The Van Buren press., 1893-12-16
THE CARE OF SILVER.
How Good Houseksepers Clean 1t and How
They Keep 1t Clean.

First of all it may be proper to con-
slider how the plate should be kept
when not in use. The best thing, per-
haps, in which to keep silverware is
canton flannel or green baize bag or
case. This should be made of sufficient
width to accommodate the various arti-
cles, and stitched into1narrow pockets,
with suitable openings at the top. Into
these pockets the several pieces of sill
yer are slipped, each by itself; the
whole is then rolled and tied, and may
be put away in some dry drawer or
closet till wanted for use At that time
a quick wiping with piece of chamois
will put everything in presentable con-
dition.
The proper care of silver begins with
the washing after 1t has been used at
table or elsewhere. Ordinarily it fol-
lows the glassware, being second in
the wash, and authorities differ some.
what as to the best manner in which
to treat it. One class of experts hold
that it should only be washed in boil
ing hot watsr, free from soap, while
others would have fine soap dissolved
in the water. All agree that the water
should be hot--the nearer to boiling
the better-and that it should be free
from coarse soap or anything else
which may be productive of scratches
or blemish of any sort. As to the use
of soap, this may properly be deter
mined by the condition of the articles
to receive treatment.
Following the washing rinse the
plate In hot clean water, wipe dry
with soft cloth, and Immediately rub
with soft leather-chamois is by far
the best All of this which may seem
little formidable from the reading,
requires but very brief time and no
serious labor If the right articles are
kept, as they should be, at hand ready
for service. If this course Is conscien-
tiously pursued every time the silver
is washed after use the formal ''clean-
ing" will come quite seldom and will
not be very much of a bugbear when it
actually puts in an appearance. 1t
must be borne in mind, however, that
the articles are to be wiped entirely
dry and that the polishing leather must
also be dry and clean, since its damp
ness or the presence of dirt, oil, or the
like, will spoil the effect.
When formal polishing is neces-
sary the initial steps are those above
described for washing Every piece OF
plate must be made as clean as possi-
BILE and wiped entirely dry. There are
good many kinds of '.silver polish"
upon the market, but about the best,
after all, and the base of most OF them
is the old French whiting, which taken
in Its purity may be used without dam
ger OF injury to silver. If there is any
question as to the purity of the whit
ing 1t should be sifted through hair
sieve, or, better still, through piece
Of muslin, before being used. 1t is
then wet with water or alcohol-the
latter giving specially brilliant effect
taken upon soft rag and the article
thoroughly but carefully rubbed over.
The surplus is then wiped away with o
soft cloth, proper brush is used to re-
move any traces Of whiting from the
chasing, and the article is lightly pol
ished with leather, when, If the work
has been properly done, the heart OF
the mistress will swell with pride as
she glances over the shining surfaces.
A formula which is in use at one Of
the large manufactures for cleaning
silver is SO simple rs to be almost in
credible, yet is said to do its work thor
oughly and perfectly. In eight quarts
of boiling water half a pound of sal
soda is dissolved, and the silver is
dipped in the hot liquid. 1t is then
Immediately washed in suds, in the
ordinary way, and completely dried
with canton flannel or some soft cloth.
Any pieces of the household silver
which have been damaged should be at
once sent to competent silversmith
for repair. 1t not infrequently hap
pens that dents and bends occur
through accident, especially at the
hands of servants, but in most cases Of
this sort skilled workman will make
repairs so deftly that the article will
still be capable of satisfactory service.
Where 1t Is necessary to use plated
ware-and this is real luxury to many
worthy people, who find themselves
unable to get the solid ware-care
should be taken not to wear the goods
unnecessarily, as the film of silver cam
not endure forever or stand very rough
usage-though from the nature OF
things 1t is often given more severe
tests than come to its solid half brother.
When the plating has begun to wear
of and the baser metal can be dis
cerned showing through no time should
be lost in having the goods replated.
The expense is nothing serious, and a
few replating, will be sufficient to keep
knives forks, spoons and the like in
fine condition during q lifetime. Chi