The Domestic Value of Newspapers

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 9, 3 September 1874, Page 3

The Domestic Value of Newspapers

Ti>o low an estimate is apt to ba set on newspapers. After reading them, and putting- ourselves through thair agency, in mental correspond'-'nep. with the world, they fire thrown asi'le and forgotten. Rut to suppos? the?-* usrfulness boiincW by their news columns - find tbe waste basket is a thriftless mistake. fn tlie first place, therrt are household receipes to be found in stray corners, often excellent; find deserving a refuge on the fly-leaf of the fihe family cook-book Tlien c-'»:nes the pretty verses, the droll storie.*., the brief biographies and reminiscences whicb, . pasted in a scrap-book, are a source of never-ending pleasure, not only to-those who do not care for vijher intellectual food but to tbrise who have only odd; minutes for reading*. Notwithstanding the squibs jocular journals have penned on the use "of newspapers for bed-cloth-ing, we know from experience that these are not to be despised. They may not be as comfortable as your blankets, but certainly they keep you • out of the cold. Two thicknesses of paper are better than a pair of blankets, and in the case of persons who di&like the weight of many bed-clothes, they are invaluable. A spread made of a double layer of papers between a covering of calico or chintz, is desirable in every household. The papers should, be tacked together with thread, and also basted to the covering to keep; them: from slipping. An objection lias been made on account of the rustling,; but if soft : papers be chosen the noise will not be annoying, especially should the spread be laid between a blanket; and a counterpane. As a protection to plants against cold, both in and out of ; doors, nothing is better. If- newspapers are; pinned up overnight at a window be--tween pots and gla'ssj the flowers will riot ohly not be frozen^ - but vfill -.-not > even get .chilled, as they, are so; liable; to. be at this Season. In- the same Way. if taken to cover garden-beds on the frosty

f nights of early autnmn, they will allow 4 the plants; to -Temaiir safely rout-doors some time later than is common. One of the oldest-; services ;to put; our jqur->' nals to is the keepingof ice in summer. An ingenious hos^uekee-per recently discovered that her daily lump of ice would last nearly twice as long when wrapped in newspapers and placed in any kind j of covered-box, as when, trusted solely to a refrigerator. This is. very .con-' I yenient, since it is possible to, have the | best and cheapest refrigerators cont stantly at hand. To polish all kinds of glass, except table glass, after washing-, j no cloth or flannel is half as good as »; i newspaper ; and for a baker's dozen of ; other uses, quite foreign to its primal ! purpose, it is without a rival.