Year: 1874

What a clumsy. formidable piece of fur
niture the bed of our grandmothers would
present during house. cleaning, even to
the well developed muscles Of Bridget
What a searching espionage had to, be
frequently instituted among the auger
holes in the joints, and Throughout, the
length of the bed-cord! What strength it
took to give it tension adequate to hold
ing firm the burdens it bore ? Then the
moving of the solid wood, that was then
guleless OF veneer. How modern inven-
ton has changed it all Now we say
Presto and away leap the mattresses and
up jump the springs. and all the spots sa-
| cred TO the domestic cimex lectularius are
| exposed to view-the whole structure,
| obedient to the magic roll Of castors, is
| moved by the slightest effort. Those who
prefer a more solid superstructure than
springs give, find it in broad Stats, or in
steel, so interviewer as to make firm
foundation. 1
During the war friend OF our family,
who had been in service some months,
came to visit us. We were gladdened by
the thought of the comfort he would ex-
perience in lying again upon a bed. What
grateful contrast, we thought, it would


be to solid mother earth. Imagine our
surprise, upon inquiring how he had
slept. at the reply, very badly, till laid
upon the floor. AS soon as felt some.


thing under me | was soon in the embrace
OF Morpheus
We often hear travellers bewail the loss
of the luxury of their own beds in this,
as in everything else. experience teaches
us what creatures of habit we are. re-
member with what sympathy first looked
upon the sick and emaciated, seen lying
on mats upon the stone floors of the mos
ques of the East. and yet, to them, their
cool mats were doubtless more grateful
than anything could have substituted.
In country places we still find the tradi-
tional feather beds of our ancestors, and
TO see them, one is warrented in the belief
that they have been put to the trying or
deal of generation of births and deaths,
without change of tickets or renovation of
their contents. What can become better
store-house for infection than such bed,
be it made Of feathers, of hair. or of any
material capable of the absorption of i'm
purities


Germany excels any other country with
which am familiar, in the cleanliness OF
beds. 1t seems as much part of yearly
house-cleaning with them. to have the
uiII IeMONtu from inc mattresses, 10 nave
it well beaten and summed, and the cover


washed, as it is with us to have carpets


whipped and freed from their disease-be-


getting dust.


| grant that it wonld be difficult and
expensive undertaking for an American
house-keeper, for skilled laborers in any
calling are rare, when found must be well
paid, as they should be.


Knowing the obstacles, then in the way
to thorough renovation of our beds, We
should take all the more care to protect
and air them. Every bed should have es-
pecially made for it, the size of the tick,
a white, tackled comforter, not too thick,
SO as to be unmalageable in washing over
this Il sheet is spread. Every bed in daily
use should be subjected to the purifying
lays OF the sun at least once week. and
should be lett open for the reception of
all and light some time before being made


up. Beds not frequently used are often
found musty and disagreeable to guests.
The parlor beds, that swallow their own
contents by magic touch, are fair with
out, but in time. for the lack t0f proper
airing they become foul within.-Science
Of Health.