The record-union., 1897-02-21

II have found a new use for brass
candlesticks,'' said the young house
keeper Il have two or three pairs
that belonged to my great-grand-
mother. I think the world of them, put
in my house, as it is at present, l
have no place where L can use them
with proper effect-that is, as candle
sticks But as bonnet stands they are
treasures. l have closet full of them.
1t is always difficult to know how to
put away hat or bonnet in a way
that will keep it perfectly fresh. My
candlesticks are high enough so that
not a dropping plume or hanging
loop touches the shelf, and they are so
heavy that there is no danger of their
tipping over if not properly balanced.
1t may seem like sacrilege, but l have
heard that my great grandmother was
a woman Of many resources, and do
not think she would object
A remarkable piece of embroidery
which looked like some rare Oriental
tapestry was found on examination to
have the most plebeian origin. being
nothing more than one of the old
fashioned stamped felt table covers TO
be found in country stores and village
homes The curious all-over pattern
had been worked in richly colored silk
embroidery with great skill and taste.
1t was a large undertaking, but its ac-
complishment resulted in a very hand
some piece of hanging, which was used
to drape the back of an upright piano.
New York is too cosmopolitan for
women's clubs" says Mrs. Jennie June
Croly. There is less progress made
here by the clubs than anywhere else
in the country. People do not stay in
the city long enough to take an interest
in them. They are away perhaps half
of the winter and start off again early
in the spring, and are gone until late
in the fall. Outside people, however,
seem to be wild to get information
about clubs now, and you hear nothing
but club, club, club on all sides-and
Sorosis had been in existence twenty
one years when a man came to see me
and asked if there was a woman's club
in New York"
Miss Parloa, in one of her late lee
tures on household matters, made some
suggestions about the care of kitchen
should be bought as one buys pictures,
with careful selection and in no spirit of
too rigid economy. If one can be sure
that they will be properly cared for,
copper cooking vessels are decidedly
the best, but in the average kitchen,
unless the mistress will do with them
as she does with her cut glass, look
after them herself, they are dangerous.
In France copper preserving kettles can
be rented for ten cents a day-a salts
factory arrangement, for it insures
their being kept in condition; such a
plan would undoubtedly pay here, but
has not yet been tried. The best quail
ity of kitchen ware is the cheapest in
the end, wearing longer and giving best
service while 1t lasts. A few good uten-
sis that may be put to a good many
uses are preferable to many cheaper
ones. Dry utensils thoroughly. Don't
wipe them over with wet cloth and
stand them on the range to heat dry.
Wipe the grease out of a skillet or any
frying pan as completely as possible
with crumpled newspaper (Which
promptly burn) before washing in soap
and water See that ice is not broken
IN the refrigerator with a sharp ice
pick. which will perforate the lining
often in unnoticed places through
" hich the water percolates to remain
and rot the wood beneath.
A writer about women and her ways
in the New York Times" says that
women. truly are inconsistent There
was one woman who went to the Ly-
ceum Theater the other afternoon, Incl
dentally to see Miss Mannering and the
play. but avowedly to see if there was
anything pretty and new in hats. Il
never saw so many hats" she said
plainively after the play. There was
a big one right in front of me with a
high standing green fan Of silk covered
with lace, and high feathers standing
In front of that. The companion of that
woman also Wore a big hat. There was
a white broad brimmed hat with
standing feather in the center aisle. a
woman with a gay pink bodice wore a
big black hat with plumeS-she took
it off later-Some one must have asked
her. There were so-called toques and
small hats that might have been used
for fire screens, and the whole front
row of the balcony looked like a fun
eral proceSsA0n-it was a solid mass of
black plumes. Copy one of those hats?
/ know every woman must have come
from the country or she would have
known enough to take off her hat"
open fireplaces that never hold fire
are an abomina ton" exclaims a critic
Gas fires in simulated logs are bad
enough, but they are better than the
elaborateiy effective cavern in a side
wall. topped by an expensive mantel
trimmed with tiles. set out with cost
ly and glittering brass, and then left
from year to year without the blaze
for which it was created 1t is a false
idea of ornamentation," finishes the
caviller. and there VIII be found those
who Will agree with him. Conversely
no form of decoration excels that of the
used fireplace, with its honest brick
chimney blackened by many fires and
shining irons bearing their burden of
glowing logs or Goals. Such give a
color and character to a room that no
other mode OF decoration can achieve
The proper cleaning of a carpeted
room, as set forth by Miss Parloa in
one of her lectures. demands first that
If possible all draperies and hangings
shall be slipped from their fastenings
brushed. aired and laid aside out of the
dust: such as are not removable may
be shaken lightly as they hang, folded
lengthwise then in upturned folds as
Tar as possible, and finally pinned high