The morning call., 1890-09-28
CARING FOR FINE LACE.
Not Many Who Know How to
Make 1t Look New.

The washing of lace is an art. Large
pieces, such as curtains and bed-spreads,
must be shaken thoroughly free of dust,
wet in tepid water and rubbed with mild
white soap Next, says the New York
Tribune, put them in a clean wooden or
earthern vessel, cover with soft water
about lukewarm, and set all day in the sun
shine Take them out next day and wash
through clean suds. Do not rub or wiring
them, but lave up and down. Be sure you
have plenty of water, especially for rinsing.
If a trace of soap remains it will rot the
fabric. After rinsing hang them smooth on
the line to drain. Wringing makes creaSeS,
besides injuring the mesh. When three
parts dry fold fat and rub into them with
the band thin starch REINFORCED with gum
water. Gum arabic is best. Put quart of
boiling water to the ounce, stir till dissolved.
let stand till cold, and pour off the clear
fluid from the sediment. Mix it with twice
its own bulk of starch, in which there is
neither sugar, wax nor spermacetL
After rubbing in, roll up smooth for three
hours, then spread clean sheet on the car
pet and pin the lace upon it, taking care to
stretch it exactly square, and to put pin In
the point of each scallop. For ecru lace
color the starch with hay-tra, made by steep
ing three pounds of best bright timothy in
gallon of boiling water. Use the tea instead
of water to make the starch
Soap and sunshine will clean lace of any
sort without wear. If it is very dirty it may
need two davs' soaking Wash, rinse, and
lay out smooth upon board covered with
clean sheet. When about half dry, pull and
clap between the hands until the mesh is
clear, and pin ont on the board to dry. If
you like it yellow, dip it in clear, cold coffee
before clappiug it, To starch or iron lace
for personal wear is textile PROCLAMATION.
Clean very fine lace with benZine. Ii 1t is
old and crazy pin it smooth on flannel
covered board, saturate it with benzine aud
press it out with soft napkin. Put made
up laces-collars, handkerchiefs, caps and so
on-into glass or earthenware and pour ben
zine over them with liberal hand. Whirl
them rapidly about in it, squeeze gently,
drop into clean vessel, and pour on fresh
fluid. 1t Will remove every particle OF dirt,
without in any way altering the yellow an
tique hue or shrinking the mesh-as water
will do, no matter how carefully applied.
Point lace is never washed ibetwiXt maker
and wearef. Ii 1t gets soied working,
whitehead in powder is put on to whten IL.
Gas, sea-alr, soap. or dozen other things
may make the lead turn dark, and ruin a
costly bit Of cobweb in which the owner
takes delight. BenZine will remove 1t with
out harm. After the lace comes out OF it,
pin it as smoothly as possible upon linen
covered board and put it In the sunshine for
six hours.
If you wish to whiten it let dew fall on
it and be dried away by the sun for week
or so. IL pressed for time the bleaching
may be accomplished in day by wetting
the cloth With weak soapsuds every two
hours an. p;nning the lace over it. If you
are careful to draw it tight it will hardly
show that it has been dampened. If you are
not the meshes will contract percepubly. 1t
is something to be handled dai ntily from
first to last. In wearing never pull or drag
it roughly into place; sew it only with fine
thread and needles; above all, pin it with
small. sharp pins, if pin it you must.
Crushed flower stalks often leave ugly
stains well-nigh indelible; wherefore, be-
ware how you wear them against your lace.
1t is a royal fabric when well worn, we'll
used. 1t should not be abused even in our
fierce democracy"