Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06

IS neither rhyme nor
re eson for going away for rest and fret
ting ones self sick to get ready, and wor-
ryirg ones self into a decline over the
damage to ones belongings while gone.
A little common sense mixed with the
preparations would gave lot of expendi-
ture of vitality in getting ready for the
summer exodus. In the first place, it is a
piece of unnecessary extravaganza and
actual snobbishness to wear ones self out
on the wardrobes for a country visit.
People who have nothing else to do with
their money are privileged to spend 1t that
way. 1t puts 1t in circulation and gives
employment to people who need the money.
But the Woodworking mother who has
three four children to sew for should
have more sense than to spend weeks in
getting her little ones dressed up like
Paris dolls to tumble around in the grass
and split out climbing trees There is the
cost of the materials, to begin with, the
labor of making them in fashionable man
ner and the laundry work to be done every
week. Plain, stout, sensible garments
realty made, and just enough to last
through the season would leave the mother
a little leisure to get her house in shape
SO that she would not be fretting about
that all the time.
How many women have any idea of how
to prepare a house for the absence of its
occupants for three months or more? Yet
it Is necessary for health and COM
fCrt and to save irreparable loss, as five
tucks in the babys short skirts or en-
bIoidereG ruffles Bobs blouse waist
Nest women say, "Oh, the house will be
dusty ana dirty when We return, anyhow
and so won't bother to clean it up now.
Now, there is right and wrong way to
go about leaving house for the summer
ard that woman has got hold OF the wrong
way.
The house that is to be left for the sum-
should be thoroughly cleaned in the
spring, carpets taken up. all renovatioIs
made, blinds mended, locks oiled and ad-
justed, window glass all put in, plumbing
tested, gas meters also. The roof should
be examined for possible leaks, SO that
beating summer rains will not ruin your
ceilings.
Care of Furniture and Clothing.
If you have not already done SO, hang
out your carpets to sun and beat them free
of dust and moths eggs before You go
away. Then sprinkle them with naphtha,
roll them up and sew them up in bed
ticking strong canvas Never a bug or
beetle will touch them while they are in
that roll. and the covering will serve for
years. Beat and dust all your upholstered
furniture, sprinkle with naphtha and put
on the covers, which. of course, you have
prepared, and thea tie the things up in old
newspapers. No moths or other insects
there either.
Hang all your wooden clothing on the
lire in the sun, and your fur garments
and beat and dust each piece separately,
making sure that no moths eggs are left
in anything. Have number of packing
cases ready, or if you have closets and
drawers enough dust and clean, sprinkle
them with naphtha, and line with news
papers. Fold the garments cleaned and
wrap them in pieces of old sheets, and
again in paper and lay them away. All
farnel garments should be treated in this
manner.
Body garments, blankets and the like
should be washed SO as to put them away
clean. All the rugs in the house should
be treated in like manner and packed in
the case. Sprinkle everything with naphtha
and you may be sure that If you have left
no moths in the garments moths will not
trouble them during the summer.
Take down all the pictures and clean
the glass and frames. Then cover with
and long needle. Remember that all
these coverings will last for years, hence
will not be expensive In the long run. Take
all the shades off the chandeliers and piano
then empty and clean the lamps and wrap
closely in cheese cloth. Treat all your
mirrors the same way. For the piano or
OF gan. make case of canton flannel which
will cover it all over and sew it on. Bring
a barrel into the living room and wrap
in paper all the bric-a-brac and china orna-
ments and lay them in the barrel If you
have brass or bronze rods, take them all
down, and after cleaning. wrap in paper
and stow where it will be perfectly dry.
Lace curtains that are to be laundered
should be washed to get-the dirt out and
PUT away rough dry, or sent directly to
the cleaners to be ready on your return.
Heavy draperies of silk or damask, wooden
or cotton, should be shaken and cleaned
ready to hang then folded away after
srrnkling with naphtha, with papers be-
tween the folds, and wrapped in paper,
taking pains not to fold them so that they
will wrinkle All the cabinets and pieces
of carved furniture should be covered with
old sheets.