Bints and Suggestions.

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 74

Bints and Suggestions.

Excellent for darkening and strengthening faded hair is the following : — loz glycerine, 2oz of spirits of wine, 2oz bay rum. Infuse loz of black tea. in half a pint of water, let it cool, strain, and then mix all thoroughly , together. When boiling meat, never allow the water to actually boil after the first five minutes. It should merely simmer, which means that the water must be kept between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Hard boiling will toughen the tenderest j meat ever sold. j Bronzed lamps, chandeliers, &c, should be merely dusted with a feather brush j or with a soft cloth, as .washing them will take off the bronzing. If they become ' very dusty looking in spite of this, rub with a cloth or brush moistened with a very little sweet oil. With slight trouble anyone, no matter what work they do, may have nice hands. Add a teaspoonful of sweet oil to half an ounce of refined glycerine, shake well, and rub a little over the hands previous to washing them in lukewarm water. Before drying rub the hands thoroughly with a little juice from fresh lemons. Cleaning Chintz Curtains and Covers. — The first thing to do in cleaning glazed chintz is to shake off all loose dust and then use a soft furniture brush. Afterwards wipe the surface of the chintz thoroughly with clean ..flannels, and xub it with dry bread. This simple treatment will keep chintz fresh-looking for a *ong time without tHe aid of more expensive methods. Tightness of Boots and Shoes. — This exceedingly uncomfortable feeling can be relieved by rubbing the shoes well with olive or castor oil while they are on the feet and allowing it to dry in. If windows are hard to push up and down, try blackleading the frame where it touches the frame of the \vindow, and rubbing a little softsoap- into the cords. This will generally remedy it, and make them run like new. If you want cruets or water-bottles to dry quickly after washing, stand them wrong side up under a tap when clean, and let the water run on them for a little while. In a few- minutes you will find that they are quite dry inside. Uses of Peppermint. — No household should be without peppermint. Nothingrelieves a burn or bee sting quicker than the application of a little peppermint. For vomiting, sour stomach, and heada*kg a ffw droj)s of peppermint in & little

warm water often gives immediate relief. To keep bread and butter fresh and ' moist when cut, place in a cool place, cover closely with a serviette or clean cloth that has been wrung out of cold i water, and many hours after it will be as moist as when first cut. It is very convenient to prepare bread and butter for the afternoon tea. in this way. I • —The Baby.— : Be careful not to let children sit on damp stones or grass; this is fruitful of much suffering. • For a scald or chafing a little vaseline or fine ointment should be used at once. Babies want to be let alone a great deal more than they generally are. Constantly talking to them, dancing them about, and showing them _ things "to amuse them" are all exceedingly bad. Never keep milk standing near anything that has a strong smell, as- milk has a wonderful power of absorbing any smell that may be near it. A child should never be out in the sun without something on its head. Mothers should realise that this is very dangerous. — Tooth-powders. — Brushes for the teeth should be neither very hard nor very soft, but strike the happy medium. People with sensitive gums" should use a rather soft brush, while hard gums will bear the touch of a hard brush. Camphorated chalk is in favour as a dentifrice, but there are those who recommend as preferable plain, precipitated chalk, with which a little orris root has been mixed for the sake of imparting a pleasant flavour. An excellent tooth-powder is made of chalk, orris root, borax, and myrrh, in equal quantities. lanuin is frequently added to toothpowders as an astringent, but myrrh is more pleasant, and has the same effect. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue letters should reach the Witness ojjice if possible «n Saturday nifjht, but ow «• account later than Monday night IV Descriptions oj balh, die. , must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretary to the ball committee. l'he MS of any correspondents who do not comply leith this rule will ie sent lo the. secretary for endorsement prior to appear ing.— EM MEL TNE SPINSTERS' BAXL AT BEAUMONT. Dear Emnirline, — A very successfvil plain and fancy dress ball was given by the young ladies of Beaumont on Friday evening. The sclu>o?rooni' was beautifully decorated for tho occasion and in spite of the unpropitious state of ths weather the room -was crowded, representatives from ail the surrounding listncts, including Rae's Junction, Lawrence, Evans Flat, Island Block, and Oamaru, being present. 'l'he grand march, was led off by; the secretary, Miss Clark, and Mr Fahey, Excellent musi.: was supplied ~oy Miss Clark (piano) and Mr F. Buchanan (violin), and Mr G. Taylor, assisted by Mr R. Stevenson, made' an efficient M.C. The dresses worn byj the ladies nvcre very handsome. Miss Clark wa? dressed to represent a blacksmith and^ wheelwright, and ware a white silk dress; Miss M. dimming, who, with Miss Claik, shared .the honours for the best character dress represented a gipsy ; Miss I. Cumining, a housemaid ; Miss Masters, " Ferns" ; Miss Cameron, "A ray of sunshine"; 'Miss D. Cameron, a ghost; Miss N. Cameron, a schoolgirl ; Mis'? B-eighton. " Bluebell" ; Miss Given, " Summer"' ; Miss Bennct, 3ilk blouse, black skirt ; Miss Robertson, white bilk blouse, dark tkirt; Miss Muir, white blouso, green skirt; Mi?« J. Bennet, white silk ■blcuse, dark skirt; Mrs Biggins, white silk blouse, olack siik skirt; Mrs Bowman, dark dies?; Mrs Gunn, blue; Mrs Donaldson, black; Mrs Stovor.son, white muslin blouse, dark •skirt ; Mrs Hill, -white silk blouse, \ dark sku t ; Miss Firth, cream cashmere ; Mrs Tracey, tussore silk; Miss Bella Denipsey, nvLslin blouse, dark :-*kirt; Miss K. Woods, rod ; Miss E. Bowman, pink blouse, dark sl-irt; Miss Ethel M'Cunn, pink blouse, dark skirt. — Daphne. \