Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1884 — SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE. [ARTICLE]

SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE.

Stained glass grows more popular every day. It is particularly effective for vestibule doors, where it is seldom seen.

Brass stair-rods are becoming the fashion. They are particularly effective when used over soft red or blue velvet carpet. The newest mantel lambrequins are made of plush, cut in “tongues,” each “tongue” being embroidered or painted in a different design. A match safe made from a small, round jar, covered with crimson plush, with two small pipes gilded and tied on ■with a ribbon, is very attractive. Ie grease or oil is spilled on a carpet, sprinkle flour or fine meal over the spot as soon as possible. Let it lie for several hours, and it will absorb the grease. The high, stiff backed sofas have game entirely out of fashion. They are now made with soft, curving, comfortable backs. The handsomest sofas are covered with plush in artistic blues and reds, and are made either of ebony or rosewood. Black kid gloves are sometimes a source of annoyance on account of little white streaks at the seams. This trouble may be diminished by coloring a little salad oil with black ink, then rub this over white places with a feather; <dry quickly outside the window.

A Gre at return for a small investment is realized by purchasing a small soldering outfit for a boy. He becomes at once a useful member of the family; old basins and pans become as new after the transforming touch of his soldering iron, and there are great posibilities in tin cans, and small pieces of tin; sugar sifters and funnels are among them. When using lemons for any purpose, it will be found an economical plan to grate the yellow rind off mix it v ith an equal quantity of sugar, and put it up in an empty box with a tight cover. This will be delicious for flavoring custards, molasses-cake and anything else where lemon extract is used. It retains the strength of the lemon while cooking and is much more delicate to the taste than the oil or extract of lemon. A small economy, but one not to be despised, especially in large families, is to save bits of toilet soap when they begin to waste. When a pint or even half a pint is collected, put in a bowl, add boiling wafer and stir. Set away, and, as it evaporates add a little boiling water and stir well. Do this every day till all the lumps have disappeared. Then add a few drops of oil of cinnamon or oil of cologne. Wet a deep, narrow pan in cold water, pour in the soap and leave it to mold. After two or three days turn it out and leave to dry. The result will be an acceptable toilet soap.

Cane chairs are more used than ever. They are now painted in colors to harmonize with the remainder of the furniture in the room. The cane arm chairs have the backs and seats cushioned either with plush or velvet, while the rockers are generally ornamented with bows ami ends of some bright colored satin ribbon. The shapes in odd chairs are very .oid-fashioned, and grow more ancient every day. The latest is a dainty-looking,ithough most uncomfortable, chair of Queen Elizabeth’s time. It is manufactured in highly polished rosewood, and has cushions made of peacock blue plush, embroidered in moss rose-buds.