Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 30 January 1908, Page 33

Domestic

By ' Maureen 1

Housewives' Helps. The best way to keep celery crisp is to place it in a bowl of warm water and leave it there until required. If you put a little sail in Mith the mustard before mixing it will beep its color and will not turn sour. A Simple Way to Clean a Clock. 'Take a bit of cotton wool the size of a -hen's egg, dip it in kerosene, and place -it along the floor of the clock ; shut the door of the^ clock and wait three or ■ four days. The clock will be like a new one, and if you look inside you will find the cotton wool black with dust. The fumes of the oil loosen the particles of dust, and they fall, thus cleaning the clock. * Depends on Early Training. The table training of a child should begin as soon as* he has a place at the table. He should be taught how to hold and to use, first his spoon, then his knife and fork ; to drink noiselessly ; to eat slowly, and to take small biles ; to lvecp his mouth closed' while chewing, etc. If he is allowed . to begin wrong it will be very hard to teach him correct deportment, and he may never completely overcome the bad habits he .has formed: As people- are judged b} r their table manners more than by any other one thing, parents should see to it • -that their children are properly trained from the "beginning. . f How to Remove Stains., Removing spots from coats and waistcoats is best done with clear ammonia and water. Soap is too apt to remain in the cloth, _ becoming a gathering point for dust and future spots. - The ammonia solution should be rather strong and put on with a brush .preferably to using a cloth. Afterward a cloth may be wet „in clear water and the place well rubbed, then pressed. Stains, such as come from fruit, oil, or paint, will yield to a home cleansing fluid that all housekeepers would do well to have. It is made \l a wineglassful of rectified spjrils of turpentine and a teaspoonful each, of oils of lemon, peppermint, olues, . and cinnamon. Shake well and rub over the stain vigorously, using an old silk handkerchief or other soft bit of silk. Ways of Mending Men's Clothing. Mending men's garments is quite different from sewing women's clothes, for a flatiron plays almost as important a part in -renovating as a needle, because every rip or tear lboiks fifty per cent, better if pressed after darning, patching, etc. The- most inconspicuous , way to repair three-cornered tears in woollen suits is to darn with ravellings of the material instead of^ thread. ' The darning should be done most carefully, and the place afterward dampened slightly and pressed with a heayy hot iron. If for any reason it is not possible to get ravellings for tl is kind of work, horse hair cloth raivellings should be used. The hair." is less visible than thread and is strong. It is sometimes possible to back a tear with a court plaster, drawing the two edges together and pasting them witli plaster. Tins is placed-on the wrong side. When, it adheres 1 /to the cloth put under a heavy weight until quite dry, otherwise it will curl. " - - * - Proper Way to Sew oh Buttons. As to sewing- on buttons, there are two ways, one the easiest method for those with shanks, another for buttons with eyes. In putting on shank buttons, sew only with .strong linen thread, for silk and~ twist are quite useless, as they snap and pull out after the buttons have been fastened two or three times. In putting on button® whdeh have eyes, hold between the button and the cloth a thick round bodkin or a match. Place this so that it rests' on top of the cloth • and under the button, the stitches coming .at either side. The sewing should be rather loose, so that when the needle has teen put through for the last time the match or bodkin can easily be withdrawn.. Do not brea-k the thread yet, but hold the button out as far as the stitches will permit and then wrap the thread around until a - solid shanfc has been made. Fasten the thread on the wrong side and cut it.' Cloth or tailor buttons having a cloth fhank should be put on With few- stitches, and stout linen thread should be _used. '