Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20
HOME MATTERS.


inquiry for the man of science.
HOME MATTERS.
sEAsoNABLE HINTS AND coMMoN-sENsE SUCCESS
TIoNs FOB PRACTICAL HoUsEKEEpERs.
To POLISH OnCLoTHs use equal parts Of lin
seed oil, beeswax and turpennne.
IT Is AN ACCEPTED FACT that the tone Of the
piano improves when the instrument is moved
from the wall Of a room.
To PREVENT THAT SHINE TO THE SKIN with
which so many are annoyed use q little
camphor in the water when bathing the face.
FoR SoFTENINa THE HANDS wash them in
| oatmeal paste, grease them with mutton suet
at night and wear loose white or light kid
gloves to sleep in.
In KEEPING SWEET PorAToEs for the winter
they must be put in a warm, dry room, A
corner of the kitchen is best, and the barrel or
box can be covered to disguise it.
BRONZE ORNAMENTS may be cleaned by taking
one drachm of sweet oil, one ounce alcohol and
one and a half ounces Of water. Apply with a
soft sponge quickly, but do not rub.
For GREASE SPOTs ON CARPETS spread pow
dered magnesia on them and let it remain for
two or three hours: remove with knife and if
the grease Is not thoroughly extracted repeat
the application of magnesia
1T IS CONVENIENT TO HAVE AN IRON HOLDER
attached by long string to the band of the
apron when cooking; it saves burnt fingers or
scorched aprons and is always at hand.
GREASE MAY Be REMOVED from white marble
by applying a mixture Of two parts washing
soda, one part ground pumice stone and one
part chalk, all first finely powdered and made
into a paste with water. rub well over the
marble and finally wash of with soap and
water.
A GOOD FURNITURE POLISH consists Of equal
parts of linseed oil, turpentine, vinegar and
spirits of wine. Shake we'll together and ap-
ply with a soft linen cloth, rubbing in thor
| oughly. and polish with flannel. Vinegar and
oil may be used alone, but is not quite so good.
Mock MINcE PIE.-Four soda crackers (or
nice light bread to that amount), four cups Of
water, two and one-half cups Of sugar, one cup
OF raisins or currants, one-haf cup vinegar,
one cup butter, spice with nutmeg and allspice
to taste. Bake same as any mince pie.
HINT FoR Pm CUSHION that is a sachet
as well may be new to some 1t is made square.
with each corner Of the inner covering cut off
about three inches from the point The outer
covering is left square. the corners tightly tied
and each made into tiny sachet. The powder
selected for the filling must be that preferred
by the owner.
CARPET that has grown dingy and soiled
may be greatly improved in this way: Take a
half pailful Of hot water, in which has been dis
solved a Tablespoonful of ammonia, a clean
scrub brush, some good soap, and give the
carpet good scrubbing; renew with clean
water and ammonia After having gone all over
the carpet, take some more clean water with
same quantity OF ammonia and some clean
cloths and rinse the carpet well, wiping as dry as
possible.
For BED RooMs.-It is q fancy to have all
cretonnes, chintzes and muslin curtains frilled
with the same, and many bed spreads are also
| frilled with three-inch ruffles Fawn ground
cretonne, with gold chrysanthemums. is a
pleasant quiet color for chinz curtains, framing
the room in soft shade. These should be lined
with pale yellow or buff silesia A red brown
| and pale blue are good combinations.
AN ENGLISH GENIUS has invented a tray con-
tanning night lamp and small sauce cup for
holding infants food. This mechanical ar
rangement can be attached to the bed most
and is invaluable in a home where there is an
invalid or baby and few or no servants
The night lamp emits sufficient heat to keen the
child's food warm. When not required for
service the tray is convenient place for a
book.
NOVELTIES IN TABLE GLAss.-Cordial sets
have the tiny glasses shaped like acorns or
thistles to resemble the miniature decanter.
Twisted glass is another new make, there being
| two patterns. One is the "twisted pillar =" in
| which the twist is solid and apparent to the
| touch, and the twisted Venetian" in which, as
| in the beautiful Murano glass the twist is only
apparent and not on the surface.
MANY PERSONS HAVE FOUND NUTS HARD TO
DIGEST, but it is nearly always because they
are not chewed fine enough or because eaten
between meals. The oily matter of nuts is in
| the form OF cream and il reduced to the con-
sistency OF cream they are no harder to digest
They should be eaten at meal time, however,
and not between meals or Just before going to
| bed. Pretzels and nuts are nice eaten together.
PAINTED WOODWORK both on stairways and
| in bed chambers, shows daring innovations in
color. The woodwork Of stairs is frequently
painted a peacock blue, while Venetian red is
| also quite common for the tread the surbase
and the stair rails. Soft green paper for bed
| room walls is much liked and then the wood
| work is tinted either cream white or moss
green. Black furniture goes we'll with these
| surroundings and drab or crimson rug on the
| floor makes either a rich room or O very re-
poseful one.
LAUNDRY BAGS ARE CONVENIENT household
articles. Ticking, feather stitched awning
cloth or washable cretonne, each yard long.
which are slit near the top, bound with braid
| around the slit, and laid together with a piece
Oh inc same SIZE Oh STOUT inning IN turkey red
twill or any other suitable material laid be-
tween them. The edges Of these three layers
are bound together with braid and the bag is
shirred at the top over fat, smooth stick or
lath about half o yard long and an inch wide.
When hung up this makes two bags, one on
each side Of the lining.
FoR DINNER TABLES come pretty little white
china bowls and bags with q childs figure al
one side, and which are used a. candlesticks with
flowers and moses filing the bowl These have
paper shade, Of the same tint as the prevalent
flower, protecting the flame. Among the
effective decorations are rich pompadour silk
bags, like old-fashioned satchels, standing open,
with deep pleated ruche and cord; these are
fitted with tin or metal lining, which will hold
water or earth for planting ferns, palms, &c.
Others are covered with suede kid, in tan, white
or other colors. These, filed with flowers and
trail Of orchids or o vine down the side, are
delicate and tempting.
A Love Story in Two Chapters.
Hi, Her ~ n
Ri On Rs.