St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-07
HOUSEHOLD NOTES.
About Ferns.

sprinkled on the leaves, saws a florist
House plants of larger foliage, however
ike the rubber-plant and palms, need
careful and comparatively frequent
sponnging and sprinkling with water. A
further suggestion in the care of house
plants is contributed by woman who
mas phenomenal success with her large
assortment. "If l find that a plant
seems weak and ill.nourished, she saws
Il give it dose of castor oil some morn.
ing instead of the usual water, repeating
IT, perhaps, after an interval of week or
ten days, it the improvement does not
seem sufficiently marked. The sugges-
ton was given to me by florist long
time ago, and have tried it repeatedly
with excellent results"
Judging Table Linen.
There is nothing so difficult to Judge as
table linen; no fabric where aduitera.
tions or exact qualities are so difficult to
discern, says Ella Morris Kretschmar in
the Woman's Home Companion. In
other than high-grade establishments,
where one must depend upon personal
Judgment Tor the purity of the fabric,
tnere are lew points to keep in mind
fure linen is hard and slippery, never
soft and pliable. II moistened finger be
applied to an all-linen cloth the moisture
Will at once appear on the other side,
whereas in mixed goods it will appear
slowly or not at all. The flax oder is
always noticeable in linens, and every
woman should learn to recognize it or
its absence.
A"White" Summer.
1t IS evidently going to be white
summer, for there will be more white
gowns worn than ever before. not onIv
white muslins and lawns and ducks. but
wnlte serges and camel's hairs and al
pacas The summer girl this year will
wear q white serge skirt with her shirt
waists, instead of navy blue, and white
cashmeres, crepes wool muslins and
fouards will be the rage. Some of the
newest models in white mohair and lace
show black velvet earnitures, and This
makes them stunning.
Entire gowns OF white wash silk, with
ruttie and fchu, are to be popular. and
they have sashes of the same, with ruff1ed
ends, These are tied tightly about the
waist with knot at one side and the
ends hanging down in front.
The most remarkable gown worn this
week was the striking rig in which Mrs.
George Gould appeared one afternoon.
1t was of tan cloth, and had Jacket
bodice OF chamois skin edged with sable.
and stitched with rows of black silk and
braided in gold. Her hat was as uuus-
ual as her jacket, and was of sable. with
GOLD arI II
roses. Her muff was of chamois, with
ruttied sable ends, and a lot of black vel
vet ribbon loops hanging from the ends.
Hew to Clean Ribbons.
Now that ribbons are so extensively
worn it is quite worth while TO know
how to clean them successfully and
easily.
The two methods here given have been
put to the practical test many times
over, so there need be no hesitancy about
trying either one through fear OF failure
or oil unsatisfactory results.
The first method is exceedingly simple,
and answers the purpose for all except
white ribbons or those that are very
badly mussed. Fill a glass fruit Jar
about half full OF gasoline-more or less,
according to the amount of ribbon to be
cleaned. Place the soiled ribbons in it
all colors, lengths, and kinds may go in
at once-and screw the cover on tightly. |
Shake the bottle occasionally and leave |
it closed for from two to six hours or |
over night. Then take out the ribbons,
shake each one we'll and hang it to dry in
the open air. The ribbons will be clean,
and the dirt will be found in the bottom
OF the Jar. Ofcourse, the ribbons need a
thorough airing and sun bath to remove
the odor of the gasoline, but that is all.
No pressing is required, as the gasoline
does not affect them as water would
The clear gasoline should be poured off
without disturbing that at the bottom;
then the dirt which has settled at the
bottom should be emptied out and the
clear gasoline put back, already for use
another time. Keep it tightly covered,
and, OF course, never use it near fire,
because of the danger its igniting
The gasoline will turn white ribbons
yellow, so this method is not advisable
or them. 1t also leaves the ribbons in
The same condition that it found them as
regards their being mussed or crumpled,
so those that are badly creased should be
given the treatment that is accorded the
white ribbons.
Prepare a suds of soft water and any
pure soap, wash the ribbon in this, Just
as you would wash fine handkerchief,
'inse, and let ii partially dry. Take it
Town while still damp in all parts and
oil it smoothly over wide card or piece
If pasteboard, rolling a piece of clean
white muslin with it. Wrap the muslin
around last, so that the ribbon shall be
covered, and place the whole under a
leavy weight. A letter press is an excel
ent place in which to press it. Leave it
Until it shall have had time to dry. The
muslin will absorb the moisture.
The ribbon will come out looking fresh
md clean. and will have lost none of its
'life," as is the case with ribbons which
ire pressed with an iron.
If a good soap is used the colors will
lot run, and this process takes out the
reases as well as removes the dirt.
The Constant Shirt Waist.
The admiration of which the modern
,irl has for the shirt waist knows no
batting. Unlike any other article OF
ress, she refuses to tire of it. She has
worm it all winter in flannel and velvet,
nd yet is just as enthusiastic over its ,
ppearance in hecotton fabrics as if it =
we're novelty she had never seen before. '
For spring wear the elaborate shirt
1aist seems to be the favorite. Yokes :
ave gone out of fashion, and in place of !
he stiff linen collar many of the waists Z
re made with little soft turnover col !