Blandford Weekly News. — 1889-04-20 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

EASTER EGGS.  Easter is drawing near, and children are asking their mothers to dye eggs for them. The following notes which are copied from The Queen, may therefore be interesting at the present time The custom of giving eggs as presents about Easter time is ancient and widespread, but its true origin is lost in obscurity. In England it has been revived of late veers, end the shops at Easter are full of prettily dyed ornamental eggs of all descriptions and of yin-ions prices, many of the more expensive ones containing valuable gifts. A basket or dish of freshly boiled and coloured real eggs placed on the breakfast table on Easter morning is, however, preferable to imitation eggs, whilst the preparation of them will give pleasure and occupation to the younger members of the family. There are many ways of colouring the eggs ; legwood chips, if used in small quantities, will cause the eggs to assume a port wine colour, whilst if more chips are added the eggs will be black. It is impossible to say the exact quantity of chips required, depending on the quantity of water used, but it can easily be ascertained when the liquid is sufficiently dark by taking up a little , in a spoon before putting in the egg. For brown eggs, boil them in strong coffee; for yellow eggs in onion peelings. Cochineal will make eggs any shade, from a deep crimson to a lovely pink, according to the quantity used. Another way of colouring eggs is to wrap the eggs up in pieces of silk of different shades, place them carefully in a saucepan containing plenty of warm water in which has been dissolved a lump of common washing soda, and boil for an hour. Then remove the silk covering, and allow the eggs to cool gradually. When sufficiently cool to hold in the band, rub each one over with a , little batter or pure lard, which gives to them a nice bright look. Be careful not to crack the shells when boiling the eggs, or the colour will boil through into the egg, thus spoiling it and making it unfit to eat. Eggs may be made to assume a sort of marble appearance by boiling them in a piece of tartan silk, or in several pieces of coloured silk sewn together and tightly wrapped round the eggs. Bought dyes, such as Judson's, may be used as well for coleuring the eggs, but are not so effective and bright, nor so amusing to use. A pretty effect may be obtained by daubing the eggs here and there with grease before boiling them, or dipping them into the boiling dye. Wherever the grease is the dye does not take, and therefore they come out spotted or striped, or with other devices, as the case may be, or the name of the intended recipient of the egg may be written on it in the same manner, when it will appear afterwards quite distinct. In dyeing eggs care should be taken to use only one spoon, and that an old one; an old saucepan should also be used, and will answer the purpose perfectly if previously thoroughly cleaned. Some of the prettiest eggs are coated with gold and silver ; this is not difficult to do. Boil the eggs for an hour in plain water only, then when quite cold rub them all over with painter's size. Procure some gold or silver dust, such has bookbinders use, put it in a saucer or plate, roll the eggs gentle one at a time till the eggs is entirely covered. Or the egg may be first coloured, end a name, a data, or any other device be i put on t in the same manner with the size and the dust. Gold and silver leaf can be used if preferred instead otthe dust, but is more troublesome to manage.  It is stated that the Pope contemplates appointing an archbishop in Berlin, who would probably act as s Nuncio, though without such a title. Finding a beetle in his soup, Theodore Nod, a hand on board a Baltimore schooner, went to the cook, named Johnson, and shot him dead. The death has taken place suddenly, from diabetes, of the Rev. Walter Clark, RD., headmaster of Derby School. Deceased was 49 years of age. Nathaniel Harvey, of Guelph, Ontario, was Bud. delay attacked with madness. His murdered wife and two daughters are the tragic evidences of hit nisniaciem.