The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-06
ideas for IMnrnen.

annoying experience of the dull knife
and the unwilling beefsteak: Every
feminine who has visited ever so little will
know what I mean.
You are taking an informal lunch in
s.pot luck style. The pot luck is a de-
licious looking heefsteak, potatoes au
gratin and so on. But the knife which
has been furnished TO you Is about as
capable of cutting beefsteak as is a piece
of fence rail-. The blade is jagged as a
carpenters saw, and altogether the knife
looks as II 1t had passed with honcrs
through active service N the Revolu-
tionary War.
You try a gentle saving operation. But
the steak ~resists, or it slips from one
side of the plate 10 the other. You are
convinced that the struggle Will end with
depositing the Wand in the lap of your
nearest ~neighbor. whom, BY the way,
your elbows are already jogging to an
uncomfortable degree. Your hostess,
meanwhile, steals little worried glances in
your direction. She fears that your por-
ton of the steak is tough. Whereas 1t is
the knife, and nothing but the knife.
Why is it that some women won't look
to their table knives? They are thorough
ly sensible and up to date In other things.
And they are jolly little hostesses into
the bargain. But they fail in this point
of etiquette to their guest, and they fail
persistently.
No one Will require of a woman of
normal incorae that she possess q dozen
sets of knives for table use. But that she
keeps her knives bright and sharp, and
that she serves steel when steak is served.
The handles and blade must be firmly
Joined. That is something which eve \
guest has a right to expect. A hoste
who has only torture 10 propose at 1t J
table had better leave her guests unin-
yited. They would much prefer 1t on the
whole.
There are regular -observances in car
ing for table knives which will aid in
keeping them sharp and bright and will
save many a visit TO the cutler. Blades
which are of unplated steel must be
polished before each using. Silver blades
require polishing but once a week. being
washed after each meal with hot water
and soap and most thoroughly dried.
In cleaning steel knives a cleaning
board is required. This is far more salts
factory than attempting the task upon
the sink or window sill, as the maids are
apt to do If left TO their own devices.
But one of the leather covered boards
to be found in any good household fur
nishing shops.
To begin operations, fill a basin with
clean water, In which soap has been
mingled and provide yourself with a
soft cloth. Hold the knives with the
left hand and with the cloth wash them
thoroughly. If the handles be of bone,
mother of pearl, ivory, celluloid, ETC., on
no account dip them in the water.
To polish the blades use knife polish.
DO not rub 1t upon the cloth, but spread
it over the board. Lay the sides Of the
knife blade upon the board fiat and push
gently back and forth. Rub the polish
away when the blade has become thor
oughly cleansed with a piece of amo
While caring for the blades Of knives.
the handles. if fine. should be encased
in a narrow bag of some soft material
Canton flannel, chamois, never woollen
material
In the rusting Of steel knives. sweet
oil is a powerful antidote. They should
be dipped in the oil and allowed to
stand for a day and a night.
They must then be rubbed with powder
ed quickline.
AS TO handles. These should never
stand in water. Even in the case of
nives which are entirely of silver. this
IS bad. The water will loosen the
handles and make hat abomination, a
.swabbly's blade. Handles Of ivory, cell
1.-1as7 ..~-I sy1---
ETC., must be ~ieansed by a damp cloth
and afterwards polished with a piece Of
soft cloth. Ivory is well cieansed with
whiting and spirits of turpentine.
A tall pitcher is an excellent sugges-
ton for holding knives In this the
water is made to reach a point a little
below the handle of the knife. Imme-
diateiy after coming from the table the
knives are placed in this and are al
lowed TO remain until the moment for
washing them occurs. No housekeeper
should be without that homemade knife
bag SO frequently described In woman's
Page.
Table knives with both blades and
handles alike of silver are so popular at
QAtSeAl uatS tndl d EooQ polSUlbB ud-
ferial is what every housekeeper wants to
have. In cases of great discolorating
whiting mixed with alcohol will be found
useful. The whiting before mixing should
be sifted through q fine sieve or piece Of
cambria to prevent grittiness. 1t is most
necessary that the silver be kept from
anything which could infiict scratches.
A soft brush viii always be in requisi-
ton with the housekeeper who cares for
her knives. A paper basin, too, is a thor
oughly good suggestion in washing silver
knives, being much less likely TO scratch
than the tin vessel. All soft old cloths
may well be kept for washing the SILVER
and strips Of old table cloths make ex-
celleDt towels for drying.
If the knives are found at any time to
be growing dull take them at once to a
reliable cutler. He win remedy the defect
with a skillful hand. Amateur attempts
are apt to injure the blades.
And. above all, let her remember that
the most enjoyable dinner served with
knives which saw is just no dinner at all.
Some Of the silks of the season promise
TO be Of more than usual magnticence.
One most beautiful specimen displays a