Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.


1t Is said that q few drops of ammonia
in the water for, refreshing house plants
will make them thrive better. Be careful
not to touch the foliage, as 1T will turn
the leaves yellow.
White suede gloves, IL not too badly SOIL
ed, can be cleaned by washing the gloved
hands In dry corn meal. Rub the worst
spots with a cotton flannel cloth and a lit
tie Of the meal. This is easy to do after
you are dressed to go out, as 1t leaves no
odor. but be careful to dust every particle
OF the meal from the gloves. as they will
leave tell-tale spots on a black dress.
Never leave your canary birds in a room
that has been newly painted. 1t is almost
sure to make them sick, and sometimes
kills them.
You can purify the atmosphere of a room
by throwing resin upon burning Goals in
shovel.
1t is said that a thin coat of varnish on
straw mating makes 1t more durable.
Strong cold sage tea is an excellent wash
for a diseased scalp.
Many who have tried this tonic think 1t
excellent: One hundred grammes of alcohol
fifty of castor oil, two of rose water and
about a teaspoonful Of quinne. Shake well
use. Rub well into the scalp about three
times a week.
When the sponge sours in spite of your
care, rub the juice Of a lemon thoroughly
into ii and let it stand for an hour or no.
Then wash in hot water, then In lukewarm
water, and it will be as sweet new.
On ironing day is the accepted time for
mending torn linen and little frocks. The
tired little mother can husband all her
h 1,rvh 11- lie
thread. needles, scissors and patching ma
terials all at hand when she begins to iron.
While waiting for the irons to get well
heated after an hours using, she can rest
her tired feet by sitting down in comfort
able chair and sewing en- few buttons.
sewing up Sits and common rents, leaving
the more complicated darning till later.
But every article that eeds stitch ought
to get 1t before the garment Is laid away.
Then there viii be no enraged husband
over a broken button hole on his shirt, no
crying child because its prettfest apron is
minus buttons, a baby catching its death
of cold while the Hurried mother runs
drawstring in It's neglected dress. Just q
little system In these matters would save q
great deal of extra work and lots Of heart
burning.
Don't let your hinges creak. A feather
dipped in oil OF any kind and applied to the
hinge will stop Its squeak.
1t Is very poor economy to let sheets that
begin to wear in the middle go on splitting
out. If they are of sheeting muslin tear
them down the middle. overland the two
outside selveges together and hem the torn
sides. The sheets will then last as long
again. If they are of the narrow muslin,
rip and reverse the seams in the same
manner. 1t is best to do this as soon as
they begin to wear thin and not wait for
holes to come.
You can sew carpet rags on a machine
very easily. Join the rags and sew oblique-
ly across. Sewing a dozen or more sec
tions. then turn the whole thing round UNI
der the needle and sew right across again,
then cut all the threads.
You can mend your own tin ware Scrape
the tin about the hole so that it will be free
from foreign particles, grease and the like.
Rub across the hole with a piece Of rosin
TN there is a fine powder of it all around.
then lay q tiny piece of solder over it and
hold hot poker on 1t till 1t melts.
Stair carpets will wear much longer il
extra thicknesses Of strong brown paper or
cotton batting are placed over the edge of
each stairstep the full width of the carpet
before lacking down.
The best spice for the table is variety.
Make frequent changes in the viands, and
see that the quality is unvaryingly good
1t Is the cheapest in the long run.
You are often cheated in nutmegs, but
prick with a pin, and II Oil runs out, you
may rest assured they are good.
A wire basket for frying is almost indis-
pensable in well regulated kitchen.
The girl who is looking for a place to
work will find her services much quicker
required IL she presents herself neatly
dressed and the girl who studies the ways
and methods OF careful mistress will not
have the least bit Of trouble in retaining
her place.
Minced dried beef and scrambled eggs are
An
very salt, freshen it by letting it come to a
boil in clear water; remove and lay On a
cloth to dry. Mince, and turn into the eggs
In the frying pan, and stir all together. Do
not salt the eggs.
Never put pepper in mashed pota-
toes. or in any stirred-up egg dish, because
the pepper blackens them and makes them
unsightly.