HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Shannon News, 28 August 1923, Page 4

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

r Soft white rabbit skins make beautiful linings for bedroom slippers, or for rough, thick gloves for wear when driving in the rain and cold. It is quite easy to cure the skins at home if the following method is followed: Pin the skin on a board and cover with powdered alum; leave for forty-eight hours, by which time the alum will have absorbed all the moisture from the skin, and after another fortyeight hours repeat the process. The skin will be quite dry after eight or ten days, and then all roughness should be smoothed down with pumice stone. Rub the fur with a little glycerine, and after a few days it will be ready to make up.

Frocks designed for wear at informal functions are plain, straight, and plentifully pleated, the finest of pleats only being used. Fancy silks are employed more than any other material, tfith a plain silk in a dominating shade forming a border, and, perhaps, a sash as a means of trimming. Sleeves are quite short in the more original types of frocks, but long and clinging closely to the arm in the more dignified and quieter models. All are of a good length, the majority reaching below the ankle; but none, up till now, have dared to sweep the floor. Full overskirts over tighter skirts, the top skirt being arranged as to suggest an idea of great fullness, are to be seen on many afternoon models at Home. How To Buy Gloves. Nqvcr buy gloves in a hurry; take your time and inspect them carfully. See that the points on the back are properly finished, and that the gussets are well sewn. The seams should not have a twisted appearance; they will never look “right” if they have. The texture should be even, and the entire glove made from one skin, otherwise they will have a patchy appearance. The kind of glove chosen is, of course, a question of taste. Cape and reindeer are very hardwearing. Doeskin, is also a hard-wearing glove and looks smart. Never buy chamois gloves unless you are prepared to pay a lot for them. Poor chamois leather is only suitable for housework. Good suede wears well, but is apt to go greasy very soon. When buying suede gloves test them by pulling tho skin width-ways; if it is faulty it will show flaivs and white cracks, and that is the pair you leave in the shop! Don't buy kid gloves too large, they wrinkle and look worse than those too tight. When Cutting Flowers. Flowers cut from the garden will last much longer if they are gathered just at the right time. Here are a few points worth bearing in mind. Paconies should always be plucked just before the buds actually open, and they null keep their colour and last much longer than if they have expanded out of doors. Always gather sweet peas when the dew is on them, either in the morning ;or late on a clear evening. Roses last longer when they are cut with the dew on them, after the buds have begun to expand. Try to get as much stem as possible with, roses, as these flowers will not keep if the stalk is short.