New-York tribune., 1891-12-27

designs lack character aud In large drawing room a0
apt to degenerate into a weakness Of color ana sts~
These styles are pretty for toilet covers and brocaoee
In this fashion are effectively used for cushions anu
small decorative pieces in bedrooms.
II the reports Of fire marshals In different cues aro
correct that fully threequarters Of the fires arc que
to carelessness less direct, and over oo peg
cent 10 cupabe carelcssness II behooves every mousse
keeper to look well to the Of her househoid IN
this respect. The culpable Of kerosene IS un-
doubtedly one of the fruitful sources OF fire. 1t
is probably exaggeraton to that fully one 'nan
the fires in cook-stoves are kndled by the use OF
kerosene In form other. Very few mistresscs
attend to the matter of remaking by their servants
or know anything about their kitchens before the
breakfast hour. The safest way is to have no
kerosene convenient to the kitchenmads hand.
The can for filing the lamps can easily
be kept upstairs and even under lock ana
hey for only when necessary and thus all empta-
tion win be kept out Of sight Even when the morn
ing fire is not kndled in this way, the evening lamp
may prove dangerous thing when not properly man.
aged. matter which is essential In lamp ana WHICH
is not always noted is the use OF metal reservoir.
Glass or porcelain reservoirs always dangerous.
The base Of lamp should be heavy enough to prevent
It's being Knocked over by any slight accident. Ihe
chief objection to the excellent student lamp is that
Is apt to be topheavy. though the base Is
to burn after the oil in the reservoir Is low or nearly
exhausted. For this reason lamps should be filled
daily.
common cause Of fire is a gasiet placed near lace
curtain and unprotected by globe. The cotton
flannel dapery popular. sold under the name OF
Fashion drapery, is Of the most rdnammaole
curtains ever used and for that 1t was unit for
its purpose The spark of match dropped against 10
would quickly ignite the fuzz on it's surface and IN
stanty the whole curtain would be In flames II was
much worse than lace curtain under the same condi
tions because strong and could not be easily
torn down. Not every hOusekeeper knows that
matches should be shut up in tight receptacles where
rats cannot get at them. For some unexplained rea-
son. these animals have strong affinity for phos
phrus. although it is deadly poison to them Ex
perments have been made by giving matches to rats In
cages and their eagerness for them and the almost
absolute certainty that their gnawing will ignite them
have been fully demonstrated and the mysterious source
Of many fires fhus discovered That unaccountaole
element, spontaneous combustion, Is undoubtedly the
cause Of many fres The number Of people who allow
greasy old rags rags soaked in benzine. wax rags and
rags saturated with turpentine to lie In hetero-
geneous confusion in the corner OF ktchen
closets for Indefinite periods is not to be
estimated A frequent cause Of fire Is COM
bustion among such rags, brought about by
slight friction. Among those fires which the fire mar
sals class Indirectly due to carelessness as tho
household is not directly responsible for them, are
those caused by defective building 1t is not an un
common thing for hearth builders 10 place their hearths
on the beams of the flooring, with only thin layer
of cement between the tiles and the beams. The
placing Of toists. posts lathwork other WOODWORK
against the chimney is another frequent cause Of fire.
The heater fues and steam pipes, If not properly
isolated may char the wood near them, SO that 1t
becomes the most inhammabe Of all material, and a
spark may send II into flames. In these days OF
oiled floors, dried out they often are by the use
of turpentine and filled with wax and oil, the most
ready elements present to spread fire. The lash
ionabe use of drapees Of cotton and Of ue In place
OF wool adds another element Of danger to the modern
paror The thick rugs Of cotton and Of !ute imported
from Japan, which very pretty and are retaied
at such tempting prices, are articles of doubtful
utility in view of the readiness with which they take
fire. 1t is impossible for fire to spread very far
on a heavy woolen rug. Indeed, 1t is the boast OF
the Oriental that when brazer OF Goals Is upset on
the heaviest Of these it may be swept up with
ont serious injury to the carpet. But cotton rugs
end cotton hangngs are veitable finder to the flame.
With these simple but possibly startling facts show
ing the danger that we daily run 1t behooves all to
take especial care remembering that to the want OF
care are due than one half the fires that occur
One O, the most delicious corn-cakes is made with
three tabespoonfus Of butter beaten to cream with
four tablespoonfus OF sugar two eggs, pint OF mk
and one and n half cups Of sifted flour, cupfu OF
yellow cornmeal. liberal teaspoonfu OF SODA, TWO
heaping teaspoonfuls Of cream o. tartar and hall
teaspoonful of salt When the butter and sugar are
beaten together beat the yoks and the whites OF the
eggs together and add them Dissolve the soda In the
milk and add this mixture. Sift the -four meal. salt,
and cream tartar together and stir all together Beat
the batter hus formed very hard. Select deep muffn
tins butter them thoroughly fill them threequarters
full with batter. Put the mullins in very hot oven
and let them bake for half an hour. This makes
thick. somewhat sweet muffin, which Is very tender
and rich The large size OF timbale moulds, those
which are about two inches across and two and
half high are very nice to bake these mufins IN.
Made of q thick heavy tin, they should be, they
cost about a dollar a Dozen
There has been very decided departure In the way
of skirts this season. The bell Or as some call 1t the
umbrella skirt is considered almost de rgueur now for
every new costume whether for the street or for
evening wear For outdoor costumes one occasionally
sees the old fan npaed skirt Of last winter but not
often and for evening dresses they entirely things
of the past. This new sfiIt inaugurlted By the