TO MAKE HOUSES WHOLESOME.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 160, 17 May 1873, Page 3

TO MAKE HOUSES WHOLESOME.

Atwws kooj> the windows shut; for thus you not only prevent unwholesome draughts, but stop the smut from thing in nnd dirtying the furniture. Never sweep under bed*, or the sofa«, or the side-boards, but allow tho dust t > remain there undisturbed, for otherwise its particles might float m the air, and injure .rcspirat ion. For the sanio reason, sufler the " flue " to settle on the tops of wardrobes, pictures, book-ease*, and cabinets, and refrain from injuring your health by attempting to remove it. When visitors arc expected , and you arc honoured w ith instructions to clear out a bedroom closet, or perhaps a chest of drawers for them, do so in as gentle a manner as you can, and spread clean paper on the shrives where the dust has peacefully accumulated. Ah\a\smit away your wine glasses and decanters without washing them ; and when u flowcr-va«c is sent down from tho dr.iw ing-room, let the water remain in it to be ready for next tune. You thin mny save yourself much trouble and avoid the risk of breakage. When you are directed to light a bedroom tiro for nn unexpected visitor, never look to ascertain if tho register be closed. Should the room be filled with smoke, recollect that fumigation is prescribed as means to stop infection. Take it for granted that all tho household linen has been well aired at the wash, and do not disturb your mind by any doubts upon the subject. If damp sheets are the consequence, and illness should ensue irom them, jou will have the consolation of reflecting that 3 our carelessness has been the means of bringing profit to an honorahlc member of the medical profession, and that your master, and not you, will have to pay the charges. It is convenient to keep a diity cloth or two underneath the sofa cushions, in order to be handy to wipe up any mess which you may unluckily make, in case jon should upset the milk-jug while you are handing round the teatray. If you are bidden to poke the iiie (particularly in the library, where you find your master intensely busy at his writing desk), do so with all the violence and vehemence that you can muster, in order that the dust may tly into the room, instead of falling into the ash-pau, whence you would have to uudergo the labour of removing it. When you go to light the gas, always turn it fully on before you strike your match, which you will take care to keep damp and probably incombustible. A slight escape of g.is not merely imparts a piquant perfume to a room, but serves to turn the observation fiom detecting even more offensive odours. Never shake the nigs and door-mats, or so much as oven stir them, if you c.vi possibly help it. A good quantity of dirt may thus be snugly stored beneath them, and may not be dislodged until the yearly cleaning. If your mistress be attieheJ to pug-dogs, cats, or parrots, encourage her to let them have their meals at the same time as heiself, and refrain fi om sweeping up the scraps which they may leave, lest they afterwards mny wish for them. If canaries be her pets, do not clean their c.iges oftcnor than once every month or so, and (ill up their baths and drinking fountains without previously emptying them. Above all things bear m mind that scrubbing is a painful and degradiug opeution, and abstain therefore as much as possible from practising it. — Punch.