THE HOUSEHOLD

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1904, Page 4

THE HOUSEHOLD

STARCHING AND IRONING. How Swiss and German Laundresses D* Their Bcantlful, Glossy Linen. Foreign laundresses generally use the best rice starch for all articles that require hard starching and excessive gloss. This Is first mixed with a little cold water to , Jibe consistency of thick cream. Then hollV : Ing water la added while the stirring is ' continued steadily. For stiffer purposes mix a quarter of a pound of rice starch as before, then add the necessary quantity of boiling water, previously mixed with a toaspoonful of pounded borax, a lump of sugar and a piece of pure white wax as large as a nut. Stir quickly the same way all the time the boiling water is being added. If necessary, starch the fronts, eto., two or throe times. They will look all tho better. Starch all the parts that require It, wring them out hard and olap well In the band, after which roll each thing separately In a clean dry cloth tightly for a couple of hours. When ready for the Ironing, spread tho article out on the board, rub the starched part with a coarse, clean cloth, then with an ordinary iron proceed with the operation. It la Important that the board should not bo too thickly covered. The surface on which the shirts, eto., are ironed ought not to bo too soft. The best thing Is a piece of thin blanket, tightly stretched, covered with linen. Collars and cuffs are ironed first on the wrong side with a very hot iron, then on tho right side. They should then be put aside, though still limp, while others are being treated In tho same way. By this time tho Iron will have cooled sufficiently to finish the things off. Lay them flat on the board, rub them quickly with a slightly moistened cloth and iron at once heavily and rapidly, loaning principally on tho tip of the iron and going as evenly as possible backward and forward over the surface to Insure the same amount of gloss all over. Mark tho hems or seams by pressing tho side of the iron against them. The final polish for cuffs and collars consists in pulling them from under the hot clean Iron, curving them, as it is done, ' so that they roll easily. In this state stand them In a largo tumbler and leave them there till quite cold. They will then be beautifully stiff and glossy. Tho Iron should bo wiped with a waxed cloth. ‘‘Occasional” Furnishings.

Tho needful furniture may all bo in a room, but no one knows so well as tho housekeeper with artistic yearnings how tnuoh ono or two of the small pieces now bo fashionable would add to her arrauge-

dAinty bits of furniture. ment. As for tho home loving girl, to whom tho decoration of her room Is a genuine delight, she is tempted time upon time to spend half her monthly dress allowance on a charming sheraton desk, a heart shaped toilet mirror, a ohlppendalo tablo or similar beguiling affair. What could bo more convenient, for instance, as well as decorative, than the little "envelope” folding card table and the silk upholstered musio seat, with its useful drawer, shown in the out? Of the musio seats, by tho way, there are various shapes. In a more elaborate one, In place of the drawer, all tho space underneath the seat la inclosed and contains a kind of movable rack divided into compartments, which pulls out on tho principle of a revolving desk. Tho ladles’ rosewood writing desk recalls so exactly a once favorite shape that 16 seems it could not be Improved upon. Quaint and extremely comfortable (a quality by no moans always to be counted on in those odd' bits of furniture) looks tho little old fashioned “settee” of striped velvet. A china cabinet or curio table, fitted with plate glass and lined with plush, becomes quite a necessity In this day when every feminine body who would be "somebody” is "making a collection” —it may be of after dinner coffee oops, of souvenir spoons, of beautiful specimens of ohlpa and glass, of foreign curios — all ox which need a safe resting place. To these cabinets there 1s no end of variety, but a most popular and reajly commodious style is the Chippendale hero Illustrated. Heat, Gas and Book Bladings. "Low book shelves,” said a furniture dealer, who 1s a lover of books as well, to a New York Times writer,"have an origin in reason besides the caprice of fashion. Heat la injurious to tho binding of choice books, drying out tho natural oil of the leather and making them warp and get out of shape. Most rooms are very warm In tho upper parts, jand these five and six foot book cases are a necessity rather than a notion. "Cold is as hard on books as overheating, and an atmosphere that is too damp or too dry also injures thorn. The sun pouring In directly on tho shelves fades the bindings. "An open fire is another necessity in a library. Books require good air like a human being, and gas ought never to be used where valuable books are kept. Candles pro hard on the eyes, though, and therefore should bo avoided. Oil or electricity are all better than gas, which acts as readily on bindings as it does oa silver. Id Sbu of tarnishing, however, It effects theli astlcity and pliable qualities.” Ooooannt Fie. A pound coooanut, grated; a half pound powdered sugar, a quart milk, unsklm • med; 0 eggs beaten to a froth, a teaspoonful nutmeg, 2 teaspoonfuls vanilla or rose water. Boil tho milk, take it from tho fire, and whip in gradually the beaten eggs. When nearly cold, season. Add tho cocoanut, and pour into paste shells. Do not boll tho eggs and milk together. Bake 90 minutes.