Hints and SuggestionS

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 66

Hints and SuggestionS

Sassafras put with dried fruit will free It from bugs and worms, and give it at the same time a nice flavour. jyiieu you boil a cabbage tie a bit of tlr^

bread in a bug ancl put it in the pan. Ficnth cooks s.iy that all the unpleasant odour v ill be absorbed by the bread.

To Clean Cretonne. — Sofas, easy chairs, and ottomans covered with cloth or cretonne may be kept fip-<h and clean by an occasional zub ■\\it.h a flynnei and warm bran.

To Clean Iron Bedstead*.— lf they aie well rubbed with ordinary furniture cream, pnd polished -with a soft duster, the result viill be gratifying and surprising. It will make them like new.

Take time to think whether you are doing your work in the easiest as well as the most effectual way. Never Ftand and do w hat you can &it and do just as well j thus husband your strength.

To clean a discoloured marble mantelpiece well wash it with soda and water, using no s-oop, and then, three or four times, lay on a coating of whiting and water, and brush off when quite dry. When piano keys have become discoloured wet a cloth with ea\i-clc-cologne, dip into r little finely-powdered Avhjting, ancl lub the keys one at a time ; then polish with an old silk handkerchief.

Silver that is much tarnished should be» dipped in a, strong solution of ammonut and hot water, and then well rubbed with a Foft rag and ammonia. Be careful, however, in handling the latter. The skin of a boiled egg is the most efficacious remedy that can. be applied to a. boil. Peel it carefully, wet, and apply to ' the part affected. It will draw off the matter, and relieve the soreness in a few hours.

A Simple Hair Lotion. — A simple hair lotion is made with loz of tincture oi cantharides, lJloz of olive oil, and loz oi rosemary. Shake these ingredients together, and apply the lotion to the roots of the hair as often as necessary. Scratched Furniture. — Rub some camphorated oil briskly on the scratched article. This both restores the colour and polish, and leaves it smooth and glossy. It should be rubbed on lightly and quickly with a piece of flannel. Ink-stains. — Ink-stains are best treated with fresh milk. Soak up the ink quickly with blotting paper, tlien pour milk on the stain, and rub with a clean flannel. Repeat this until the stain disappears, which it is sure to do. This is also very useful for woollen tablecloths should the inkstand be upset. To Clean Dried Grasses. — Make a lather with half a tablet of soap and about a quart of boiling water. When the mixture is lukewarm, hold the grasses in the left hand by the stems, dip into the water, and squeeze through the right hand several times. Rinse well in tepid, clear water, then dry thoroughly, not too near the fire. — Nursery Notes. — When carrying baby from one room to another, cover the head with a shawl or square of flannel, as baby readily takes cold if this "is neglected. Never let the door be opened when s~ child is having his. bath. The sudden draught of cold air on the wet, little body is very apt to give the child a chill". Be careful of rattles with small bells on them ; baby is very apt to pull these off in the mouth. The plain silver, bone, or ivory rattles are by far the safest. Keeping children up beyond their usual hours is very injurious to them ; the earlier children go to bed and the more sleep they have the stronger they Avill grow up. Keep a teething baby as much as possible out of doors. What suits one baby does not suit another. Every baby requires a certain amount of study to find out what exactly suits it. Baby's head must always be protected from the sun. Inflammation of the brains may be caused by exposure of the tender little head to a strong sun. Barley-water may be used instead of pure water to dilute milk for a hand-fed baby, and is better for those with weak; digestions than ordinary boiled water. Keep baby's bottles always lying in a basin of cold water when not in use. If left lying unwashed, even for a short time, the milk is apt to become sour, which makes the bottle very difficult to clean; thoroughly. To ensure publication m the forthcoming issue letters should reach the W'tness office if possible on Saturday night, but on no account later than Monday mqllt Es?" Descriptions 0/ balls, «fee, must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretary to the ball committee. The 2fS of any correspondents who (Jo not comply ivith, this rule will be sent to tha secretary for endorsement prior t* appearing.— EMMELINB ' THE LATE BALL AT XIGHTCAPS. A Contemptible Trick. — ily attention 5a9 been called by several correspondents to tha fact that a most contemptible trick has been played on the readers of this column by a correspondent who is evidently devoid of common humanity. An alleged report of a> plain and fancy dross ball' at Nightcaps reached me at ths beginning of last week, ancl being apparently genuine, it in due eouxsa appeared in this column. From the letters ofi tha aggrieved correspondents I find that tha heartless writer had deliberately siVbstituter? the names of elderly and afflicted residents for those of younger office-bearers with, a view to bringing the affair into ridicule. I can only express my .sincere regret at the appearance ofi the bogus report, and in order that the perpetrator should meet with the punishment lie! deserves I am sending the MS. to the secretary of the committee for him to sheet tka responsibility home to. the guilty party. M horse-whipping or a ducking in a duck pond? at ths hands of those in authority would no doubt meet with general local conimendaation, — EiiMELIXE.