Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1883 — SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE. [ARTICLE]

SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE.

To Brighten Brass.— The brilliancy of gold can be imparted to brass ornaments by just washing them with strong lye made of rock alum, one ounce of alum to a pint pf water ; whex dry, rub with leather and fine tripoli. Keeping the Head Clean. —The Druggists’ Circular gives the following recipe for the “dry shampoo,” and considerably used by barbers, now generally known as “Sea Foam:” Alcohol Bounces Water .;....... 16 ounces Ammonia 1 ounce Cologne . 1 Ounce It is rubbed on the head until the liquid evaporates. No subsequent rinsing is necessary. Use a Little Oil.—The Prairie Farmer suggest occasionally touching the latches, locks, and hinges' of the doors with a drop of kerosene or a little tallow from the candle, ana thus keeping them well lubricated. ■lt will insure the smooth and quiet shutting-of the doors and prevent the jarring, grating, or creaking so common in neg-, lected cases. By this attention the doors and latches will last longer. Home-Made Baking Powder. —For those who prefer their own baking powder, we offer the following recipe: Pure cream of tartar, two pounds.; bicarbonate of soda, one pound; corn starch, one ounce. All the ingredients must be perfectly dry before mixing, and very thoroughly mixed. One teaspoonful is required to one pound of flour. If the materials are not pure, of course the result will not be satisfactory. —Scientific American. A Fancy in Aprons.—Aprons made of brown linen of the proper width so that the selvage needs no hemming at the sides may be made very pretty by fringing out the bottom to the depth of two inches; overcast’ the edge the ravelling ceases, then about two inches above that draw out threads for an inch and a half, and then run a blue or scarlet ribbon through the threads that are left, making blocks of the ribbon and thread alternately. AboVe and below this a row of feather stitching is added, and a row on the band and sides also; the pocket trimmed to match is put on the right side. Oak Stains.—Oak floor sfams: Two quarts of boiled oil, half a pound ol ground umber (mixed in oil by colorman), one pint ofcliquid driers (turbine), one pint of turpentine; mix. After cleaning and planing your boards, lay this on with the grain of the wood. 11 required lighter, add naphtha till the required shade is attained; it darkens with age. Give it twelve hours to dry; then varnish with wood varnish, or use only beeswax and turpentine. The result is good in time, but slower than varnish. To get your line straight across a room to stain a border, chalk a long piece of string, strain it where you require your line, then lift the center and let it fall sharp on the boards. The result will be a clear line in chalk. Quantities given will stain a two-foot border round a room twenty feet by sixteen feet. Beautiful Teeth.—No young lady can be really beautiful if she has such teeth as are sometimes seen, black, broken and covered by tartarous adhesions. Such teeth are not only unsightly, disgusting, but, with their filthy accumulations, their ulcerated fangs, are unfavorable to health. But with beautiful teeth, a clean mouth, an amiable expression, almost any one is beautiful, with but little regard to the mere features. It is impossible to have pretty teeth without care, without brushing, without the removal after each meal of the bits of food in the cavities, etc., which should be done with nothing harder than a quill, always avoiding pins, needles, knives, and the like. As soon as the enamel is cracked, or removed, exposing the true bone to acids, such as produced by the decay of food, fermentation,-.there:; is danger. Avoid acid and gritty powders, but use castile soap water, also avoiding the extremes of heat and cold by which this enamel is cracked and destroyed. Borax and water, with a small amount of spirits of camphor (twenty drops to a pint), will make a good dentrifice, using a soft brush at least daily, rinsing the mouth after meals.