The Jersey City news., 1891-03-30


How to Wash FIanneIs.
How to wash fiannels so that they
will not shrink is something about
which there is no end of discuss ion.
Many housekeepers en- tertain decided
opinions on this sub ject, and are very
tenacious of them, but they seem to
rest for the most part on usage, and
not on any basis of service or any
given principle.
They rub their flannels out in cold
suds, and feel confident that they are
right as to process and results But
some day they find that their gar
ments have a stuffy smell and are sort
of smooth and slippery, like leather.
Very soon they are worthless, and
then there is wonder not that they are
so, but as to who has washed them in
other than the approved way or what
has happened TO them.
Others use hot suds, and in warm
water, with little blue, and wiring as
dry as possible. One lady takes hours
of time patting and pulling the gar
ments until dry, and is worried and
unhappy because they will shrink
after all of her pains.
Wool fabric has little barbs like
this = =. OF course, they are very
small and delicate, but they crowd
upon each other and crawl and mat in
the most curious way.
If you would know exactly how this
is. cut off lock of hair, turn half of it
end for end, and put the two together.
the ends exactly even. Place the lock
across the palm Of one hand, put the
other hand over il, and rub the hands
gently together lengthwise. After a
moment, the cut hairs will appear on
either edge OF the hand, the move
ment having caused them to slide
lengthwise apart.
sWool is similarly constructed and
this is one reason why rubbing is in
furious to wool fabrics.
But this is by no means all. If q
dozen samples of flannel are washed
in precisely the same way there may
be almost as many results as there
are pieces. Much depends upon the
quality of the wool and the condi-
ton OF the animal from which it was
taken. As no one can be expected TO
know about this, it follows that to do
things in as nearly the common sense
way as possible is the only safe way.
and then take a certain amount of
risk.
Unquestionably, the best process is
to use quite hot suds. This dissolves
and removes certain particles of per-
spiration upon which cold water will
have no effect. As sudden changes
OF temperature are supposed to add
TO the changes of shrinKage, it is we'll
to rinse Immediately in water
of about the same temperature, and
little soap should be put in this also.
As wringing Injuries the fiannels, they
should be very gently pressed 10 re-
move the first suds, and then, after
rinsing, be pinned out on lines with
out any wringing or pressing what
ever. Flannels should never be
ironed, especially if damp. Take
bit of wet flannel and hold one edge
of it over the steam of boiling tea
Kettle. 1t will shrivel up like leather.
SO hot irons ON damp woolens will
draw and crisp them until they are
hopelessly shrunken and puckered up.
Press belts, bands, facings or other
silk or muslin parts. but fold and
smooth the garments and places d
heavy weight over them. The feel of
them is much more comfortable when
worn without pressing, and they will
last as long again.-NelO York Ledger.
\ Thought From the Side of the Child.
There isn't anything in the world
prettier than the child in the pictur-
esque garments of che present dav.
The very Sight of one is sonnet hing to
be distinctly grateful for whole day
thereafter. In his velvet coat with
his lace rufIies and his silk clad legs,
Master Harold is a little prince who
has escaped from the Tower, or Mis-
tress Priscilla, in her quaint gown and
white cap, has slipped out of Sir
Joshua Reynolds loving hands into
the circle OF today. And they are all
very dear and charming, no doubt,
and they crafty our eyes and our
tastes as well as our hearts.
But perhaps there is place for an
other thought, one that goes back of
the appreciation and pleasure of the
grown-up folk. A thought for the
child. Children are often more sensi-