The record-union., 1897-03-28

When flowers are scarce and .eXpenS-
i've it is we'll worth while to study ways
to keep their beauty from fading. Our
readers are advised to try the following
the very next time there is an oppor-
tunity, and they will have this depart
ment to thank for their flowers lasting
three or four times the length of time
they would if treated in the ordinary
manner.
In the first place, before removing
the beauties from the box or paper in
which they arrive, sprinkle them gen.
tly, but thoroughly, with fresh, cold
water; then make some good strong
soap suds, which takes the place OF
roots, and is, therefore, very important.
and put the flowers therein, taking care
not to pack the stems too closely to-
gether. Every morning without fail
the flowers must be taken out of the
suds, their stems clipped a wee morsel,
and laid sideways in clear, cool water.
See that every stem is we'll covered, let
lie for few minutes, sprinkle with the
fresh water, shake and return to the
suds, and your flowers will look as If
just that moment picked. Change the
SuOS every IllIeS ueiS 1OlIO" ILLS L oi~
carefully, and at the end of a whole
month compare your flowers with those
a day or two old, which have been
carelessly crammed into a vase OF
water, and mark the contrast. Even
after the fifth week the flowers that
have been fed by the suds will look
passably well. This is certainly worth
a trial for flower lovers, and how a
few do glorify a room, to be sure.
A very simple and curious experiment
may be tried with ordinary household
ammonia. For instance, dip white
carnation or a dark red sweet pea into
the ammonia, and the former will i'm
mediately change to a dainty yellow,
the latter to blue, deepening into pur-
pie.
Green roses are not pretty, but If
there is a faded pink one it will be Gu
rious to dip it, and behold it is trans
formed into a beautiful lettuce green.
To do away with insomnia a night
cap is recommended. Not a comfort
able hot drink just before retiring, but
the real, realistic headgear, bringing to
mind the picture Of
Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap
Have just settled our brains Tor a long
winters nap.
For they are to be worn by men as
well as women, by little folk as well as
their elders. This "discourager of sleep
lessness" is to have the old-fashioned
lace-edge frill round the face, with a
bewitching bow of a becoming color on
top for women and children, and for
men the time-honored candle snuffer
yore.
All this because the family doctor de-
clares that it is not the American cli-
mate that is to blame for the chronic
cold in the head Dickens calls catarrh
the favorite Yankee instrument, al
most universal in our land, but to the
banishment Of head covering during
the night; also, if we would be rid Of
this ''horrid hawk" entirely, we are to
wear flannel, light and dainty as may
be, but wool, with enough cotton to
keep it from shrinking. A soft, COM
Portable affair for my lady, that may
be laundered as easily as the ordinary
linen or cotton night dress, beruff1ed
and trimmed if she WILL or plain as a
mans garb. Light wooden pajamas are
insisted upon for the men, and we are
promised TO be forthwith healthy,
wealthy, and wise" This is the way
the doctor reasons: All day we foolish
mortals live in rooms that average
about 20 degrees Fahrenheit; at night
we pull down the windows, shut off the
heat, and reduce the temperature to
say 30 degrees, and there, with bare
heads and robed in nothing warmer
than cotton, or still worse linen, at the
least tossing aside of blankets we in
vite rheumatism and neuralgia, while
as for catarrh, that is a foregone con-
clusion.
But" queried an advanced thinker,
show about the hair? If we wear night
caps won't it make that sparce aud
thin, so that we will be balder than
ever?"
Look at the portraits of your ances-
tors" answered the doctor, ''and see
what good hair they had, both men and
women. They would have as soon gone
to rest without their nightcaps as with
out saying their prayers"
Miss Parloa advises that warmed
over meat is best served at the next
days luncheon on q puree of some
egetable-mashed potato or spinach
chopped and mixed with a. little butter
and milk, the meat laid on it and
warmed i'll the oven, the heated sauce
or gravy poured over it. In this way
the meat is not recooked, a condition
to be avoided.
Advocating the thorough cooking OF
salt and white meats, Miss Parloa cited
the fact that in France there is a Law
regulating the cooking Of pork. 1t Is
carefully enforced, and one eats there
invariably, sufficiently cooked ham and
sparerib.
In the laundry-work department of
Pratt Institute the classes are taught
that fine table cloths should be fire.
ouently altered in their folding for
ironing. Their durability will be thus
greatly heightened. They may be folded
double part of the time, then in triple
fold that changes the creasing. Nap
kins should be similarly treated. Iron
them with the warp. that is,straight ur
and down, to prevent scalloping. They
should be ironed wrong side out, and
then folded back so as to open easily
Fold edges to the center.
Accidents Of a grease-spot nature are
frequently happening to dining room
carpets. Nothing so effectually pro-
tects the carpet as a crumb cloth. But
the crumbcloth is an acknowledged
nuisance, and except where little chill
dren are numbered in the family, is
not used. Painted or oiled floors foi