Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1877 — How to Make Skeleton Boquets. [ARTICLE]

How to Make Skeleton Boquets.

The following directions will help in making the boquets of skeleton leaves so much admired by some, and which, to say the least, form a pretty and desirable ornament. The leaves gathered when full grown and of perfect form are treated as follows: Place them in earthen jars (by no means use tin, as rust will discolor them,) and pour over them boiling water. Set them in a sunny spot out of doors. Fill the jars up eVery morning with soft water; do not pour off any of the first, but add to it. At the end of from six to eight weeks they will be sufficiently macerated for examination. Place them in a bowl of fresh water; lay one of them upon glass, the upper side of the leaf next to the glass, and with a soft brush re-

move all of the pulp and skin; turn the leaf and repeat the process. When thoroughly done lay it in clean water to await the bleaching process. For the bleaching solution dissolve one pound of sal soda in five pints of water, and put one half-pound of chloride of lim'e in three pints of rain water. Allow one day for the latter to dissolve, then strain out the sediment, and pour the solution of lime into the solution of sal-soda. Filter this thro’ paper kept by druggists for that purnose until perfectly clear. Use one part of the solution to on a part of water for the leaves, and for ferns, which need no previous preparation, use the liquid full strength. When they are perfectly white, remove them to a basin of freshwater, and let th m stand for several hours; drain the water from them, and add fresh water three or four times during twentyfour hours; add a little blueirg to the last water. Remove one leaf to a shallow dish of water, pass under it a piece of unglazed white paper, and raise it from the water so that it will retain its original shape; lay it —still on the paper—on a folded towel; when you have a number of them thus ready press them gently with a napkin, so as to absorb the moisture; place the leaf between two pieces of soft paper and lay between the leaves of a large book, where they should remain until they are to be mounted, as they will curl if they are exposed to the air too soon. Select small and medium sizes, perfect in shape and finely cut. These of the maple, elm, ash, silver poplar, and willow ire easily managed, but ou no account select either oak or hickory, as the tannin, which they contain-readers them useless and an injury to the others. When completely dried and pressed they may be mounted on wires, and grouped into boquets, wreaths, or other desirable forms to suit the taste or fancy. Brigham Young appeared to a medium the other day and remarked: "It’s pretty hot here, but nothing like it was in Salt Lake when I bought Amelia that seal-skin sacque, ami left the others to turn their last year’s cashmere saeques.”

Friday evening Hon. C» F. McNutt delivered a lecture in Terre Haute, His subject was “The Trial of Jesus as Viewed from a Legal Standp ;iut.” The lecture was logical and strong, and was splendidly delivered, Joseph Bowers, of Jackson county, is believed to be the tallest man in Indiana. He is six feet eight inches and a half in height. Hurrah for Bowers. A few days since the little daughter of E. M. Morri ng, of Terre Haute, swallowed a tack. She soou began to vomit blood, and in a little while died in great agony. For Queensware, Glassware, etc., go to C. C. Starr, where you can select from the largest and most complete stock ever opened in the county.

We take pleasure in informing our patrons that we are now prepared to meet the wants of our trade with as large and well assorted a stocx of Goods as was ever opened out in this market, and we trust you will examine our goods and prices before buy-

ing.

WILLEY & SIGLER