The Home

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 36, 7 September 1905, Page 29

The Home

By Maureen

Tinned Meat. Wfhen ibjuyim'g tinned meat notice if the tin bulges outwards in any place. If it «does, you may be suit that the air has got in, and that probably it is unwise to eat the meat. Ostrich Feathers. To restore ostrich feathers, throw a big handful of salt on the fire, and then shake your feathers itt the . heat of the blaze, being careful, of course, not to singe them ; they will look almost new after the process. Potato Cheese Cakes. Take one piound ol mashed potatoes, a quarter of, a pound o<f sultana raisins, a quarter of a pound of soigjar,, a (quarter of a (pound of butter, and four egfts. Mix well together and bake in patty pans, lined with puff paste. Care of Brooms. Before using a new broom steep it in warm water for a few minutes, and it will last longer, for the very, dry fibres of the broom are brittle and likely to emaip. Th« same treatment is advisable aJbout once a week. Always keep broomis and brushes hanging up, for they soon spoil if left standing on the floor. Imitation Ground Glass. If you want to shut off any view, you can do it very cheaply with an imitation of feround iglass. Dissolve as much Epsom salts as the water will absotf) in a little hot water, and paint it ovefr the inside of the window. When dry you will have a very good imitation grounfi glass. To Cure Soft Corns. Soak a piece of cotton wool in castor oil and place it betweem tlhie toes, if the soft corn is there, or bind it on the piart affected. Renew every night and morning utntil tihe corn disappears. Soaking- a piece of cotton wool in turpentine and applying it in a similar way will hajve a like effect. A Sufbtetitute for Chamois Leather. Old pieces of velveteen should, after they have served their origimil purpose, be slaved for polishing 'clothe. They will answer the purpose of wasb-leattier for platecleajning, etc., perfectly, and save buying anything fresh. Wash the velveteen cloths as often as needed in soapy water, and hang out to dry. The Best Way to Give Medicine. In g£vi'n|g medicine ne^er use a spoon in measuring, as the ordinary household spoons vary very mutfh in oajpacitiy. [Use a graduated measure-glass, and always rinse immediately after use. Doctors' physic is protverbially nauseous, and in some cases a little may be done to disease the taste. Oastor oil is best taken in milk or coffee. Epsom salts may be disguised by peppeimint water, Quinine or cinchona by milk, senna by cloves, and aloes by lkjuo'rice. A pinch of salt on the tonigue prevtio'us to taking ' will effectually disguise the taste of salicin or salicylate of soda ; but in the majority of cases, \yy closing the nostrils tightly with the finger and thumb during the process ofi swallowing medicine, no taste whatever is appreciable. Take Care of Your Flat Irons. Mia|myi people have bfcen annoyed at finding, their irons >q|uite rusty after they have been put away a few days. The way to prevent this happening is, before you put them away, to rub a little warm grease over them, and then wrap them up in brown paper. When. you take them out to use, dip them into hot water thatJ *as bad a small piece of soda dis,solved in it, rub dry, and 'When put them to heat in the usual way. When they are ready to be used on Uhe ironinigHtfoaifd, have a piece of brown paper with a little powdered bath-Wrick in it, and rub the siurfaoe ofi your iron with this. It seems ra/ther a lengthy process, lb)ut it really does not take long to do it, and housewives will be rewarded for the trouble they have taken by finding the vriojns tieTi^htfblly smWath and easy to i use, anß wfaeai they are like this the ironing can be done twice as quickly.