Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-06

Garments fresh and new for Easter, or at
least Easter May day, is a custom that has
come down the centuries unchallenged, not
alone in one country. but in all. Its origin.
doubtless can be traced to the fact that
long before the Christian era the festival of
opening spring, when nature cast aside her
garb of winter and decked herself in her
springtime fnery of green and white was
celebrated in kind by her worshpers. The
Persians named the festival THE Feast of
New Clothes" for a royal edict was sent
forth that rich and poor alike must throw
aside their worn garments and appear in
new. In England the current belief was
crystalized in a proverb:
ION Easter day something new
Lest the rocks spoil your clothing all the year
through
In our own slums the poor Italian and
Hebrew children. who have been "sewed
up all winter in swathing bands of heavy
flannel and cotton. are glad to be allowed
to burst their cerements and come forth 10
the luxury of bath and clean garments.
In large family it is not easy for an
overworked mother to see that all its mem
bers are freshly gowned and hated on
schedule time, but IL any have to POSTPONE
their Transformation let 1t not be the chill
dTen. 10 whom a disappointment means
much. Yet Just here plea for greater SIM
phcty IN their clothing, and for the en-
ployment on the mothers part of every pos
sible labor saving device. Children's gar
ments ready-made are now so reasonebIe
and pretty that 1t seems a needless waste
OF energy TO give hours to the stitching
when the same time might be far mora
profitably employed. There is always pIentv
of mending, making over and plain sewing
that must be attended to at home, but don't
make Fetch of doing work that can he
eliminated from an already overfull house-
hold budget.
The majority Of American women nos
sessed OF the phenomenally acute New Eng
land conscience need constant adnonitien
to stay their hands from unnecessary Ia
bors II they would escape the aftermath of
eINeS on euse' prostration, chronic invalid
ISM TO know what to leave undone or for
others 10 DO Is oftener more imnortant
than 10 do. All of US would like To deserI-e
that tribute paid by appreciatiye huso
Dahu "A a country churchyard to his de-
parted Wife: "She was SO pIeasant rs It,
WITH; put an overworked. nerye-frazzied
tent. "-'i soou IN
Suggestions for Refurbisbtro
iurolshing the spring wardrobe .rhrainsn
frequently take the place of dollars For
instance, crepe de chine, chiffon ana
1.,ii de sole are frequently thrown
away When soiIed, most people thinking
SHet they cannot be washed. This is need
Tess waste, as a very little trouble GO
noes TO make them quite presentahIa
Make a strong lather of good wbfta 60
ana !ukewarm water and soak the w.
terlal In 1t for few moments pass
gently back and forth between the 9npars
-. 'iiot -. 90 my cream then rinse in cold
water until clear. Dissolve q Quarter ~ n
teaspoontul OF gum arabic in a half cun
or water add few drops of white vine
gar ana immense the fabric Take ONT
an the water out. Cover with two or
three thicknesses OF white tissue paper
and press with a rather cool iron.
Gum Arabic MiXture.-A good gum are
bic mixture to keep on hand for stiffen
ing thin silk or laces is made by puttinp-
one ounce OF gum arabic in wide
mouthed bottle and covering It with a
cup OF cold water Place the bottle in a
kettle of cold water over the fire nn+iI
the gum arabic is dissolved Strain
through piece Of cheesecloth If this is
10 De aII used within few days it needs
no other treatment but If TO be kept some
tightly.
An English Wrinkle for Cleaning Lace
If one desires that delightfully."- dingy.
yet clean, color seen in new laces in he
shops it can be achieved in this way: Into
an INFUSION OF weak tea carefully strain
ed put a few drops of the best India ink
then dip in the lace. Squeeze from the
fluid, pull out the edges and spread
smoothly on board covered with a clean
cloth. Lay over the lace another clean
cloth, then another board, and weight the
whole with several flatirons until quite dry.
Last Summers Organdy - If last sum
mers organdy, lawn or delicate Powered
stun has got to be done up, wash 1t with
wheat bran instead of soap. Tie a pint of
the bran loosely in bag OF cheese cloth
and rub the garment with 1t as though
II were soap. Be careful however to have
the water not much more than lukewarm.
else 1t will cook the bran and destroy its
usefulness. Wash the goods up and down
In the water, which VIII bs milky and
starchy Rinse through three waters dry
in the shade and starch with cold starch
wet with a little gum arabic water After
SEARCHING pull and clap until almost dry,
then hang until bone dry" Do not sprin-
kle until about an hour before ironing. fold
evenly And press with hot irons
The Ivy Leaf in a New Role.-Ivy leaves
while still young and green make one of
the best cleansing agents for freshening
up cloth gowns. A French recipe is to
take twenty of the leaves, lay In an earthen
dish and cover with p pint Of boiling wa
ter. Allow them to steep for three or four