The record-union., 1897-09-26

An effect in silver boxes is most sat
asfactorfly made by Incorporating them.
as it were, into some bit Of massive
furniture. as, for instance, tall cabinet
topped bureau of rosewood, ebonized
wood, or even, by careful arrangement,
white enamelled wood. They should be
placed in such positions as to seem to
be a legitimate part of the furniture's
ornamentation. A cabinet or a cabinet
topped mantel of one Of these dark or
dazzlingly light woods may be utilized
with the same success. A long mar
row cabinet, as spacious as needs will
require, so open that every part will
catch as much as possible Of the lamp
light, should be used for a collection Of
cutglass for a dining room, where some
one brilliant effect is desired. {
A thrifty housewives query is why /
every popular toilet soap should not |
come in different sized cakes? "One t
wants to keep a fresh cake, always, in /
the guest room, of course" she ex- +
plains, and if the coming visitor is to /
stay but a day or two, it is a clear t
waste to have only a bulky article for
use; and 50 it is in travelling. very I
small cake would be more economical /
for a short journey, as a tourist hardly /
cares to bring home a moist cake of I
ever 50 choice a cleanser. Another sug- I
gestion is that many Of the finest soaps I
come rather too highly scented-a fault /
that could be easily remedied to-day, +
when every breath of perfume, to be /
modish, must be of the faintest and |
most subtle description"
Grasses are always useful for table +
decoration. In order to have them in .
stock" as it were, the heads should be
picked just before they are ripe, and
dried in the shade. They will then keep j
well without dropping the seeds.
So-caued safety matches never
should be thrown away, as extinguish- /
ed beyond the possibility Of harm, with /
out close examination to see that they I
are no longer burning. Care should be I
taken also to guard against the sparks .
which fly from some Of them, and be- /
lie their name. One country house has .
been twice set on fire since it was built, /
four years ago, by careless handling
of such a match. Once flying spark I
caught in an umbrella, and there /
smouldered into final and rather dis |
astrous blaze. Another time match /
thought to be spent did similar mis-
chief
Some housewives are, even so late in /
the season as this, preserving rhubarb |
for winter use The process, as adopt |
ed by them. is so extremely simple that
any one might make the experiment of
q few cans, at least. The fruit is peel ;
ed and sliced, and then placed in cans F,
These are filled to overlooking with cold
water, and the tops screwed on. Only
this, and nothing more" The rhubarb
keeps in perfect condition. Nor is it TO
be despised, in the coming cold months,
when used in the shape of an open tart /
For this the pie-plant is stewed, sweet
ened, and put into a dish lined with
puff paste when baked, and while still
hot it should be eaten, with an abund-
ant supply of cream. 1t is not of
course. the most digestible of sweets, +
but it is, indeed. delicious.
In Norway, where superb coffee is
made, a bit of butter is added to the
beans while they are roasting in the
covered shovel used there for that pur-
pose In France, as well, a piece of
butter the size of a walnut is put with
three pounds Of the coffee beans, and
also a dessert-spoonful of powdered
sugar This brings out both flavor and
scent, and, moreover, gives the slight
caramel taste which viii be remember j
ed as a pleasing part of French coffee.
Tn only unmarried daughter of the
Prince of Wales is not allowed to ride
a bicycle She has a tricycle. and even
that she never uses without an at
1endant.
It is not a piece of news to say that
this is the time of year to pick up
bargains in the shops in the way, for
example. of bric-a-b brac. which will
later serve as acceptable Christmas
gifts. Yet it is so absolutely true that
women may we'll be reminded of the
fact If it is possible to get a day or
two of shopping in town the trip, if not
too far. will we'll repay one just now.
"A small amount of money may be this
month judiciously laid out in staple
articles that viii not lose their value
quickly-odd bits of cut glass or Of
china, pretty lamps, candlesticks, and
thousand and one small luxuries.
These are marked down for the dullest
time of the year, but will so up again
aater in the season.
Almost every one likes the delicate
little cakes known as puffs, or eclairs.
but almost every one imagines that
they are too difficult for an amateur
cook to attempt. Directions given for
them in the receipt books usually are
for great number, and sound like
professional work But the following
makes couple dozen of small puffs,
which may be baked in gem pans, and
then filled with whipped cream, Gus
tard or whatever is desired: Boil to-
gether for one moment one cup of
water. one-half cup of butter, and one
cup of -four. Set away to cool, and
then stir in, one at a time. three eggs
not beaten Drop into the creased
pans and bake. Surely, there is. no
easier cake to make than this. and none
surer 10 turn out we'll" After bak-
ing, which must be done in a steady
oven, let them cool, cut a slit in the
side, and insert the filing as fancied.
A pretty sand for bric-a-brac is oc-
tagonal in shape, and has an inch high
rail Of mahogany about its edge. The
top is covered with old damask plain