Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
Many Fine

Many Fine
Delicate or old laces may be dry cleaned at
home II they have not been allowed to get
too soiled by means of bread crumbs or
mixture of equal parts of flour and mag
nesia When using bread rub the crumbs In
with a soft cloth. changing crumbs and
cloth directly they look soiled. In the
method Of using flour and magnesia- rub
the mixture we'll in with cloths. and allow
the lace to stay few hours before shaking
and brushing it, Pull into shape. tack
down a piece of white paper and leave
under a weight.
Lace handkerchiefs may be finished sue
cessfully on the window pane. Pull into
shape and lay on the glass, pressing out
every wrinkle. They will dry smooth and
| ready for use
Or they may be pinned out a piece of
blottng paper. and laid under a weight If
an iron Is used let it be only warm. and
prevent the point of the iron breaking
| threads by putting thin piece Of muslin
between the iron and lace.
Good lace should not require starch.ng,
! or at the most it may be dipped in rice
water. This is made by boiling two ounces
| of rice till soft In pint of water. Strain
| before using. But poor lace is much Inn
proved by judicious starching and ironing
| It is here that the home worker gains
points lost by the undiscernng laundress
A nice lace starch, not too stiff, is made
| by smoothly mixing a teaspoonful OF white
| starch with cold water till 1t is Of cream
| like consistency. To this are added three
| or four drops of gum arabic, and then the
| worker stirring the starch meanwhile. boil
! ing water Is poured In till the mixture ls
semi-transparent. To tint lace cream in
stead Of white put few drops OF cofee es-
sence into the made starch. 1t will make
| 1t right for coffee tint, while little tea
| may be substituted for the coffee to give 1t
the popular strong color. Iron all lace or
| embroidery the wrong side, to bring up
the pattern Iron on many folds OF blanket
| ing or on thick felt: use only moderately
| warm iron. place a piece of muslin over the
| lace to protect 1t, and then press the point
| of the iron well into the points of the lace.
Stains.
A neatly written list of ordinary stains,
| with a corresponding remedy for each par
ticular stain. hung on the wall Of the
kitchen or laundry. will prove valuable to
| the busy housewife.
Little Hints.
II q lamp wick sticks and will not work
| easily, pull out thread at each edge. This
often will mend matters without any more
trouble.
Bread and butter may be kept fresh and
moist when cut II placed in a cool place.
covered closely with a clean cloth that has
| been wrung out of cold water. 1t is con-
venient to prepare bread and butter for
| afternoon tea in this way.
A veteran housekeeper says that washing
lamp chimneys Is a waste OF time. Just
hold them over the steam from a boiling
| tea kettle: then rub them OF with a dry
| newspaper folded up in a wad, and lastly
with soft cloth, and they will be all that
J can be desired
| Do not use too much force in polishtne
shoes gentle brushing with a soft brush
! Is better than the vigorous work of the
| bootblack. Never allow a. thick crust of
| backing on your shoes. Wash 1t off occa-
sionally and apply little castor oil; then
| polish over In an hour or So
| doors from cooking, the careful house
| wife may be glad to know. can be prevent
ed by tying up in linen bag lump of
bread about the size of billiard ball and
| placing 1t in the pot with the boiling green's,
| hams. etc. This will absorb the gases,
| which oftentimes send such an efiiuvium to
the regions above A few red peppers or