The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
FOR WOMEN'S READING
PROPER CLEANING OF BLACK DRESS
GOODS A MATTER OF MOMENT.
A Little Harmless Gossip Becomes at
Times Rather Refreshing-some
Things to Do in Emergencies.

zone can scarcely avoid feeling little bit
Of !mpatience at seeing a mistaken idea per-
sistently insisted in and course followed
out simply because notion has taken root
in the feminine mind" said woman of
large experience TO a writer in the New
York Ledger.
DAY after day we read directions for
cleaning black goods. especially silks; part
OF the process recommended being to begin
while they are slightly damp and iron them
until they are thoroughly dry. AS matter
OF fact, a hot iron should never touch silk.
1t Is fatal to its beauty. and as there are
ways to restore this fabric that render it
almost as handsome as new goods, 1t seems
the sheerest folly to stick to such an an
tlQuated notion as ironing it dry.
THE general objection to the improved
process is that it involves quite little time
and considerable hard work. but when the
task is completed the operator will be SO
astonished at the result that the ironing
method will never afterward be received
with any degree of liberation.
The first necessity is wide. smooth
board, or. in the absence of this, a piece OF
smooth oilcloth. not less than a yard and
a half long and three-quarters OF a yard
wide. This may be placed on a table or
large family. it is well worth while to have
a board for this special purpose. If one
can secure a single board twenty-eight
inches or so in width, this is well. but IL
two boards must be joined this must be
carefully done. as no hint of the union must
be evident to make a ridge a mark on
the surface of the fabric. In any case. the
oilcloth covering is desirable. as it keeps
the board from warping or splitting, and if
1t is made up of sections. smooths the ir-
regularities and permits of a much better
finish to the goods.
when all is ready make rather strong
decoction of soap bark. This is prepared by
putting an ordinary teacupful OF bark into
about two quarts of water and placing on
the back of the range to simmer for several
hours, then add another quart of water and
pour the liquid into another vessel, adding
more water and placing the bark again
the fire. With piece of black cloth,
or what Is better. moderately soft briStle
brush like an ordinary clothes brush, wet
the silk thoroughly with the liquid then
with the hand or a folded rag, the size OF
an ironing holder rub the silk straight way
OF the grain until all the moisture Is rubbed
out, then turn II over, wet IL again and rub
Each piece must be handed separately.
and under on circumstances must 1t be
folded: Now hang the sections over
straight stick-a line Is not good, for IL
says, and may make wrinkles in the ma
terial. When all OF the pieces are gone
over. take them all from the stick and select
upon the board, being sure that the grain
of the fabric Is absolutely straight, and
is firmly attached to the board. If neces-
sary, a little moisture may be added TO facil-
itate this operation. All of the pieces of
other in the same way, wetting them when
IL Is necessary. and smoothing them till they
adhere firmly 10 each other: Then the small
pieces are put on, graduating them in size
so that all the edges may lie smoothly and
not overlap some other portion. Put folded
cloth over the board and place II in position
at an angle of about forty-five degrees Aft
er a few moments. the superfiuous water viii
begin to drip away Do not disturb the silk
al all for some hours, or until the water has
long ceased 10 fall from II. If the weather
Is cold. leave II until the following day; If
extremely warm, put it in cool place and
let tx remain undisturbed for at least twelve
hours: then with the thumb and finger care
fully lift each piece. Very likely there will
be more or less dampness. and this must
be removed by spreading the pieces upon
clothes-frame. When the silk is dry, if the
work has been properly managed. there will
be neither wrinkle nor fold left in the
goods. With care almost all marks of
stitches may be taken out II there have
been shirrings or plaitings take breadth
edges firmly, being careful that the grain of
the goods runs straight from hand to hand
then move the hands back and forth, so as
to draw the silk on the bias repeating this
process a number of times. This must be
done while the silk is wet. 1t viii work the
shape, ana greatly improves the appearance
of the material One trying may not bring
this process to perfection, but II is safe
to say that after few experiments no other
means Of cleaning black SILK will be adopted
This course OF treatment works equally well
with black wool goods, and is managed pre-
n a 90 me Tor - II
fabrics the material is folded in the original
folds when laid away TO drip. Care must
oe taken that the goods do not dry in
streaks. To avoid this, keep the board COW
cred with a thick cloth until all the moisture
has drained away. 1t sometimes is desirable
edges and lighter one where the material
Is very thick on the board
As SILK Is an animal substance, and orig
fnaily liquid that becomes solicited by ex-
posture TO the atmosphere, II stands to req
son that hot iron should never touch IT.
1t 1h seems strange. indeed: that among people
SILK IS recommended season after season.
Women Who Are Bores.
New York Tribune
There are so many kinds of people that
bore one." remarked a woman of society.
WHO at this season OF the year is ant to be
feeling blase and weary of her kind Don't
you hate to be told ABOUT their travels by
people who have just returned from Europe,
and who seem to fancy that they have dis
covered all those conventional places that
every one knows by hearth she continued.
plaintively. II went to see Mrs A yester-
day, and she meandered on and on. giving
me full and minute description OF their
trip to the Nile last winter tried TO feebly
remark that I had made exactly the same
excurSpn the year before. leaving her to
draw the natural inference that I knew ii
all by heart. But il was no use: / had 20
hear II all. and after she got through Egypt
she commenced on Switzerland. But at that
fed.
The woman who discusses her servants
and children is nothing TO the Travelled lady
although she. too, with her wild patitudes
ing Is the woman who converses, not talks;
who uses set and genteel phrases. as liz she
had learned them from a manual. Do you
not always feel Wild desire TO say some
thing very shocking TO such a person, just
TO startle them out of their decorum and
elegance? / do. And then there Is another
very exhausting parsonage, and that is the
woman who talks for the gallery, and who,
therefore, Is not particularly interesting 10
the individual, and whose studied cleverness
is even more .intolerable than the stupidity
OF the Others"
ITO sum ii all up" said the friend severe.
ly to whom the fair malcontent was making
her plant, there is nothing that appeals 10
your faded sense of amusement but person al
gossip. served up With the sauce piquante of
scandal"
well. I dare say you are right" admitted
the other. but what can you expect at the