Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-01
LAces AND THEIR CARE.
SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THEIR rossEssoR.

DtduttIul ihCcs HAS uOt July sOutCC W
just pride for herself and family, buI
also cause for deep anxiety and grave
responsibility. How shall she care fol-
the precious articlesf How shall they
be cleansed when In need of that process
on the assumption that everything
worn or used sooner or later needs reno
walton and cleansing. Because old vel
low lace Is rare and valuable, II by nc
means follows that we are to allow dis
celebration from neglect-and shall We
say, dirtg
1t il a mistaken idea to suppose thai
lace must never be washed, especially u
fine aud valuable. When properly treat
ed, Il Is not Injured by the washing, bul
IL preserved by being kept clean. None
tho less, IL has been very well said thai
the washing Of lace Is sn art. Here u
one method which may serve by way 81
suggestion: make lather OF tepir
water and fine soap, snd squeeze the lsc'
in II repeatedly. DO not rub IL, but b.
very careful and squeeze It until II seem,
perfectly clean. Change the lather u
necessary, then rinse II several times IL
clear water. Wrap large bottle closely
10 white flannel and sew tightly over thu
flannel piece OF soft linen or cotton
Then wind the lace shout the 'ottle, TAX
ing care that II is smoothly laid, anf
stand the bottle 10 the air To dry. Do
not stand II In the hot sun, and never
drv Il by fire. IL II Is desired to have
a yellow tint to the lace. dip II 10 a cuI
OF black coffee. and squeeze II up snt
down, and dry again AS before. This |:
a sure way OF washing fine lsces-
old point and point applique, Honitor
and thread laces. OH h-irlooms can bs
safely washed 10 this way. Do not pa
soap dir city on the lace at all, just tn
isther will suffice"
Another method which finds favor fol
small pieces, is TO cover bottle with
white flannel and tack the lace upon IL,
LAYING it quite straight and fastening
every little point. Squeeze the bottle In
luke-wsrm suds until the lace IL clean
aud rinse by squeezing the bottle through
clear, luke-warm water. Dry II In th'
sun. When dry, dip the bottle and all IL
starch, put wrapping Of cambria about
Ii, and let IL lie In the open air. Untscl
the lace and shake II out. 4 little tea oil
coffee la the rinsing water will give de
sirsble yellow tiuge. Black lace may b,
cleaned In the same way, substituting
ammonia for the soap.
Madame Modiesks, one OF the greatest
lace collectors in the world, Is said tc
clean delicate white laces with calcincd
msgnesis, after this manner: Sprinkle
the msgnesia tbickly upon both sides Of
the lace. Lay II on sheet OF heavy
writing paper, place second sheet over
IL, and put It away within the leaves OF
q thick and heavy book for four or five
DAYS. Then shake off the powder and
the lace will be found 10 be clean.
Very fine or delicate laces are easily
cleaned by the use Of benzlpe or nsphtha
but "a both OF these articles are very
inHsmmable, great care should be exer'
cised In their use, and IL Ia much safer
To perform all operations In an apart.
ment where there Is no open light or fire
Bsste the lace smoothly on lsrgsr
piece Of thin muslin. Put the naphths
in bowl. move the lace about 10 IL, and
work u rapidly mp and down. IL the
nsph,ha becomes dirty, take = fresh
supply. Dip Ii gently up and down
keeping the lace on the under side, until
/, is perfectly clean. Upon a clean table
stretch the cloth on which the lace Il
bss,ed, with the lace appermost. and
make Il secure with few small tscks or
pins. This should be placed In room
where no dust will fall, and allowed "a
remain all dsy. The drying will take
but short time, but the days airing Il
necessary In order to dissipAte the odoI
Of the nsphtha or beDxine-the process:
Is similar with either OF these agents. II
the naph,hs Is set aside for n few hours
the dirt will settle to the bottom, and the
clear liquid can be decanted for future
use.
Where the iine lace IL old aud demorsl-
lied. so that IL will bear only the gentles,
Of treatment, IL may be pinned smooth
upon tlsnnel-covered board, saturated
with benzine, aud pressed with a soft
napkin. IL IL then allowed, without
removal, TO dry ss above indicated
Msde-up lsces, like collars. hsndker-
chiefs, caps, and the like, may be pu,
into glass or earthenwsre vessel Of adj.
.quste capacity, and generously covered
With beuzine. Whirl them about rapidly,
squeeze gently. drop into clean vessel
sud pour on fresh supply 81 th. huid.
This treatment will remove every par
ticle OF dirt. without 10 any degree
diminishing the antique yellow hue or
shrinking the mesh-results which every
householder will be anxious 10 avoid.
Ia h.r har anonaattnn N
order. When point lace Is purchased, |,
Is quite likely 10 be "dOctored" with
powdered white lead. This Is put on In
case OF any soiling Of the thread In the
process of manufacture, rs the lace Il
never washed before its sale. Now this
white lead Is not only poisonous, but !.
liable 20 become discolored by gas, sea
air. or many other influences. This load
ing, and the soiing which IL conceals,
may be safely removed by the use OF
benzine or nsphths. After treating the
new lace as above indicated, pin II
smoothly upon linen-covered board,
and place Il In the sunshine for six
hours. IL may be whitened, IL pure
white Is desired. By leaving II At night
so that the dew will fall upon IL, and
exposing il TO the sun during the day
This may profitably be carried on for u
week.
Alcohol may also be used In the
cleansing OF fine laces, much rs benzine
is employed, placing qusntiry In a
bowl and immersing the lace. This Is
often preferred, as the odor Is by no
means so dissgreesble, nor is the dan
ger OF ignition so great; but somewhat
longer time Is required TO attain like
result.
IL will be of interest TO quote the re-
port Of high authority, that laces have
never been more fashionable than they
now are, and the woman who has rare
old pieces which have been acquired or
inherited ia to be congratulated. But
others need not mourn las those without
hope" The lace industry has been so
successfully revived Ia France and
Belgium that the best Of the old designs
are reproduced TO perfection. The
modern laces do not cost quite so much
IA they did Ia olden times, though some
flounces are reported TO be sold at the
very respectable figure Of $500 yard
Good HOusekee ping.