LADIES' COLUMN.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 408, 11 March 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. Boots and shoes that hayo become hardened oan be made soft and pliable by application of kerosene. To clean enamellbd saucepans.-Dis-solve half a teaspoonful of chloride, of lime in a saucopan of water, and boil till all stain is removed. Fat in which there is salt should never be used for greasing cake tins. Y\ ell grease them with lard or any unsalted fat A teaspoonful of lomen juice in a cupful of tepid water whitens and makes the nails supple, rendering them more easy to polish. . ~ . „ To clean smeary glass, dip a cloth in a little methylated spirits and rub the glass, then polish with a soft duster. It will shino beautifully. To turn out a boiled pudding which has been boiled simply in the cloth dip it into cold water for a minute, place it in a basin which will just hold it, untie the strings, and fold the cloth back, so that when the basin is turned upside down on the dish the pudding will be free. If you wish a serviceable iron-holder, cut pieces the shape you need from the back of any old boots you have, place one between two or three pieces of cloth, and sew round in the usual way. The leather will keep all heat from the hands. ~ . . To blacken stoves: Many housekeepers are troubled by stoves rusting when they are not in use. A hardware authority says benzine is a sure preventive. Mix the blacking with benzine instead of water, or other lie"?', and apply to the cold stove. Polish and do not use the stove until perfectly dry, giving the fluid time to evaporate, as it is lunammable. MOTHERS' HINTS. Sometimes a baby, after careless bathing is chilly. I" such a caße lfc should not be put in a cold cradle, but should be wrapped up in blankets, and warmed in front of the fire. Nearly all babies are subject to feverish attacks ; sometimes they are caused by cuttiug a tooth, or by ctachiup a cold, sometimes it is difficult to decide what Blicut cause has given rise to it. _ Continual fretful crying is often brought on by the child having nothing to do : it will often amuse itself by running round the. table singing as it goes, and different toys should be kept for wet days. The best way to give a poader, it it is nasty is to mix it with a little finelypowdered loaf-sugar ; then moisten the tip of one's finger, and when all the powder has stuck to it, put it. into the child's mouth, as far back as possible. A mother should not give her baby medicine continually ; some mothers are always dosing their ohildren, and it is the very worst thing to do, as it very often brings the ailments it is supposed to avert. For instance, habitual constipation may easily be set up by much dosing. LUCKY CHILDREN. The baby who cuts his teeth hard will be successful in every way. If a little child is extremely fond of cheese, he will be rich when old. A child born in August will have many presents, and give them all away. A baby born with two colours of eyes will be successful in all its undertakings, If when a baby s hand is taken it clutches closely, the child will be a firm friend and a generous lover. In Switzerland an apple tree is set out for a boy and a pear for a girl when bom, and as the tree flourishes so will the child. If a child would be lucky, it must cut its teeth on the mother's marriage ring. Gold, at anyrate, should be used for it to bite upon. If you have a child sleep' with its head to the west it will be early bald ; if to the south, it will have a heavy head of hair, but it will be weak in BOU> WHAT TO LEARN. Learn to laugh. A good laugh is better than medicine. , Learn to tell * story. A well-told story is as welcome as a Eunbeam m a sick room. Learn to keep your troubles to yourself. The world is too busy to care for your ills and sorrows. Learn to stop croaking. If you cannot see any good in this world, keep the bad to youiself. Learn to hide your aches and pains under a pleasant smile. No one cares whether you have the earache, headache, or rheumatism. Learu to attend strictly to your own business—a very important point. ; Learn to greet your friends with a smile. They carry too many frowns in their own hearts to be bothered with any of yours. RECIPES. Rapid Cake (German Recipe).—Three eggs and their weight in butter, in flour, and in sugar, spice to taste. Spread the mixture on a buttered tin, bake in a very hot oven until it is pale brown, but still soft, roll it on a bottle to cool, and cut into strips crossways from the corner, Afternoon Tea Biscuits.—Beat to a cream Jib each of butter and sugar, adding one well-beaten egg and the grated rind of a lemon : mix ODe teaspoonful of baking powder into -Mb of flour, and work this into the other ingredients till a Boft dough is formed. Roll out to about the eighth of an inch in thickness, and cut with a fluted cutter into small rounds. Bake till a pale brown colour in a moderate oven. A variation, if desired, can be made in the flavouring by substituting ground ginger or caraway seeds for the lemon peel. Tomatoes Stcffed and Grilled. —Stalk the tomatoes, then dip each into heated fat. Put them upon a wellgreased grid, which has been previously cleaned, over a clear fire, and turn often, occasionally pouring over the melted fat again and again ; two minutes' broiling will suffice". They are very tasty tor breakfast. When to be stuffed choofe the largest tomatoes, remove just the top, then scoop out a little of the inside. Make a rich forcement of chicken and ham, or use a veal stuffing or any other savoury, such as miuced kidney and bacon, or skinned and chopped mushrooms. With one of these fill the hole in the tomatoes, dip into the heated butter, and grill as described before. To Cook a Bullock's Heart.—Soak the heart two or three hours in cold water ; then trim, take out all tendons, and wash clean. Make a dressing of one cupful of bread-crumbs, one tablespoonful of melted butter, quarter a tablespoonful of powdered eage-leaves, and a pinch each of salt and black pepper. Mix these ingredients, fill the cavity in the heart, tie with a string, wrap in a piece of muslin, and put the heart into a pot, with boiling water to nearly cover. Let it simmer slowly two or three hours uutil it is tender, adding one teaspoonful of bait when about half done. Take the heart up, remove the cloth, and put it into a hot oven long enough to brown it. This is nice served either cold or hot.