Hints and Suggestions.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 66

Hints and Suggestions.

An eminent oculist declares that any woman continually wearing a veil that impedes the eyesight will in four years suffer from" defective vision.

A lady who is a professor of singing declares: "A two. months' course- of proper breathing exercises should increase tho chest two or three inches."

Never use tea leaves for laying the dust when sweeping a light-coloured carpet, unless they have been previously rinsed in water; otherwise the carpet may be badly stained.

Those who have a greasy skin will sometimes find their appearance improved, if,' after washing, they dry the face with a soft towel and finish by rubbing with a chamois leather.

An excellent remedy for sprains is to boil wormwood in vinegar and apply it hot to the injured part, with a sufficient wrapping of cloths to keep the sprain moist, renewing the lotion occasionally. For avoiding dust in a room where there are many pictures, ornaments, etc., instead o! sweeping, wipe the carpet over with a flannel dipped in tepid water with salt in it, and wrung fairly dry. To clean soiled papier-mache trays, wash with a flannel and warm soapsuds — never in hot water — dry well, and sprinkle well with flour. In a little while shake off the flour and polish the surface with a silk handkerchief.

For cleaning discoloured brasswork use* a pennyworth of oxalic acid crystals dissolved in a gill of water and applied with a piece of old flannel. Afterwards well polish. Care should, of course, be taken ' in handling the acid. Natural leaves coated with varnish make handsome table decorations, and they will last many weeks. Leaves of vine or fern si treated give, perhaps, Che most satisfactory results. To decrease the apparent size of the hand, wear a glove with heavy "points" oa the back. A white glove with broad black stitching will make the hand look sizes smaller.

To clean a sponge, dissolve a dessertspoonful of tartaric acid in a pint of boiling water. When this cools, dip the sponge in, squeezing it out several times and rinsing in fresh water. Quilts and toilet covers are usually mended by darning, and good linen towels are also darned or patched with pieces of old ones. When too old to mend, they make excellent housemaid's cloths.

Sunshine soon "shows up" soiled holland and other cptfon blinds. The best way to clean these is to place them flat on a table and well rub with breadcrumbs. This is much easier and gives better results than ordinary washing. The creaking of soles of boots and shoes may be cured by the application of linseed oil. A good plan is to turn a small quantity of. the oil upon a dinner plat«, and let the sole rest in it. The leather ■will absorb £he oil, which, in addition ttf stopping the creaking, will make the leather proof against water.