Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26

A Hostess
OF decidedly original ideas. determined to
give a cake walk such as never was
given before, and in order to carry out this
intention she invited her guests to attend
this special function as cakes, but not SO
openly and palpably that any one could
recognize the cake represented.
On the evening chosen for the great event
a king and queen in separate rooms watched
the grotesque procession pass before them,
the one selecting the greatest number cor
rectly being deputized to bestow cake
upon the couple executing the most sur
prising steps in the original ragtime maneu-
vers. In order that this list should be veri-
fed the guests, upon their entrance into
the drawing room. dropped slip OF paper
describing their apparel into a basket held
by a person at the door Thus young
woman in White apron and chefs cap,
with a large E prominently displayed on
It's front, revealed herself as cook
(cookie). A young man draped in sponges
was at once recognized as sponge cake.
Another, laden with cups. was the old-ttme
cup cake. 1t took some guessing to find out
what the young man in base ball toys and
holding bat intended himself to represent,
but bright individual decided finally upon
batter cake" which proved to be right.
One, two. three. four cake was represented
by a smart black costume bearing these
numerals in red. The buckwheat cake, the
wrought out in original fashion. The quaint
est conceit. however, was the young man
whom no one could define, and who finally
announced himself as just plain cake"
Cleaning Rugs
Especially the antique ones that cost hum
dreds of dollars, really is science, and
housewives possessing any of these much
valued floor coverings should remember it
when having their spring cleaning done.
The mistake of brushing with a sttn broom
against the grain should never be made,
and, if necessary to prevent this, mistresses
personally should superintend this work,
for going against the weave takes off the
silky nap and loosens the threads that bind
the material together. Neither should they
ever be shaken by one end or in the center
to free them from dust and dirt, for this is
apt to loosen the weave. bounding them
with the regulation rattan rug beater makes
for destruction and never should be per-
mitted. The only thing l know of to take
the surface dirt from fine, thin old coverings
is thorough brushing or whisking with a
strong but soft bristle brush, working al
ways with the grain After this partial
cleaning a damp cloth can be strokfd
across the top to give a brightness to the
colors and to gather up loose dirt.
Once or twice year genuine old-fash-
toned scrubbing will freshen the colors. But
would suggest that this be done by an ex-
perienced person who will do it by hand,
for modern processes often ruin thin fab
RIGS, and once the weave is looSened and
the covering begins to come apart the rug
is of really little use for any practical wear.
Once the dirt is blown out the rest is COM
paratively easy, for it consists of a. simple
washing.scrubblng, rather-with cold water
and CASTLE or pure white soap, one that has
little I've in it's composition, for, although
the colors are all the best vegetable dyes in
,-ese fine rugs, and should never run, any
but pure soap should not be used on them.
Fly Specks.
If a picture frame has become fy-specked,
the spots may be removed with stale beer.
Then, If 1t be a gilded frame, it may be
freshened with a coat of retouching var
nish If it be Of polished hardwood. rub it
with equal parts of turpentfne and boiled
linseed oil. A plush mat faded in the sun