St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-10
THE HOUSE IN SUMMER.
A City Home Can BE Made Cool
Looking in Warm Weather.

n O1By bO NAttuC OOOl-
Looking i'll Warm Weather.
Only small percentage of the women
who keep house are able to close up
and 60 out of town for the summer. 1t
is question whether this inability to
keep two establishments is or is not
deplorable. That people want change
there is no doubt, but it can be had
right in the heart Of the city. Given
the spirit of c0ntentment. secure the
services of big, strong maid or man
servant and take the house to pieces, one
the furniture. all of it, on the roof OF IN
the back yard.
Have the chairs and sofas thoroughly
whisked, and if possible get furniture
man to sandpaper and polish the
frames. Roll up all the rugs, hang
ingS and curtains with lump camphOr
for the summer. Send such articles to
the shop as need repair and throw
away the pieces that have Outlived
their usefulness. Give the laundresS
all the old clothes to tighten the closets.
They are of no use to you. They are
out Of style, in the way and nuisance
generally.
Get rid of a lot Of reading matter,
decorative work and the Christmas
favors and Easter cards that lumber the
book and cabinet shelves. In word,
clear out all you can and then clean up.
Have the carpets swept and then
washed off with a cloth just wet enough
to make a good wash rag. If a good
Brussels or fast velvet soap and water
will do it good. Have all the wood
work cleaned aud the ceiling and walls
wiped with a white cloth to remove
the dust. Now for change.
Go to the dry goods store and buy a
bolt of pink netting, bolt of cheese
cloth and piece of unbleached sheet
ing if you cannot afford crash. The
sheeting will answer every purpose, but
select the double width if your rooms
are wide. A man who makes a bust
ness of laying carpets will cover six
floors in day: this means an expense
of s., the salvation of finger nails, and
the neateSt, sweetest, coolest effect it is
possible to get without painting your
floors white. This whiteness is delight
full to the senses. You will cool off at
once. and feel as thou h you had moved
into new house.
Get some little mats, sc by - inches
or so, and lay at the doors or whatever
the wear is likely to be greatest. This
is not to save the Sheeting, but to
keep it clean. Have the white muslin
spread Oh the hall. the parlor, library
reception and dining room and the
bedrooms if they are small and close.
If there are small children the cover
will get soiled, but the material is
cheap, and another sheet can be put
down over it or in its place.
The rest of the work the housewife
can do with little help. Cut the
cheese cloth up into covers for the seat
and back of each chair and sofa, allow
ing half an inch to turn in along the
edge. Common pins will do to hold
these white covers in place. 1t may
become necessary to plat the cloth
about the rounded corners. but ribbons
Don't try to cover the frames. You
more of a draper than the average
housewife. Use the cheese cloth to
cover the large pictures, and if there
are marbles, pedestal lamp. cabinets or
brackets, drape them all up to keep the
flies from them and to save busting.
Stroud the entire mantel, board and
cabinet; put the piano in white gown
too if the musician is not practicing,
and if you want to hide the agliness
or save the beauty of any household ar
ticle, on with a cheese cloth petticoat.
Use the pink netting for the chan
deliers, the sconces and gas brackets
and you will thereby save the fixtures
and keep the gas bill down at the
same time. These white covers may
be left on the floor and furniture until
late in the fall They will save a vast
deal of everyday cleaning and busting;
they will rest the eyes and protect the
goods somewhat, and most OF all impor-
tant things, they make the change in
house that resi- MS one to the inevitable.
All told, help, sheeting, netting and
cheese cloth. this summer draping need
not cost $40. Let the mother of inven-
ton use cotton cretonne if she has any
old furniture recovered. 1t is cool,
clean, pretty, cheap. and it will wear as
long and look deal better then stuffy
hemps and jutes that all creation sits
and lounges on.