Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

need to be perfectly dry before putting
away, and if done the first thing. they are
ready to be folded as soon you have fin
ished, which Is Of some moment II your
house Is small, you have no room to
put your clothes frame in
l do not do much starching. Starched
bed linen is a horror to my notion, and
fine table linen should have only sus-
picion of clear starch in the table cloths.
The woman who would put starched nap
kin on her table would eat potatoes with
her knife. Body linen should have but little
starch. because it will irritate the flesh,
and, best reason of all for limited starch
ing, starch rots the clothes and makes
them break much quicker. White skirts
should have enough stiffening to make
them glossy, no more White skirts that
rattle are relocated to the maids of the
house. Children's clothing should be lightly
starchef If at ALL When your clothes are
folded, put thick cloth over the basket
and set 1t away out of the dust. Fold
your dark coored clothes in the morning,
and the stockings as well. Do not turn
your stockings right side out-if. they are
dark-until you go to put them on. and then
you won't be tormented with lint all over
them. Always iron. You can tell an I'M
ironed stocking half block away.
Among your ironing utensils should be
broad ironing board, all of five feet long.
made in coffin shape, of hard wood, If pos
sible. The board must be of one solid
plank; the seam between two boards is a
edges. Then you should have at least six
irons. some light, some heavy. but my
choice would be for seven pound ones. or
heavier. heavy iron will not need as
much bearing on" to make the linen
smooth. Keep your irons dry and clean.
and, for conscience sake don't leave them
on the stove week in and week out, for
that burns all the temper out of them and
they won't hold heat half as well. You
will need an iron stand, and bit Of board
a foot square. which you will cover fresh
each week with a piece of old muslin, to
rub your iron on, II it seems to he rough
piece of beeswax, or white wax. and a
tablespoonful of salt will help keep your
irons smooth. Then. Of course. YOU will
want an ironing table beside. The long
board is only practicable for skirts and the
smaller articles. The table should have a
solid pine top.
Irons should BE Piping Hot.
For a covering for the table and board
nothing Is better than two thicknesses Of
old blanket which should be tackled firmly
on the board on the under side, so that
there is no chance for ii to wrinkle. Never
nave seam on the upper side of any of
your ironing covers. For the table have the
cover large enough that you can catch
IL at each corner and pin around 1t to hold
IT firmly. For the outside cover an old
sheet that has no seams or Sits is as good
as anything. This can be removed and
folded so as to keep clean. and should
be washed frequently. Don't follow the
wasteful practice of some, and use one of
the good sheets each week. for the iron is
sure to scorch it before you are through,
and then 1t will drop into holes.
Have the irons piping hot to begin and
Keep them SO. Ore shovel full of coal at
a time will keep your fire in excellent IRON
ing condition, and the stove will not get
stopped up nor will you then consume a
third more coal. which is extremely waste
1ui. Never set your iron on piece until
you have first tested il on the wax board.
SCurchnS ha ic
hot to put or clothing. Set it on the hearCh
and take anotaer.o In this way you save
smudges and scorching. You viii generally
find that the wax board bit of muslin is
used up by the time you get through
Shake towels and other fr:nge,i articles to
get the sam me- uniSnotted, and iron with Il
heavy hand all woven linen. Iron the ruff
feS embroidery or lace on garment first,
then the body, going back to the trimming
toe last thing, if ii seems to be u bit damp.
If garmentIdres in spots. before You
get 1t lroned, dip soft clean cloth in warm
water and run over the dry spot to dampcn
it When you go to use tie skirt board,
spread two or three newspapers on the
floor, and then If the skirt touches it will
not get soiled. Iron liilow slips from the
closed end toward the hem: the wrinkles
smooth out better! Fold and iron sheets
lengthwise, then yOu can save tnne by
ironing just half al it, for the other half
will be perfectly smooth. Ii Is the duty
Of busy housewife to save herself and
her servants every bit of unnecessary Ia
hor AMI over the ironing board is a good
place 20 begin. Dark cOlored clothes shouti
be ironed on the wrong side, as the iron
makes them shine. Wooden clothes should
never have a very hot iron.
should BE Thoroughly Dried.
Have two or three iron holders, as to
change off when one gets hot clear
through" and threatens to blister the hand.
Bed ticking makes good covers for several
thicknesses of flannel, and a thickness of
leather between the flannel cut from an
old shoe Is an added protection. Keep your
ircn holders clean. and save ugly marks on
the linen. If you have no clothes frame,
have put up in the kitchen three four
hooks opposite sides Of the room, ard
get enough small cotton rope to make two
or three lines across the kitchen and far
apart. so that the clothes Will not touch.
Hang the ircned linen over the line, and
By the time you have finished most of it
will be ready to fold away. Then put tie
line away to keep II clean. Never fold
clothes away damp. Fatal illness mas been
caused by unaire1 linen. Never stand in
Il draught to iron: II cooS your irons, dries
the garment you are pressing and will give
you 'crick" in the back, likely
rot.
AS a matter of economy, you might do
your baking, roasting Of meat and such
other cooking as requires hot fire On
the day you iron. "A hod Of coal seems a
little thing to save, but there is a great
truth in the old Scotch saying, ''mOnv
mickles max a mGckle," and you Will fin1
it as true in expenditure of strength IS in
money. Managing properly is the secret
of success in housekeeping.
Speaking of managing reminds me of
how / managed Rose about the aprons.
She looked so tired when she got home
from school that l ironed them myself, so
SONORA SARA.
A Tailor Gown.