The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-29
for 1Wnmeu


In answer sto the question " Are we
drying up in our overheated houses?'
some h-ousekeepers have already settled
a defense for themselves by a very SIM
pie contrivanee. Remembering that de-
lightful kindergarten story, sThe rover
gave a Party" which is Intended to show
the working of capillary attraction, the
guests being q lamp, which brought5 Its
wick and sponge, which came in a tin
coach or basin. Madame Housekeeper
utilizes this plain idea;' She places a
china or glass bowl on the floor. in front
Of the hot air register" or the recepta-
Gle may be a brass jardiniere or one of
the cheap red japanese bowls, large
enough to insure a good supply of water.
She then throws a handsome towel over
one of those low down towel racks hat
take up very little room, allowing the
fringe of the towel barely to dip in the
water. The towel rack is thus converted
into a handsome little screen, the hot
air evaporates the moisture from the
shining damask, and thus sends a guam
tity of moistened air into the sleeping
apartment to the great comfort of its
inmates.
flanlS III Sllllu6 IOOllS Idfc always
to fight against the over-dry air of ever
some ~urnaces that have their water
supply in the cellar. But a plant in a
room with this ready-made moisture
giver viii flourish as finely as though it
were in the kitchen.
Every one knows that a kitchen window
is the best place in the house for growing
<--- xho ~ +hn7 N -E0fTln " RI
say nothing of the constant use of hot
water from the boiler and even the in
cense that the wash-tub sends up. all
keep the air most agreeable to breathe
for either human beings or green grow
ing things. The atmosphere of most
kitchens is exceedingly pleasant and
wholesome on this account.
The more decorative boxes. which are
destined to go in the ~parlors, are made
of brass, perforated, but this is only to
conceal the original towel idea, as all
their use is to evaporate water, con-
tanned in a galvanized tank inside, and
lifted into the upper air by means of
-trips-canto flannel will serve as well
as any other-that rest in the water at
one end.
1t is surprising to notice the large
quantity of water which the towel evap-
orator disposes of in dispensing it to the
atmosphere of the sitting room or sleep
ing apartment. You will lave to fill that
bowl far oftener thar you think would
be needed.
If your book-bindings are drying up
and cracking, your furniture coming
apart, your hair coming out, your win
dows rafting in ever a little wind,
these are all notifications that the house
air is two hot and dry, to say nothing of
the more serious warnings given out by
headaches or weakened throats and lungs
There is even a sort of 'shay-fever cold
and sneezing which comes of sitting in
these too dry rooms, and which is at once
relieved by getting into the moist, colder
air of tout of doors"
-
Ella Morris Kretschmar writes enter
tainly of ."The Christmas Tree in the
December "Woman's Home Companion"
and in the course of her article says:
do not make the mistake of hanging
gifts on the tree. The tree is from Santa
Claus, the gifts from family and friends
a distinction which should be made clear
to each little mind. And label each gift
before placing it under the tree the prop
err place for all Christmas gifts. Santa
Claus is sure to be given credit for any
thing anonymous. The writer once received
a shock not easily forgotten. After much.
shopping, supplemented by work at home,
a beautiful tree with numerous gifts
beneath, ~gladdened the eyes and heart of
her one and only on Christmas morning
Everything was duly enjoyed throughout
the day, but in the twilight two little
arms were slipped about a mothers neck,
and a soft voice asked: Mother, why is
it that everybody gives me pretty things
on Christmas but you and father-Aunt
Mary, Uncle Edwin, Eloise, Mamie, all
the rest of the family, and even my friends
all but just you? I would rather have
something from you than from any one,
ever Santa Claus
Think of it, After so much effort, and
no explanations possible! Santa Claus still
gets credit for the tree, but mothers and
father's gifts are plainly marked.
There are some parents whose con-
sciences are so plainly constructed that
to them the Santa Claus fiction seems a
wicked falsehood not to be encouraged.
We pity them and lament their honesty.
If consistent they must frown upon all
that mans Imagination has done to adorn
life, to embellish the world. As for Santa
Claus, may he not be regarded by the
Christian as typical of the giver of good
gifts? And to the honest ni~neteenth-cen-
tury pagan does his coming not
crate the birth of the acknowledged high
est type of earthly man? Santa Claus
needs no apologist. He has made lives
better and brighter since his first coming.
ssDo not regard the Christmas tree a
bother even Il fatigued and sacrifice are
it's price. Remember how rich you are in
having some one in your heart and home
who is expecting Santa Claus. And re-
member the splendid privilege of con-
ferring so much happiness"
While trimmed skirts are certainly
newer than the plain ones, there are
many very smart costumes made with
skirts that have no trimming whatever.
and which are severely plain and of med
ium width, says "Harper's Bazaar" The
tailor-made gowns especially lave the
plain skirts quite as often as the trim
med ones. A peculiarly attrac-
tive model for a cloth gown
has the plain shirt and short
Jacket trimmed with velvet and chinchilla
fur. The jacket is helted in, and has a
jaunty little basque, which is trimmed all
around with d band of the chinchilla.
Revers. wide at the top and tapering in
at the waist-line, are bordered with the
fur. The high collar has a band OF the