OPEN THE DOORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 19

OPEN THE DOORS.

A short time since we published an interesting special article on "Woman's Work," in.which an account was given of the employment of ladies as clerks, &c., in the departments at Washington. Reference was made to their fitness for clerical labour in the Custom House and other federal offices in this and other cities. No opposition, but the contrary, is felt to their employment by the chiefs. No other obstacle exists, in the Custom House, except a treasury regulation permitting their employment only as inspectors. Treasury regulations can be changed or amended at will by the Secretary. Letters have been addressed to Senators Sargent, Booth, and Jones, and to the Representatives from this State, calling their attention to the favourable opinions expressed by Collector Shannon and others here, and asking aid in opening thia new field to the employment of women. From the interest always manifested by them in such beneficent movements, we have no doubt the gentlemen addressed will give hearty support to the request now made. There is no reason why capable women should not sit in the " gates of the customs," or at the desks of the Mint, in this and

other cities, if they are compelled to earn their bread, and not have it provided for them. Such a change as we advocate would find suitable employment to hundreds of struggling women in this and other cities. — San Francisco Post.

Cure for, Corns.— Take a lemon and roll it until it is soft ; cut a thick slice and bind it on the corn on retiring at night. In the morning, if the corn is white and disintegrated, pull it out with your finger nails— never cut a corn. Sometimes several applications of the lemon slices will be necessary, but the corns are bound to succumb, and you can dance the next night if you like. After you remove the corns wear shoes that fit. and are not too stiff in the soles. Cream Candy.— One pound of white sugar, one cup of cold water, and one tablespoonful of vinegar; boil in a tin pan for twenty minutes or until it will be brittle when dropped into cold water. Do not stir when boiling. When done pour on buttered plates and set to cool ; when cool enough to handle take off and pull until it is as white as you want it ; cut into sticks and set in a cool place. You can flavour with anything you choose by dropping on a few drops of extract after it is turned on the buttered plates. To Wash Lace. — Cover a common quart bottle with linen, then warp your lace around the bottle, being careful to keep the pearl or edge out smooth. You may put on several layers of lace. Then cover the whole with another piece of linen sewed on tightly so as to keep the lace smooth. Wash the bottle and its coverings in suds, rubbing with the palm of the hand, then boil with the other clothes on washing day ; bluo, and stiffen with thin starch, tie a string around the neck of the bottle and hang it up to dry. When quite dry, rip off the outside linen, and your lace will be found clean and smooth.

To Clean Fine Lace.— Baste it carefully between folds of thin muslin, or on a stocking drawn over a bottle, and place in a vessel of cold, soft water to which a teaspoonful of ammonia to a quart of water, and white soap sufficient to make suds have been added. Let the water boil a few minutes, and, if necessary, change it and boil again. Squeeze the lace, and rinse in clear water. If the fashionable cream tint is desired, ' add a little clear, strong coffee, and a little gumarabic.water to' give a slight stiffness to ;the lace. , Press it- till dry between folds j pf old white muslin, then pin it to a pilJow, and, with a fine needle, pick out and "raiseup every stem and leaf to. its proper place.,' If it r i3 .carefully pasted over a j bottle, let it dry on 'the bottle, and then I pick it, but with a needle. - , 'Treatment 'of Hen Canaries .while Moulting.— Ist. Keep plenty of saffron in the drinking water. 2nd. Give sopped bread and milk fresh every morning. 3rd. Crush -a mixture of canary, rape, and a little hemp seed, and" give a little fre3h .every morning. \ 4th. Give her water to bathe ,in when the sun shines. sth. Be sure she is. not infepted with parasites — bird yermin ; if you have any doubt, put a white saiicer or small vessel containing water under the . bird when she goes to roost for the night ; and, if she has those tormentors, you will see in the morning some floating on the water. It isjworth your while to look at them through a microscope. 6th. Take soms carbolic acid and put just enough water to make it | liquid, and, after cleaning your cage with hot water, put on the carbolic acid with a paint-brush on the inside and outside of I the cage j let it dry in the sun, and it will be a sure cure and do no injury to the bird. — Animal World.

Pot Pourri.— (l.) Gather the roses quite dry, pull them from their stalks, pick out the petals, leaving out all wet or decayed one 3 ; spread them out to dry, turn them every day, and when dry put them in a jar in layers strewed over with bay salt ; press them well down and fill the jar. Let it remain a month undisturbed, then pour away any moiscure, pressing it well out. Now mix with the leaves some spices, sold by chemists for the purpose ; put th« whole into a china jar, and stir frequently. (2) Take equal parts of cloves, mace, cinnamon, orris root, and saltpetre, all pounded. Dry the rose leaves, but not in the sun ; when quite dry mix them with the spices, add dried lavender and lemon verbena, and cover over for a month. Pot pourri improves with age ; it is best when made of the oldfashioned single roses, as the yellow centre contains the most scent.