Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1911 — Points For Mothers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Points For Mothers

Making a Rag Book. It is always a difficult task to find a suitable gift for babies and young children generally, for, however young the recipient may be. the giver likes to have the satisfaction of knowing that the gift is one that even baby takes an Interest in. A rag book is a gift that never fails to please. To make one. buy a few yards of plain calico. The calico should be torn into strips, each inside page being allowed two thicknesses, so that a picture can be painted on each side. This can be managed by tearing the strips twice the size of the required page, then simply folding it into one page. The cut edges of these pages must be bound together and well sewed and so form the back of the book, and all is made neat and tidy by the outside cover, which is one single piece of calico. The pages are placed in this, and the cover is stitched to the back of the book. The cover need only be of one thickness. as it does not require a picture on the inside of it. The pictures may now be drawn or traced on the pages, or the decorations may be done before the book is made up. The stains must be applied evenly and flatly to the various objects, outlining the shapes with, waterproof India ink. - ideas will come thick and fast as the worker proceeds, so a few suggestions as to the decoration of the book will suffice. An A B C book will be most useful for little ones learning to read. ordinary purposes water colors will do for the staining, but if the books are to be washed often dyes or marqueterie stains must be used, one or two colors doing any amount of books. Nursery rhymes and tales may be illustrated. Tracings can always be taken from books and the wording printed with ink.

When Measles Comes. Measles does not come on for seven to twelve days after a child has been exposed to infection. The first symptoms resemble a cold in the head, running at the nose, a good deal of sneezing, redness of the eyes, etc., and this is followed in twenty-four hours by a slight cough. On the second or third day the temperature begins to rise noticeably. On the fourth day the familiar red rash appears on the face, giving it a blotchy, swollen look. In a few hours this spreads to the trunk and neck. Measles is the third most fatal disease of children. If the proper precautions are taken the other little ones' In the house may escape entirely. The younger the child the greater the danger. When measles breaks out in the family see that the youngest children, at any rate, are carefully protected from catching it. The only treatment necessary is rest in bed in a well lighted and well ventilated room, a light milk diet and complete isolation from other children. As the child recovers great care must be taken against exposure to drafts, damp. etc., for colds caught during convalescence from measles are very apt to turn to bronchitis and pneumonia. It is these diseases, coming on after the measles attack proper has almost passed off, that make this ailment one of the most dangerous of childhood.

The Children’s Room. Every nursery should have furniture of the simplest design, so that it can be washed daily. The lines should be low and broad, so that the children can clamber into the chairs easily and when they fall not have far to go. A broad low window seat is a good idea, for children who play too long on the floor are apt to get cold. This should be near windows that are protected with wooden bars, so there is no possibility of falling out. It should be less than a foot high and have washable cushions. Every nursery should have a dresser for the toys. The lower drawers of such a dresser could be used for the nursery linen. Though some mothers object to flowerpots in the nursery, there is much to be said in their favor. They make a window ledge so gay that it is hard to resist them. If they are used they should be highly glazed, either in blue or white, and should hold simple springlike blossoms.

Babies’ Bonnets. x The newest bonnets for babies are made of white liberty satin. They ai j close fitting, but the satin is fulled on the crown, the band around the face being plain. Embroidered side pieces are set in, the most attractive design being tiny forgetmenot wreaths. Where the ribbon ties are set on there are rosettes of the white satin, in the center of which are tiny rosebuds. There are other bonnets also of the liberty satin which have full crowns and the satin draped over the straight piece which forms the front. These are trimmed with narrow pink or blue velvet ribbon. Embroidered batiste caps have the tiniest bouquets of pink and blue flowers set on the left side of the front