Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1891 — THE HOUSEHOLD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE HOUSEHOLD.

A Tr.foU Calendar. The trefoil pieces, says the Farm and Home, are cut from thick bristol board and painted the color of a

clover -leaf, the markings being shaded with care. Then cut two clean, even slits in each leaf arid insert a • pale* green ribbon of the same width, with the day of the week, the month and the day of the month

painted at regular distances upon them, as shown in the sketch. The ribbon must be fitted so as to move easily in the spaces. This is a pretty desk ornament to be made for a fair or for a gift. Make the Home Neat. The surroundings about the farmer’s home should be such as to make it attractive. There is a money value in neatness in fine lawns and plenty of ornamental as well as of fruit trees, especially in the localities where si*nmer boarders from cities make their residence. The city ' visitor wants to be where all the surroundings are of a cheerful character. Doubtless the repellant aspect -of many farm homes is one reason why

they attract only those wh# ear* money by farming, and in these days this'class can only pay a low price for land. So far as he can do so without extravagant aypcnditnres, the farmer should seek to attract wealthy purchasers, and selling to them fit up other farms in the same way.

RemOTlnc Stain*. To remove fresh fruit stains from table linen, covfir quickly with powdered starch, or pour boiling water lrom the tea kettle upon them. Finely sifted wood ashes will re. move medicine stains from silver spoons. Egg stains on silver can be taken off with fine salt and damp cloth. On fabrics that will not he injured by it soft soap will take out paint stains much better than benzine, chloroform and similar cleaners. A weak solution of oxalic acid will remove bad mildew stains and iron rust from white goods; ordinarily, mildew will come out if wet with so*i milk and laid ih the sun. Use oxalic acid with care, as it is poisonous. Diluted hartshorn takes mildew from woolen goods. Grass stains are obstinate, but soft soap and baking soda will generally overcome them. Wet the stain, rub it freely with the soap and soda and let lie a short time before washing. Wheel grease on wash dresses can be removed with soap and water. Ii the spot is pretty old, wet it first with kerosene oil.

Ilonaehold .Notes, Vinegar bottles may he cleaned with crushed egg shells in a little water. To BiiiGiiTEN carpets wipe them with warm water in which has been poured a few drops of ammonia. A good liniment for inflammation, rheumatism,%wellings, etc., is olive oil well saturated with camphor. A good cement is melted alum, but it must never be used when water and heat are to come in contact with it. Fine shavings from soft pine wood make a pleasant pillow. They have special curative virtues for coughs and lung troubles. Clean collars on woolen jackets, men’s coats, etc., by sponging with ammonia and water, then with alcohol, then rub. dry with a flannel cloth. Copper kettles may be cleaned and polished by taking a lemon, cutting it in two; dip one of the pieces in salt and rub well over the copper. Hyposulphite of soda is recommended for cleansing tarnished silverware. It is applied simply with a cloth or brush dipped into a saturated solution of the salt, no powder of any kind being necessary. In two or three rubs all tarnishes are removed.

An eminent English authority writea as follows as to tlio value of trees in protecting land and stock: When plantations and strips of woods of considerable extent are so arranged as to obstruct the wind in its course, shelter is afforded both to cultivate and pastnro land, and in appearance as well as productiveness the character of tho estate undergoes a thorough change. It cannot be doubted by any one acquainted with tho losses whicli are frequently sustained on high-lying farms from nipping frosts and withering winds, that in cold, late districts shelter is of the greatest value to the farmer. Various kinds of crops are liable at the time of flowering to be seriously injured, if exposed to strong winds, nnd frequently cereal crops, which are just beginning to ripen, suddenly assume a prematura whiteness after being loosened about the roots by severe wind-storms; the crop is imperfectly developed, and the farmer is the loser. Shelter will to a very large extent prevent this evil. Then at harvest it has been found that a line of plantations, running transverse to the wind, though at a distance of half a mile, has materially diminished the lo#s from sliedd ng. Along the eastern coast of Great Britain a proper increase of shelter would not fail to mhl several bushels of grain to the yield per acre. Tho value of shelter for pasture stock is no less deserving of careful consideration. It is well known to veterinary practitioners that cattle grazing in liigti and exposed situations are generally more disposed to consumptive and cutaneous diseases than animals pastured on low and sheltered farms. The pasturage, even when sheltered in a very partial manner, is both earlier and more nutritive than if exposed to the full effects of unchecked winds, and in th.hr haunts flocks rarely fail to indicate the situations which are really bepefited by plantations, either npar at hand or as a considerable distance. It appears, therefore, conclusive that the relation that exists between forestry and agriculture is a very intimate one.

The Philadelphia gentleman of the last century, if lie were a man of fashion or means, wore a three cornered cocked hat heavily laced. His lioir was done up in a cue, and its natural shade concealed by a profusion of powder. His coat was light-colored, with diminutive cape, marvelously long back, and silver buttons engraved with the letters of his name. His small clothes came scarcely to the knees; Iris long stockings were striped, liis shoes pointed and adorned with huge buckles ; liis vest had flap pockets, his cuffs were loaded with lead. * * * When he bowed/ to the damsels that passed him, he took half the sidewalk as he flourished liis cane and scraped his foot. The historian proceeds to convince us that the dress of the lady, os she grayely returned his salutation and courteaed nearly to the earth, would seem no less strange to us. “Those were the days of gorgeous brocades and taffetas, luxuriantly displayed over cumbrous hoops, which, flattened before and beliind, stood out for two feet on each sftle; of tower-built liats, adorned with tall feathers; of calash and muskmelonbonnets, of high wooden heels fancifully cut; of gowns without fronts; of fine satin petticoats, and of implanted teeth.” It appears that in 1784 this curious custom of transferring teetyi from one woman’s jaw to another had been lately introduced in Philadelphia, In an advertisement yet extant one La Mayeur announces to his fair but. presumably mature patrons, that his business is to transplant teeth, and that he has within the six months jnst preceding transplanted 123; and he assures those having front teeth for sale that he will give two guineas for every sonnd one brought to him.— McMaxteru' History.