Ladies' Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2041, 11 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ladies' Column.

About E'iisgor Nails.

“ r'tii people understand how to cut their nulls,” said 'he young lady manicure. “ A knife or...mors should never he used. 1 trim ami shape the nail with a. small tile, ami then carefully smooth down and hevel liie reiie'heii'al edges with emery board, w'mu keeps them from breaking and ti-iinr them to a symmetrical onnvJli. Auol her important point, where people neglect their nails is in allowing tlie skin to grow out on the base of the nail. This should he carefully pushed hack with a hlnnl. iu-ilrmnem at lead once a WccK. I soak the hand-* of my customers in tepid water a few minutes before 1 do this, so as to soften the cuticle. This is necessary as otherwise it is liable to break. It requires 'treat care, as the base or the nail, which is very sensitive, may bo bruised or the delicate edge of tie; skin broken. Another place where care is needed is at the sides of the nail, where it leaves the tinners, hack of attention to tilts either hardens the end of the huger or produces the untidy and painful hang-nails which disfigure so many hand;. In tiling the nails the tile should always lie drawn from the linger and toward the end of the nail.” “ What are the hardest things to overcome in operalin;,' on hands that have been negleted “There are several things. Aiothers sometimes make a practice of cutting their childrens' nails almost .square with a pair ot scissors. That hardens the end of the linger and produces a misshapen nail. It can be overcome, however, ill time. 1 >.v !ihng the nail from the sides, it can be narrowed by decrees to that lilbert shape which is considered the height, ot heathy. Tlie tin ;er will still be blunt, but even that will be remedied to some extent. Then we have the people who bite their linger nails oil' close. They are hard customers to deal with. The nail is deformed and brittle, ami care has to be taken in dealing with it. .Manicures use a preparation to stop the bitin;' and then Correct the other defects by degrees.” “ With whom do you do your best trade?”

“ Well, here, iu so far, it has been mostly with society ladies, i have had very few customers from the work ini' classes yet. Suppose that is because they have nut yet learned that there is a manicure in tlie city. In New York, however, we treated fully as many working girlsthat is, those who did work hard and wearing upon the hands--as any other. The hands of such persons must of necessity bo hard to keep iu order, but there is no one who appreciates (he heathy of a nice band and pretty nails more than they. That makes them good customers, too, for they appreciate how much you do for them. Do you know there me several diseases of the linger nails she asked. ‘•Well, there are. One is called onychia parasitica, which is much to be dreaded, it acts upon the nails by thickening and drying them. They lose their polish and grow rough and brittle. With a powerful glass the little parasites which cause the trouble, cam ho seen growing among the component, parts of the nail. The nail has a dirty brown color, streaked with lines of a darker color, and the nail is raised up and thickened. The disease is rare, and can only be treated by a skilful physician. “ The white specks on the nail, which wo were told as children indicated gifts, are really si nail disease, resulting, I think, from slight diseases. .Hang-nails arc where the nail adheres to the cuticle, and proves move than anything else the use of the manicure's art. Hypertrophy often allliets the nails, causing an excessive growth and a dull, yellowish color, and often produces extreme pain from ingrowing nails and other irritation. This can be remedied by a skilful manicure, but cannot be cured."

Tabic Cover.

A cover I'm' the dining table, tu put uu when the white cloth is not in use, is very desirable, but as it must be large it is dilllcult to keep it from 1 expensive. A serviceable cover is made of gray linen lloor cloth with a broad edge of Turkey red calico, and a fringe knitted of line gray twine. ()ne tli.it is handsomer for evening use, if the dining-room has to serve the double purpose of being family sittingroom also, is made of a square of double width llauuel, or any thick, wide wool yoods. Put half a widlii of velveteen all around the square, and outside of that a broad band of the llauuel. A large tassel oil each corner is suljlcieut finish, but a handsomer fmiye, of course, is an addition. For a dark or hiyii coloured cloth, the friuyo may be crocheted of ecru macreme cord with a scalloped heading.

Ko ¥«« liiiow ? 'licit hot, dry tlanuels applied to the face and neck is a very clicctivc remedy fur a "jumping toothache.' 1 That fruit or dust stains on table linen or other white cloths may bo removed by soaking in a weak solution uf oxalic acid. That after tea has been steeped in boilin ; v,;nor for three minutes a large proper! ion of the valuable constituents arc extracted. That the most effectual remedy for slimy and greasy diaiu pipes is copperas dissolved and loft to work gradually through the pipe. That plaster of parts ornaments may be cleaned by covering them with a thick layer of starch, letting it dry thoroughly, and brushing it with a stitf brush.

Many of the readers have inquired from time to time about washing silk knit or crocheted articles, mentioning some particular one that, had become soiled through wear, The following method will answer for anything made up of knitting silk. Dissolve a moderate quantity of white castile soap in warm water. isnuee/.o the articles through the water, never rub, until they look clean, riii-e in clear cold water, and lay in a, coarse towel. Hull the towel up with tin; articles inside and twist until they are nearly dry, Stretch in shape and leave in a dark room til! nearly dry. Take a soft piece of tlanncl and rub in one direction until perfectly dry. Never use an iron.

Hot water is tlic best thing that can be used to lic.vl a sprain or bruise. The wounded part should be placed in water as hot as eao be borne for liltivu minutes, ami in all ordinary cases the pain will gradually disappear. Hot water applied by means of cloths is a sovereign remedy for neuralgia and pleurisy plains. For burns or scalds apply cloths well saturated with cold blue-water, keeping the injured pavth covered from the air.