The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-06-11
CARE OF MATTRESSES.
How to Wash Blankets Before Putting
Them Away.

Them Away.
The feather bed is, Of course, a thing
of the past. tits probably not lamented
in many quarters, as it is certainly un-
healthful, difficult to care for, and not
pleasant to sleep on. Mattresses,
Blankets pillows, and other articles of
bedding, however, require much care,
to be kept odorless and clean.
The main enemies to mattresses are
dust, damp and moth, and frequent
brushing must be given them, for in an
incredibly short time they will harbor
dust all along the edges and where the
button is fixed. A loose cotton cover
over the mattress, made to button neat
ly at one end, also goes a long way
toward keeping it clean. This can be
washed and changed as often as need
be without much trouble or expense. It
is very important to air all the bedding
thoroughly. Every article should be
daily taken off and laid separately over
a chair and a strong current of air
should be allowed to circulate through
the room before the clothes are re-
placed. The mattress should be turned
daily and from end to end, as this in
sures it being worn more evenly, and
not sinking in the middle.
Blankets are difficulty to many peo-
pie. mostly because they cannot make
up their minds as to how often they
should be washed, nor how they should
lie treated. In many houses they are
washed only once year; but somhow
that does seem rather too rare pro-
ceeding. On the other hand, it is really
not necessary to have them washed more
than twice a year; but they must have
proper care in the interval in the shape
of airing, shaking, etc. A washing ma
chine is very good for the purpose,
especially as they should never be
rubbed by the hand. The water should
be only lukewarm, and little soap we'll
iathered in the water is all that will
be required. Wiring the blankets very
dry through a wringer, shake them out
and wash again in the same way, wiring
ing each time, until they are quite
clean. Do not rinse them, but pull them
into shape and hang them out in the
sun, which is great help to preserving
good color.-Boston Globe.
FOREIGN GOSSIP.
A London cOstermonger was stran-
gled by his shirt collar while asleep
the other day.
More than 10000 persons are engaged
in the manufacture of explosives in
England. Last year 40 persons in the
business were killed and 167 injured by
accidents.
In India Geographic dispatches are
headed: "kSter compliments" the re-
ceiving operator writing out a set Of
complimentary formula established by
The telegraph company, which is indis-
sensable in oriental countries
Paris gelee groseillee, which the care
less take to be currant jelly, is simply
agar-agar, or Ceylon sea moss, favored
with chemical essences which give it
the taste of fruit. The authorities re-
fuse to interfere with the sale of the
substance on the ground that it is
harmless.
Next year the English church will
celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the
baptism of the first English king by
ST. Augustine. The dean and chapter
of Canterbury still hold land in Essex
given by King Ethelbert of Kent, which
has been in their uninterrupted possess
sion since 597.