Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 13, 28 March 1907, Page 33

Domestic

By ' Maureen '

-How to Save the Eyes. Avoid "reading in a dark room, in the "dusk of eve- . ning, or -by a poor light. Avoid reading during sick--ness and after measles, scarlet ffeverr r and any exhausting •disease. "Avoid .reading while lying down. This ' is an unnatural position, straining the eyes and producing con'gestfion. Avoid reading in a stooping position, for this interferes with the return circulation, and congests the eye -and the .brain. Avoid -rubbing the "eyes». with the hand .or with a rough cloth, but .-rather -bathe .them in cold water twice a day. Avoid prolonged use of the eyes for near or fine work ; rest the 3ye. by looking at objects at a distance. Avoid dazzling ' lights and sudden changes, and never use the eye's when everything appears hazy and- the letters blur, but-obtain-suitahle glasses. . . How~ to 'put on- Gloves:'- ' .The length of time a pair a kid gloves will weai> depends very much, upon the way .they are put on, especially -the first -time. Never put on a pair ' of j. gloves in a hurry.; take plenty of time, and keep cool. It is of great importance that the hand "should remain dry and cool, and be perfectly clean. It is well to dust it with a little plain rice powder first. Work 7 the fingers well down before, you put in the thumb. Work the thumb in slowly, and then the rest of the hand. Begin at the second button and desoend, then return to the first button, which will now fasten easily without breaking of ■ stretching the buttonhole. Your band will frequently be moist with perspiration when about to remove the gloves. In this case puir them off wrong side; out, so that the moisture can evaporate. When quite* dry turn the fingers and smooth the gloves into shape, laying them in a box or other -receptacle long enough to receive them, except in the case of evening gloves, which may be folded half-way- up tbeT arm-. Another way to make gloves last is to buy them large enough. A glove that is too tight presses the hand out of shape, makes it red, and is -always in the worst possible taste. Care of the Range. A. few hints in .regard to the proper treatment of a range may assist some housekeepers. Don v t pile ''the coal above the top of the -fire-box, nor allow - the top of the stove to get red hot, for it warps ami cracks the covers. Be careful not to let the grate get clogged ; shake often and keep free from cinders and ashes. Do not let ashes remain in the ashpan ; they - absorb the heat, cool the oven, and check the draft. Do not allow clinkers to remain fastened to the fire-box v If the box is - brick-lined, drop an oyster shell in the fire occasionally, when burning briskly, and shell will clean off the brick. It is 'bad policy to "* rush ' the range with the "oven draught open. It nsejs too much coal and burns out. the- range too fast.- Don't let ',the "smjoke draught stand open; except -when fresh coal is "put on. Heat that goes up ""the chimney is'so much heat wasted. Wet garbage should not he burned in the. stove. If it must be burned, dry it first ; otherwise steam is generated and the moisture will iniure the fire-box. Don v t set leaky vessels or spall cold water on. the range ; the cold coming in contact with the heated metal will cracV it. To get sv»ots off when there Has been a bad ' spill over,' cool the lids by changing them, or putting on coal. .Clean with paper and finish with a scraper. Keeto the reservoir covers closed and so prevent rusting* _. the iron and straining ■ the -hinges. Don't let soot ~ "accumulate. Jn the flue. Scrape off all soot that hangs to the oven • bottom. Pull all soot toward you -and be' careful" not to pnsh it .back -in the flue. It is not necessary to polish -the kitchen range every day. Crumple a newspaper, rub any spots on the stove wftih *a hit slightly dampened^ polish with' two or throe rubbings with dry paper-, -and the iron, will be bright" enough.