Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1884 — SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE. [ARTICLE]

SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE.

It is said that in families which roast their own coffee, diphtheria cannot get a foothold, os the pnngent aroma of the roasting coffee effectually destroys the gefms of the disease. Oil taken from the common woodchuck or “ground-hog” is highly recommended for leather. Boots, harness, or leather articles saturated with it become soft and pliable, vet it does not, it is claimed, open the pores of the leather, but effectually excludes dampness. A bed-boo si in which there is a stove can be well ventilated by putting a burning lamp just within the stove, with the stove door open, letting if burn through the night. This can be nsed in summer when no fire is kept in the stove. The burning lamp causes a draft, and that draft takes out the foul air. Delicious oatmeal gruel may be mabe by stirring a cupful of oatmeal into a bowl of water, allowing it to stand a few nrinhtes until tho coarsest particles have fallen to the bottom, pouring u off the water and repeating the operation once or twice. The water should then be boiled, stirring it constantly until it it sufficiently cooked. A writer in the Germantown Telegraph says that a convenient place for boots and shoes, which are sure to be in the wav, can easily be made by procuring a shoe or boot box (or both if yonr family is large), at any shoe store. Pnt hinges on to hold the lid. Drive nails near the top on the back of the inside, to hang the slipjiers upon, and it is ready for use. If painted or cushioned and curtained it looks well and will answer for a seat if necessary. A mixture which is excellent for removing 'grease spots and stains from carpet and clothing is made of two ounces of ammonia, two-onnees of white castile soap, one ounce of glycerine, one ounce of ether ; cut the soap fine, dissolve in ©ne pint of water over the fire; add two quarts of water. Mix thoroughly, and wash soiled garments in.it. For removing spots use a sponge or clean flannnl cloth, and with a dry cloth rub as dry as possible. Woolen goods may be made to look bright and fresh by being sponged with this. A simple and inexpensive method of cleaning the waste-pipe of washstands, bath-tubs, or kitchen sinks, the stoppage of which often entails great expense, is to be as follows: Just before retiring at night pour into the pipe enough liquid potash lye of thirty-six degrees strength to fill the "trap,” as it is called, or bent portion of the pipe just below Ihe outlet. About a pint wdl suffice for a washstand, or a quart for a bath-tub or a kitchen sink. Be sure that no water runs into it till next morning. During the night the lye jrill convert all the offal in the pipe into soft soap, and the first current of water in the morning will remove it entirely, and leave the pipe as clean as new. The so-called potash lye is not recommended for this purpose. The lye should be kept in heavy glass bottles or demijohns, covered with wicker wire, and plainly labeled; always under lock when not in actual use. Toilet set. —Take a piece of brown Holland and trace a design of daisies and leaves. Work the latter and stems, with dark-green crewels. For the daisies, thin white Swiss muslin is used. Cut it in strips an inch wide. Take one strip and one end and with a piercer make a tiny hole in the point of the traced petal; ptess the end of the gathered muslin through this, and fasten it securely on the wrong side. Proceed in this manner until all of the petals are covered. Work the stamens with yellow crewel in French knot stitch. This done by bringing the threaded needle up through the center of the flower; bold the thread down with the thumb of the left hand, and with the needle in the right hand place it nnder the thread once or twice, according to the size of the knot desired, then without removing the thumb, place the point of the needle in the same place it was brought through, draw it out slowly and, when the knots are firm, secure on the wrong side. Finish the edges with rick-rack edging or with antique lace. The several mats and pin-cushion co^“r are made in the same way.