Household.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 978, 28 November 1890, Page 6

Household.

Time is not wasted that is spent in simple healthful enjoyment after faithful work. A week of rest may add a year to a man's life.

Put French chalk or magnesia on silk or ribbon that has become greasy and hold it hear the tire. This will absorb the grease so that it may be brushed off. i

It is hardly worth while to dread a tnunderstorm as there is only one chance in a million that a person will die from a lightning stroke, which is doubtless the most instantanoous and painless of all oauseß of death.

To renew velvet hoid it over boiling water, with the wrong side next the water, and that will raise the pile, if very badly crushed, wet it on the wrong side, and let some one hold a hot iron upside down ; pass the velvet slowly over this, and the pile will raise; then dry it without any handling.

Sea air and mountain air are exceedingly different in their effects. The person who yearly goes from one to the other is almost Immediately conscious of the physical influence of the change. As a general rule, therefore, those .who live in inland regions will be likely to receive more benefit from a visit to the seashore, while dwellers in cities and towns along the seaboard will ordinarily be profited most by a sojourn in the hill country.

Strawberries have the reputation of curing gout and rheumatism. The great ohemist, J. B. Dumas, was particularly fond of this fruit, and regarded it as "an agreeable medicine. An eminent Swedish chemist also considered it an antidote to maladies of a gouty nature. A French ohemist has recently analysed the strawberry and (espe. cially in the larger varieties) discovered a considerable proportion of phosphates.

An authority on the subject says that butter keeps much better if the cows who supply the cream are fed on grasß whioh has gone to seed. The following recipe for pre- ) serving butter is recommended :—-Work I some good fresh butter with cold water till 1 it is perfeotly free from milk. Mix thoroughly a quarter of a pound of powdered { saltpetre with an equal quantity of powdered J sugar and half a pound of common salt. > Work an ounce of this mixture into each pound of butter, paok it closely in stone or glass jars and fasten it down. If not exposed to the air it will keep good a long time.

If the chimney catches fire run for the salt box, and empty it out upon the flames ; they will be reduced as if by magi?, and further steps can be taken to subdue the outbreak. If Boot falls upon the carpet or rug, do not attempt to sweep it until it has been covered thickly with dry salt j it can then be swept up properly, and not a stain or smear will be left. If anything happens to catch fire, either whilst cooking or otherwise, throw salt upon it at once to prevent any disagreeable smell.

Black straw hats are best oleaned with ox gall and boiling water. They should be well brushed with the mixture, then rinsed with water and b6nt into shape, and allowed to dry slowly. Another method is to use weak beer and water, or gin and water to be applied with a brush. In order to re-stiffen them a weak solution of gum Arabic or glue is used, after which they may be brushed over with a little more cold water. THE USE OF AMMONIA. Door plates should be cleansed by rubbing with a cloth wet iu ammonia and water. If the colour has been taken out of silks by fruit stains ammonia will usually restore the colour. * To brighten carpets wipe them with warm water m which has been poured a few drops of ammonia. One or two tablespoonfuls of ammonia added to a pail of water will clean windows better than soap. A few drops in a cupful of warm water applied oarefully will remove spots from paintings and chromos. Grease spots may be taken out with weak ammonia in water; lay soft white paper over and iron with a hot iron. When acid of any kind gets on clothing spirits of ammonia will kill it. Apply chloroform to restore the colour. Keep nickel silver ornaments and mounts bright by rubbing with woollen cloth saturated in spirits of ammonia. Old brass may be cleaned to look like new by pouring strong ammonia on it and scrubbing with a scrub brush ; rinse in clear water.

A tablespoonful of ammonia in one gailoa of warm water will often restore colours in oarpats, it will also remove whitewash from them.

Yellow stains left by sewing machine oil on white may be removed by rubbing the spot with a cloth wet with ammonia before washing with soap. Equal parts of ammonia and turpentine will take paint out of clothing, even if it be hard and dry. Saturate the spot as often as necessary and wash out in soapsuds. Fat a teaspoonful of ammonia in a quart of water, wash your brushes and combs in this, and all grease and dirt will disappear. Rinse, shake, and dry in the sun or by the fire.

If those who perspire freely would use a a little ammonia in the water they bathe in every day it will keep their flesh olean and sweet, doing away with any disagreeable odour.

Flannels and blankets may be soaked in a pail of water oontaining one tablespoonfnl of ammonia and a little suds. Rub as little as possible and they will be white and clean, tnd will not shrink. One tablespoonful of ammonia to a teacupful of water will clean gold and silver jewellery, A few drops of clean aqua ammonia tubbed on the under side of diamonds will olean them immediately, making them very brilliant.