The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-02-23

the wrong side of the ticks for the same
purpose, but the wax is nicer, and Ger
tainly pleasanter. to think of as being un-
der your head.
And, talking about feathers, do you
know that If YOU are. so fortunate as to
have an old feather bed for which you
nave no use, you may make some down
puffs for your bed. OF course. these pufss
will not be so light and fine as those made
OF pure down, but they will serve the
purpose eNcellently well, and you will
find them a great comfort in the winter
when you need an extra cover OH the bed
IN the first place, you must wash the
ieathers, just as you We're directed to do
i'll the case of making over the pillows,
ana they will be ready to use. For the
tick take firm. but not too heavy. cotton
cloth. and make bag just the size that
you want to cover your bed, leaving one
end open to receive the feathers. Get a
set of quilting frames-any carpenter can
make them for you. if YOU haven't been
so fortunate as to have inherited a set
faSten the tick on it, stretching it as
tightly. as possible; then put in the feath-
c t. using a long; stick to make them even
through ins4 the: the tick. h9u will want it at
nave feathers enough it won't hurt to be
from quarter to a half-inch thicker
" hen the feathers are evenly spread
sew up the end and tack it at intervals
as i regular comfortable is tackled.
Take it out of the frames, and haste
silkoine or figured china silk both sides
alike, or differing in design, and even in
color, so that the effect be harmonious
and good; return to the frames and quilt
III some pretty design, not too close and
fine, as that would destroy the puttiness
OF the cover. but Just enough to hold the
feathers and keep them from sitting
about, and thus spelling the even appear
ancc of tho puff: Bind around the edge
with ribbon about an inch wide. and you
will have handsome cover which will
40 You good service, and cost about a
quarter as much as the real stuff bought
ut the shop would have DONE The cot
ton tick for the comfort should be waXe,l
IN the, the same :,, manner as the pillowsck
The bed cannot be too we'll cared for,
hccnusr enc wants strict cleanliness
about 1t for comforts sake as we'll as
health. The mattress, for instance,
should always have a covering of strong,
unblcachru cotton cloth, and there should
be two provided for every mattress, so
that they may be frequently changed and
washed. 1t is no trouble to make these
covers by the aid of the sewing machine:
they can be done i'll half day, fitting
and all.
" h>tlC tlit MATTRESS ana allow SIN
inches more in the width CT the cloth as
we'll as the length of the two pieces for
the. cover. Seam three sides together.
and about one-half of the fourth side
which should be one of the long sides
Now stitch diagonally across each ccrner
just far enough in to make the seam
equal to the depth of the mattress. This
scam makes the cover fit the mattress ut
the corners. Set buttons On one side of
the open space and work buttonholeS on
the other to keep the covering in place
when it is slipped on. You have no idea
how this cover saves the mattress until
you take it eff to be washed and realize
that but fer its presence all the dirt would
be on the mattress itself. and it could not
be so easily cleaned. You will have 4
new respect for this simple bit of prc,
vention and protection. and you will nev.
or again neglect to provide it for all your
mattresses.
Besides the mattress cover many house,
keepers have also a mattress pad which
is put directly under the sheet and
changed for the weekly wash. They
claim that this pad prevents the exhala.
tons from the body during sleep from
passing into the mattress and so !;eeDs if
purer and fresher.
These pads can be made of cheese cloth
with Il sheet of watl'iing between the two
ricccs CT cloth. and this will be light to
handle and easy to wash and dry. 1t
should he quilted The size of the pads
depends upon the mattress which they
ere to cover. Measurements should be
taken and the cloth cut to fit Just over
tic top.-BoSton Herald.