The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30

temnerature lust little higher than boil
inc water at the sea level (2i2 degrees)
Now, happen TO live ~ such . he,sn'
hablv boils at 2i0 degrees. Hence / never
get good potatoes. My hosts house was Just
az mine and his cook said that tho water ia
bia we'll did not suit potatoes she knew moth
inc about the sea level and tempersturc,so
that abe was obliged TO soften 1t with salt ,
She put big handful OF salt In the pot OF
potatoes. and think raised the boiling point
them till the skins burst, she poured on the
water. cooked the lid half of the pot, put the
latter on the hob. and thus for about fifteen
minutes she thoroughly dried them. Inc re-
suIt was amazing and delightful. went
home. and made q series OF careful expert
ments You cannot steam a potato INTO pei
lection unless you inclose the steam 80 as 10
raise its temperature 10 about ZIG degrees d,
Potatoes must always be boiled IN their
skins and in pretty strong saline solution IN
order 10 get them in perfection. delightful to
the palate and easy OF digestion. Aitor such
treatment they NAV be made into soup: they
NAV be baked or roasted (for few minutes
only in their skins; they may be mashed.
cooked la maitre saute. or NIFTY Things may
be done with them; but first of all they must
be boiled in their skins, with plenty OF sait
and then we'll dried.
THE CARE or FURNITURE.
House furniture that is properly made
should last as long as the house and grow
moro beautiful with time. Unhapplly, there
is very little such furniture now. The cheap
yeneered. snowy furniture. tricked out IN
gawgaws TO catch the eye OF the crowd 10 not
made to wear There is. however. good fur
niture to be had. and, though it will cost more
and will not be rs snowy as the yeneered stun
it represents genuine value.
Select your furniture deliberately renem-
herring that there are only O few people in any
community wealthy enough 10 change their
furniture as often as they change the cut OF
their gowns. The houses that are furnished
in the most satisfactory manner are those
occupied by people wise enough not TO buy
any more furniture than was absolutely neces-
sary at first waiting TO buy odd pieces as OPP
portunity offered. Happy. indeed. those
families who possess old pieces of furniture
handed down from generations. past which
have been kept in such good order that they
are improved rather than injured by time.
Large pieces of furniture that have much
carving on them should be carefully covered
when q room is swept and smaller pieces
should be taken out. 1t Is essential that fur
niture should DO kept thoroughly busted.
Rubbing furniture vigorously with q soft
chamos or flannel once week will keep II
in nice condition. 10 is good plan TO use a
rattan beatcr to beat the dust ont OF uphOl'
stored furniture at the weekly sweeping. A
soft whisk- broom is also necessary 70 brush
off the furniture.
Do this before the sweeping and remove
the busted chairs and other pieces that are
easily movable 10 place free from dust.
Cover up the larger pieces, and proceed 10
sweep. Let the dust settle and sweep the
room a second time, using this time broom
merely dampened with salt and water. Let
the dust settle again and replace the furni-
tnre. Remember the busting down Of the
walls with long-handled feather or hair
buster reaching the ceiling should be part
Of the weekly busting.
When the room is busted the last tme-and
not till then uncover the furniture. being
careful not to shake the dust of the covers.
but to do them UP and take them to a window
to shake them out Care should be taken.
however, that this dust does not fly back IN
the room, as it may. If the sweeping has
been properly done no dust will drift into the
furniture. as it will in careles sweeping,
aud cause in few hours more wear than
could come from month OF steady use. A
fine piece of wood certainly mellows with
time.
Ii is said to be good plan to rub furniture
once in two or three months with prepare.
ton of gill of good linseed oil and tea
spoonful Of cider vinegar. Mix the oil and
vinegar thoroughly and apply it with soft
flannel cloth. aud polish the furniture dry
with an old chamois skin or flannel. Do not
| leave any oil on the surface Of the furniture
| when it is done 1t is not wise to apply any
| polish to furniture ottener than once in two
or three months. If it is applied ottener the
! furniture may become gummy and be more
! injured than improved. busting thoroughly
vigorous polishing occasionally and syste-
matte care will do moro good, however, than
any elaborate applications can to keep furni-
| ture in good condition.