THE FRIENDLY EXCHANGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 4

THE FRIENDLY EXCHANGE.

In this column we 1 propose to have pleasant chats r and interchange of ideas With our readers upon passing matters of domestic and social interest ; and that it may be made an instructive and profitable feature we invite correspondence of inquiry and information on all subjects that can possibly be of service to the home and our common humanity, and the Editress’ hopes that her appeal will meet with a hearty and generous response. Letters must be written, on one side of the paper only, and addressed to * 1 Elise, New Zealand Mail. Correspondents will please give real name and address in addition to their nom-de-plume, not for publication but editorial introduction.' For the present the Exchange will be published fortnightly, hut we hope that sufficient pabulum will soon come in. to enable us to .make it a weekly issue. Dear Madam Elise :—I should be obliged if you could give me a pattern for little girls’ woollen kuicker-boekers. I have seen them on children and should like to make them, but don’t know how. Perhaps you or some lady contributor would kindly tell me. I must say that the little fisheroap made by you in what you called' mossstitch is very pretty and becoming ; quite a change from the Tam-o’-Slianter now so common. I shall give you one or two receipts.

Gilded picture-frames that are dull do not always need regilding. One way of brightening them up recommended by a good authority, is to apply a coating of damp fuller’s earth, and when this is dry wash off with a sponge moistened in ox gall. If you moisten your broom in warm-water every time you sweep, you will find the dust not fly so badly. To remove grease from garments, dissolve a tablespoooful of salt in five tablespoonsful of alcohol; shake well and apply with a sponge. A good way to distinguish mushrooms is to sprinkle salt ou the spongy side. If it turns yellow, the specimen is poisonous ; if black it is wholesome. ‘ Yours truly, Constant Reader.

In reply to Grace 8., I send the follow ing :

Two handed Whist. —Two handed whist or humbug as it is generally called, is played thus : The fifty-two cards are dealt in the ordinary way, and a trump turned. The dealer takes up his own hand,.and his adversary the one opposite, the one which at the four handed would belong to the dealer’s partner. The non-dealer having looked at his hand declares whether he will exchange

it for one of the unseen hands. The dealer then does the same with regard to the other unseen hand. The cards are then played as as at whist, only two cards constitute a trick instead of four. Tricks couut the same as at whist Honours couut as follows : One honour counts nothing ; two honours count two ; throe, count throe ; and four count four. At tho point of four, a player holding honours cannot score them. Hytatia.

“ Dear Elise, —I am bo much obliged for the receipt for the prune pudding. I hope you have tried the Bondi pudding, as we thick it very nice. I will give you another receipt for a new pudding which I hope you will like also.

Pati'Ekdale.Puddi&G. —Three cups flour, 1 cup beef dripping, 1 teaspoonful soda, ditto of cream of tartar, 1 cup , sugar, essence of lemon, 2 eggs, 1 oup of milk, and currants if preferred. Boil for 2 hours. Serve with sweet sauce. Yours sincerely, M., Dear Madame Elise, —Can you inform me through the medium of your valuable paper what is the best way to keep pumpkihs, and prevent their going mouldy ? Ours have' been carefully hung up in flax in the woolshed, yet they are already beginning to moulder at the stalk, Hubbard.