The Portland daily press., 1891-10-20
THE HOME.
THE USE OF POTASH.

lhE OoE OF POTASH.
The New York Ledger tells in the follow
Ing manner OF the great value of potash for
household use. 81 consider potash san
itary means of grace" remarked a good
housekeeper, as she emptied tho remains of
| can of potash into the garden-sprinkler
and filled 1t up with water, preparatory to
| sprinkliDg the back-door step and paths
II can kill more disease germs with one can
| OF this stuff than with almost anything 1
know Of" she continued. Indeed, be-
tween potash and sulphur. manage to keep
my family in pretty comfortable health. At
all events. we have very few complaints that
are traceable to ordinary bacteria and
microbes. II the kitchen sink gets musty
stuffy-smelling, it gets dose of potash ap-
piled the last thing at night take about
one tablespoonful of the clear potash to two
quarts OF warm water, After the potash Is
dissolved pour it into the pipes and make
stopper OF a large potato cut in half and
placed over the drainage holes. In the
morning pailful of hot water will clear the
pipes perfectly and remove all disagreeable
odors.
my bathroom and closets are treated in
similar fashion, except that great care is
necessary in keeping the potash from con-
tack with tin and zinc. All very greasy
dishes are put into a kettle with water in
which are dissolved a few grains of potash,
and the grease Is almost Immediately re-
moved.
''Soiled house-cloths and brushes are rinsed
floor are scrubbed with It. The laundry,
which has floor Of unpainted boards, gets
thorough scrubbing once week with water
into which sufficient potash is dissolved to
make it quite sharp All unpainted door
steps, board-walks and the like get the
same sort of bath every few days. I never
yet have come across an animal or vege-
table germ that seemed to flourish after an
application Of fairly strong potash-water.
II think that the value of this article as an
been properly estimated. 1t will kill weeds
in the walks, destroy ants nests and eat up
and dissolve most substances that attract
flies. l do not approve of dampness caused
by too free use of potash water: 1t is too ir-
ritating to weak throats and lungs; but
thoroughly used and dried away, it is one of
the most important items In the house.
keepers's provision for the health of her
family.
1t may be well to say that almost all metal
receptacles are injured by contact with
strong potash-water. Tin and zinc espec-
Tally suffer. Galvanized iron is but slightly
affected, and cast-irOn, If cleaned and dried,
suffer no harm. Porcelain or earthen-ware
must be used for strong solutions of this sub
stances. A stone pot will be absolutely dis
solved and crumble away If strong potash
water Is allowed to stand In it fol- any length
OF time, although moments contact does
no harm whatever. In this connection it
may be said that salt, also, will produce
almost Identical effects on stone ware. Some
housekeepers pack butter In very strong
brine stone pots. 1t is often the case that
the glazing will crack and scale off in large
pieces alter the brine has stood in the pot
for some time. Much, however depends on
the quality Of the glazing, the finer and bet
ter grades being much less easily affected"
FASHIONS OF FALL.
Velvet is difficult material to make into
frills. 1t is too heavy and clumsy to allow of
the fulness which in lighter materials gives
its chief beauty to this form of trimming.
The ruffie must. of course, be cut on the
bias, for graceful effect can be obtained
with less material in this way. Then, in
stead of doubling the top to form heading.
1t is lined with silk of the same shade. Clus-
tiers of gathers with plain spaces between,
too, give less weight and thickness than ii
the whole ruftie were gathered.
The reefer-coat with its double-breasted
front and bright lining, is one of the styles
that remains with US season after season.
The heavy homespuns end cheviots are
made up into extremely neat street costumes
with no attempt at ornament except two
rows OF machine stitching on the edge and
shaded pearl buttons.
The cut brim turban now shows In all the
milliners windows promises to be very
popular. 1t Is trimmed by twisted roll Of
velvet around the crown which shows
through the slits In the brim. A pompon of
two shades of velvet Is placed in front with
tigrettes tipped with jet, and a roll Of vel
Is carried from the front to the back of the
crown.
The small bonnet which fits closely to the
mead promises again to become popular and
IL Is becoming alike to young and old.
smooth felt hats have brim simply re-
bouud with ribbon, and trimmed with a
twist of velvet and lace or of spangled gal
loon.
There is one noticeable feature of the new
autumn woolens that can not be too highly
commended, and this Is the tendency to
tighten their weight without in the slightest
degree interfering with the protective
warmth.
Skirts are draped once more just little
here and there about the front and sides and
lifted on one hip.
TIE tendency of the season is toward light
shades Of color. For walking dresses dark
chestnut-brown cloths are fashionable, vari-
Gus chrysanthemum shades of purplish red
and gray, blue, dark mouse color, green of
both olive and emerald hues, and also black
woolens plaided with purplish red, or striped
or marbled with green. heliotrope, yellow.or
porcelain blue.
Many little bonnets are made up of cloth
70 match the tailor costume. The cloth in
such cases is fitted smoothly over the bon
net frame, and border of velvet or span
gled galloon In harmonizing color finishes
the edge, and the bonnet is completed by
trimmings of jet or feathers.
In cloakings gray cloth is very conspicu-
GUS. Black and gray. gray and white, and
blue. as also the tans and browns and stone.
color will be worn, some having astrakhan
effects. cloth with very rough surface
like sheepskin, is among the fabrics shown.
A GOOD CLEANSING PREPARATION.
A lady callt for this mixture at drug
store: One quart of deodorized benzlne,