The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-22
LINEN HINTS FOR
THE HOUSEKEEPER

The young housekeeper starting out 20
buy linen Tor the first time Is apt 10 find
herself confronted by a bewildsrinc as
sortment OF kinds and qualities. I'm the
maze Of Irish. Scotch, Flemish. Mora
Wan, md French linens. in the MANY
weights and weaves. the one known thing
she hangs TO desperately, as a drownirr
man TO his plank. is tho price She wants
I 10 pay Yet OF two linens at identfcalrv
3 'he same cost one may give her much
better wear than the other. writes Agnes
r. Burr In the Chicago Tribune.
/ Ia choosing napkins and table cloths
those with what arc called omen bor-
der patterns give the best service. The
open border patterns are those with r,
mark OF division between the design M
the border and tho design OF the center
One -uns right into the other. In fact
the entire napkin or cloth is ona dosiru
with a border effect at the edge. These
open border designs are being made I'm
far greater quantities every season.
/ Formerly the border design Of a nan
kin or cloth was separated by a distinct
/ band or line or design or some kind from,
the pattern Of the center. But II vas
/ found by housekeepers VINO watched
these things. that the linen was ant To
wear out first along the lines inrIosfrr-
/ the border. The napkin or cloth would
give way there, when the rest OF II was
| perfectly good. Hence the demand for
\ men without this defect. Linen statesmen
\ IN stores Will disCredit this. because they
/ have both kinds TO sell. But watch In
for yourself
/ Question Solved by ExpcrIorce
/ some inexperienced Houspkeepers saw
also that table damask with small pat-
terms wears better than that with large
! designs. This. however is am unsoIved
question. But you can easily determine
/ II by noting the life Of two table cloths
one Of small. the other OF large designs
purchased al the same time and given
equal wear. One might as well get all
the return possible for ones money.
! German silver bleach linen Is the hest
I for hard. everyday u.e. One or two
launderings viii make IL white. and Won
\ viii have an eNcellertly wearing linen
/ for your money.
Huck towels, as nearly every one
knows. last longer than damask. But
perhaps you do not know that the coarse.
! open weave Of buck Is more absorbent
/ than the finer, closer weave. The mex
| perienced are apt 10 choose the finer
weaves because they are more pleasing
to the eye.
The dainty housekeeper who wants the
pretty hand-scalloped buck towels brt
! can't afford to buy them. can get linen
huck by the yard and scallop the ends
/ herself They are just as smart as the
ready-made towels, and not nearly so
expensive
German Roll an Economy.
Another help toward cutting down the
cost Of household linens IS the German
roll. This IS fine damask with a pretty
pattern and border that can be purchased
by the yard. and by hemmlnr or hem
stitching the ends one can mako attrac-
tive bureau and dresser scarfs from q
at much less cost than the readv-nnade
ones.
In the heavy linens for suits and
skirts a softer finish and n lighter
weight have been brought out this vear
that is far moro desirable than the heavy
sheeting muslin of past seasons. It has
the desirable firm, heavy weave. so that
II is just as stylish when il IS made I'M
DUI ~ 70 AOt ~ UACOilLOI ldDIy heaVy TO
wear
Round thread linens are the wisest
choice for fancy work.
1t IS safest, as every one knows IA
buy linens only in a reliable store The
familiar test Of dampening the finger tip
and applying it 10 the linen is known 10
all But so many tricks are resorted TO
nowadays that only expert knowledge
can safeguard one against some decep-
tons. A mercerized cotton damask is
sold under the name of linen that puts
even some experts on their mettIe 10
detect. It's price. of course, is alIurinr
yet laundering or two will show It's
true character. and the inexperienced who
has been caught by its luster and its low
price Will find her money is not bringing
its equivalent return In wear.
C)verSafffuo the food caD otto, - 49,.