HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 318, 7 December 1910, Page 6

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

THE CHILDRENS' HAIR. The simpler a child's hair is dressed the more natural and childlike will the child look. While care should be taken that hair is not allowed to droop into the eyes and cause a squint, or weigh the ears and make them stand out, it should be left as loose as is consistent with personal comfort. "Much greater care is being taken of children's hair nowadays than has ever been the case," says a London coiffeur, "and the youngsters are sent in for a shampoo at least once a month, when the ends of the hair are also cut and its general condition seen to. Little girls up to 10 or 12 are not wearing their hair as long as they used to do, and a gccd tonic is kept in constant use for improving it when it inclines ot break or grow thin. Formerly the nurse and her assistant had sole charge of the you«g people, and they were only brought to U3 when they were going to an afternoon party. But now just as much care is taken of the babies' and youngsters' hair as of their more grown sisters and brothers."

WHY MEN REST THEIR FEET ON CHAIRS. According to a social authority the masculine habit of resting the feet upon another chair than the one occupied by the sitter has its origin in the instinct of self-preservation. The blood flows too freely into the legs and feet that remain too long in a suspended position, engorging the veins and causing discomfort. It is this condition which men seek to relieve by placing their feet on desks and chairs. It is a habit w'. -i women may well imitate v/hen alone.

FASHION HINTS. Bejewelled net becomes more and more attractive for evening wear. Big sleeves and roomy hoods belong to evening cloaks of satin. One huge flower at the right side of a large hat is the sole trimming besides a wide band of velvet. Other large velvet shapes have masses of big ribbon roses going all round the crown. Green hats with blue dresses look well if care is taken to choose the right shades of each colour. Little touches of black velvet are added to toilets of all descriptions. Guimpes of tucked linen, with a velvet band at the top of the collar are worn with dresses. Plain linen collars of the stand-up and turned-down order, with a neat tie and white cuffs, are worn in the country with coats and skirts. GENERALITIES. Stubborn stains on linen may be removed by repeated applications of salt and lemon juice. When washing fine flannel add a little powdered borax to every pailful of water. This keeps the flannels soft.

To, varnish maps, brush them over on both sides with a thin solution of gutta percha. This is quite transparent.

Scraps of materials from the workroom will, if cut small, make excellent filling for sofa cushions, where feathers are not to be had. A kettle-holder or iron-holder is always in request. An old woollen sock, folded to shape, and stitched in place, makes an admirable holder. When using scales in the kitchen, always put a thin piece of paper on the scales before weighing sugar, flour, and so on, to save the trouble of washing.

Bar soap should be kept at least six weeks before using. Cut it up and store it in a warm airy place, and you will be surprised how much longer the cakes will last.

Greased ribbons can be cleaned by rubbing them with French chalk or magnesia and then holding them near the fire. This will absorb the grease so that it can be brushed off. A kettle that has become encrusted with lime should be filled with vinegar and allowed to boil fast for an hour. 7'he lime deposit should then flake and break, and be easily removed. To polish a steel grate which has been neglected will require a good deal of "elbow grease." Cover the steel parts with sweet oil and leave for forty-eight hours, then rub with unslaked lime till the rust disappears. Rice water should never be thrown away. Use it as a foundation for soup, instead of water ip making a stew.

An egg that is cracked can be boiled by enclosing it in a piece of soft paper. When the paper becomes wet it adheres to the egg and prevents it from coming through the shell. This process should be successful in every case where the crack is of a moderate length. Loosen the screws of the wringer when putting it away after using; and also be sure that the wash-boiler is emptied ,and thoroughly dry before putting it away. Careless housekeepers sometimes Jeave the boilers for days with water in them, and then express wonder that their clotiiees fij-e rusted.