The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-18

Damask table cloths and napkins
which have become too worn for their
legitimate uses should be cut into
different sized pieces for doilies, tray
cloths, and to use around corn and
other things served in a napkin.
AS no housekeeper can have too
many or varied sizes of these table
accessories, even the worst worn
cloths can be made to yield little
longer service.
Cut some of the. pieces oval, others
round, some square and still others
oblong. The finer and better pieces
may be worked with a scallop in white
mercerized cotton. This adds much
to their appearance. and is pleasant
pickup work for odd minutes.
The scalloDs can be drawn on with
the edge of spool, the size varied by
the size of spool selected. For the
quite small doilies to be used under
finger bowls or on biscuit plates, the
scallop should be drawn with the edge
of hundred spool of cotton and the
inner line should be kept rather shall
low. Tray cloths may have longer
scallop or they can be worked with
grouped scallop composed of three
small ones.
This Is such quick work that it well
repays the trouble. The ever-diminish-
ing supply of such things. which every
housekeeper must contend with, can
be overcome by small expense and
little work.
The more worn pieces should be
hemmed either by hand or machine
While they should not be used on the
table, even for ordinary occasions,
they will be found most convenient
for wrapping up different articles of
food, or. il large enough, can serve as
bureau covers in the nursery. or can
be used as congresses in cases OF ILL
ness.
Tea-table cloths are nowadays by
no means the squares of damask or
linen Of almost conventional plainness
which they were few years ago. So
much rawn-thread work or embroid-
cry is introduced that they have come
to be regarded as one of the most cost
ly items of the linen chest, and are far
too precious to be included in the
weekly washing list, and handed over
to the ministrations Of the ordinary
laundress. Washing of this descrip-
ton is always best undertaken by
some one who can give the matter in
dividual attention, in default OF which
fine drawn threads are apt to part
| company with the linen foundation,
and the design ironed SO carelessly
as to flatten the pattern and ruin the
appearance Of the raised embroidery.
Before attempting to wash the tea
cloth it should be looked over care
fully to see If it is stained in any way.
Tea stains-if recent-can usual, be
eliminated by holding the cloth over a
basin and pouring boiling water on the
stain from arms length. II obstinate
ly fast. 1t is a good plan. to spread a
little butter over the spot before try
ing the effect Of the boiling water,
while lemon Juice or sour milk and
salt have each satisfactory result In
the case Of ink spots.
II piece OF fine lawn or muslin is
laid over motifs or bands of openwork.
luc punt VI lue VIII u0 pTCSeuleu
from catching in the delicate network
Of threads, while the treble thickness
of flannel raises the pattern in the
case of Irish hand embroidery. Lace
edgings should never be pressed
without interposing folded cloth be-
tween them and the iron. or they are
apt to gain glazed appearance. and
in lieu of this, each scallop should be
stretched out gently with the fingers,
and the loops pulled out with a hair
pin or a fiat bodkin. To flatten the
edging the teacloth should be re-
versed. damp flannel laid over the
top, and the back of moderately hot
iron in lieu of the point employed.
Pongee silk in the natural shade
makes beautiful centerpieces, cush-
ions, piano scarfs, or mats for library
table. These embroidered with flow
ers or conventional designs in dull
pink, blue, green, or violet are far
handsomer than linen and can be
washed without injury.
When there is small family, and
consequently dining table of modest
dimensions, 1t is mistake to have
cloths that are more than two yards
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