Housekeeper.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 452, 15 December 1904, Page 7

Housekeeper.

ONIONS AND BRONCHITIS. AN old lady who has made the test, declares that onions had cured her of bronchitis when the doctors had given her up. She had taken a large raw onion, sewn it in a coarse flannel bag, then Jtiad if pounded to a pulp ; had her chest washed, and this poultice placed on, and left for four hours, then her husband had another ready, and the chest was again washed, and the second poultice applied. She began immediately to get better, and was then quite well and active, though past seventy years of age. She assured him she had been the means of curing others in the town. A SUN-BATH FOR THE HAIR. One of the finest restoratives for the hair is to let it flow loosely in the' sun. If this is repeated as often as possible, and for as long a time as possible, the health of-weak hair will, as a • rule, be greatly improved, Girls and women spending their summer holidays in quiet, country-resorts, should take advantage of the hint if they..,are anxious about the health of their hair. The sunshine has the effect of brightening the colour of the hair as well as of encouraging a thicker growth. It is a cheap prescription, and when sunshine is to be had let us make the most of it and give to weak, dull-looking hair the benefit of its influence. Even without the aid of a sunbath, hair is all the better for being allowed to hang free from time to time, so that the air can play about it. - <» BOYS* CLOTHES, When altering old clothes into new ones for, the boys, be sure you have a good pattern and a well-known suit to use as, a guide. You will need these until thoroughly skilled in the work. Always put in a lining when, making trousers for boys of old material, as it adds greatly to their strength. When .cutting them out and, basting them to the, lining, make thepockets, put them in, and press them well. Baste up the seams, and try them on. If they fit satisfactorily, sew them, and press them thoroughly ; face up the upper parts, and put in Jh inside strip of some heavy material, which should be deep enough for buttonholes. Hem the bottom of the legs, but do not turn the hem to conceal the raw edge, for that would make it bungling. It is not difficult to make pants for the small boy that look fully as well as the ready-made garments; but the coat requires considerable practice before a .well-finished piece of work can be turned off. It may be done, however, and the two great requisites are careful basting and thorough pressing. HINTS FOR THE HOME LAUNDRESS, Advantage should be taken of the summer to lay linen on the grass—where this is possible—to be bleached. After washing handkerchiefs and other linen goods in the ordinary way. leave them in the water in which they have been boiled until it is cold. - Then take them out and lay them on the grass in the sun, and when the air and heali of the sun has drieU them, tWo a

watering can with a rose on and-water the linen as you would water flowers. Later on, when they are once more dry, takeup the handkerchiefs, etc., and plunge them im cold water, leaving them in the hath throughout the night. Rinse them in the morning, so that all smuts have disappeared, and hang them up to dry. Treated in this way linen should keep its colour and remain beautifully white without the aid of the blue bag. Avoid making the mistake of taking the handkerchiefs from hot water and laying them upon the graßS. Blankets and other flannels should be squeezed in luke-warm soap-suds when being'washed. f?lt is better to squeeze them than rub them] If there are any spots and stains upon them gently soap these and dip the stained portions in luke-warm soapsuds before plunging the whole flannel into water, and pross out the soil with the fingers. Then submerge the flannel in soap-suds and squeeze and press it until clean, using a second lather, but never very hot, which would shrink flannel. Use two or three rinse waters, leaving some soapsuds in each. In this way flannels remain soft and. fluffy and keep their colour.