forty or more years ago it was made ex-
tensively for curtains and tides worked in
darniDg patterns as lace is now darned.
Later it was used for making silk nets for
the hair. Occasionally bit of the work
made at that time may be seen in homes
where things are cared for and handed down
to daughters and their children. Like drawn
OF Mexican work and white embroidery, on
account OF its real worth, the whmS of fash
Ion can never put 1t quite out of favor.
The implements needed are lead or heavy
cushion to keep the work firm; netting nee
dies which are made of steel for fine work
and OF bone or wood for coarser work. The
needle must be suited to the work. for il too
large 1t will not draw through a mesh, and
II too small it will hold so little thread or
yarn as to make frequent Joining necessary;
this makes ragged work. The ends Of the
needles are forked with prongs bent quite
close together. Then meshes or gauges for
the work are also needed; these are round
or fiat and Of different sizes.
Inc secret OF netting is in drawing up the
Knot ana hiking 1t so 1t will not slip; this is
rarely learned without teacher, and those
who learned 1t years ago are now besought
by their grand-daughters to give few
lessons.
The variations of this work are almost
without end, for any kind of thread. silk.
cotton, linen or wool may be Melted, and a
fine sewing silk or cord stout enough for
hammock requires the same manipulation.
Silk scarfs are handsomely finished with
border OF Melted fringe, Melted wheels
wheels now so popular--N. E. Farmer