Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-05-17
CHEERFUL EVENINGS.
BY MARY ANNABLE FANroN.


Americans are world-famous for enjoy
ing their own homes. Most American
men lot as much on the evenings after
work that can be spent IN their own
bright, pretty sitting-rooms as they do
upon successful business enterprises or
happy children.
But there is little anticipation il the
home is dreary or poorly lighted. Women
may love twilight, ana of course,
young folks are bound to, but the average
man likes tcheerful sitting-room in the
springtime as well as in frosty nights. IL
is a great mistake to give up evening
lights as soon as spring comes. There is
no reason why spring should not be cheer
full as well as pretty.
/ know that lamps are a trouble, and
that il is a relief to. be rid of the bother of
them. / can hear chorus of housekeepers
all approaching me with these same words.
And mi way they are right lamps as
they are ordinarily managed are one of
the banes of rural existence. They are al
ways empty or smoky, always needing q
lot Of fixing, and the fixing is such dirty
work.
Yet lamps can be done easily in few
minutes every morning, If you happen to
know the secret OF it. In the first place,
insist that all lamps be brough. down by
the room-owners every morning. Have a
low table in the kitchen where they are
always to be put. Then a shelf in the
front hall where each person finds his
lamp ready at night.
Have lamp-cleaning things ON the table
that are never used for anything else, and
have them always there. First do the
ehimneys. In a basin of hot water, put
teaspoonful of borax. Dip the lamp up
and down and rub lightly with lamp
brush. Rinse in hot water, dry with
paper and your lamps will shine like
jewels, and it won't take five minutes to
do it.
Then fill the lamps, wipe with borax
suds and dry with clean old cloth. In a
quarter of an hour, lamps enough for an
ordinary household can be put in perfect
condition. 1t takes away the fixing of
lamps after dark, with implements scat
tered all about the house, and no con-
venient table. And there is likely to be a
kerosene favor in food where lamps are
done in this haphazard fashion.
And, If by any mischance, kerosene
should spill on the table, oilcloth or car
pet, clean at once with borax suds, CASTLE
soap, shaved in boiling water and tea
spoonful of borax. This solution will re-
move all traces of the kerosene and will
kill the odor Immediately.
1t is the best thing in the world to wipe
over carpets that are not to be taken up in
the spring. 1t cleanses antiseptically, de-
stroysm moths and renews the colors. To
get the best results, the water should be
hot and the borax powder pure.
II there have been moths in the room
sprinkle the powder around the edges of
the carpet and rub il into the creases of
upholstered furniture. While a sure
eradicator Of moths, it has no odor.
But to return to the question of lights:
There should always be one in the hall
ready to glow cheerfuliy with the first
evening shadow, and one or two in the
pretty sitting-room to be lighted the first
thing after the evening meal, with a
pretty shade il one only wants to talk
This care of lamps and ready lighting of
the house count a lot for contentment
and good cheer.