The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-03
USES OIL FEATHER.

In one of the quaint English story
books of the last century, where the
moral looms larger than the tale itself,
there is an account Of man who went
through life with an oiled feather in his
hand. BY its magic aid creaking joints.
stiff hinges and rusty bolts were van
Quished one by one, and these Earring
physical discords silenced. The moral
atmosphere following in the wake of the
oiled feather became one of smiling peace
and sweet content for all concerned.
To the modern housekeeper the oiled
feather may still be recommended.
Nothing is more uselessly aggravating
or more productive of nerves" than the
thousand and one unnecessary noises
feather. or its equivalent, might give
surcease Of trouble.
Take the creaking door. If the hinges
seem rusty. wipe first with kerosene to
cut the rust. then apply the oiled feather,
using any oil that does not become gum
my. Tallow is excellent for all metals.
and vaseline may often be used to adj
vantage. Graphite. from a lead pencil
or stove polish is also a good lubricant.
For table leaves or any wood joint,
bit of hard soap applied on the point of
a lead pencil will usually cure the stiff
ness and silence the creaking. A bureau
drawer that protests every time it is
opened and shuts only after hard push
ing can generally be made all right by
soaping the sides. A bed slat that groans
every time the sleeper turns over may
be relieved by covering the ends with felt
or a large rubber band. The noise of
sewing machine may be materially less
ened by putting rubber under the feet
Of the machine, while the running gear
must be kept well oiled.
A rafting shutted frequently can be
frightened so as to keep silence by the
simple expedient of driving in a match
or toothpick where the Stat is loosened.
If the Stats rattle. Jorge spaad pushed
under the rod that goes through the mid
die will hold them still.
A vine or granch Of a tree swaying
a window makes an eerie sound that
may be obviated by judicious pruning.
if it cannot be tied back securely. A
creaky board in the floor can usually be
frightened by tammering more securely
TO the joist If this does not avail drive
thin wedges into the cracks to tighten.
splinters driven in to tighten until the
carpenter comes to make a thorough
Job of it,
whisting sound from the burning gas
indicates that unconsumed gas is es-
Gaping through the burner. Turn the key
until the sound ceases. Burners should
be frequently cleaned and renewed when
they do not work well, and loose key
that does not indicate to certainty
whether gas is turned on OF of should
not be tolerated for a day
The cogs Of a wringer or an egg beaten
shrould never be allowed TO get wet, as
that takes off the oil. II they have been
wet and stick and squeak, oil them
Oil or tallow on metal ana soap or par
affne on the wood groves OF a dumb
waiter assist in keeping it dumb" while
soad OF yasellne will do the same for a
creaky chair.
For scueaky shoes try first soaking the
sole in oil Pour a small quantity Of
linseed or sweet oil upon an old plate
or fat dish and allow the shoes To stand
in II over night In this way they not
only lose the squeak. but being saturated
with oil become proof against damp.
In extreme cases the only thing known
as a sure cure for creaky shoes is French
tale. and in this case the services Of
cobbler must be called into reqUisition-
Ply apart the feathers Of the Sole and
BLOW in the tale. using an insect powder
bellows or a tube IN the mouth Then
sew up the sole. Or shoemaker for
Eve cents viii drive little wooden peg
through the sole which will hold the
pieces Of leather OF which ii is composed
together IN case OF sickness the noise
made by throwing coal IN the ere may
the obyiated by putting the coal in
paper bags then laying it on the ere
The Baushee wailng that often comes
through the speaking tube in windy wea-
Their may be laid low by by a temporary
r!ug Of wood OF soft paper.