MUDDLE AT HOME MAKES THE HUSBAND ROAM. 320. A little Charcoal mixed with clear water thrown into a sink will disinfect and deodorize it. 321. Where a Chimney Smokes only when a fire is first lighted, it may be guarded against by allowing the fire to kindle gradually. 322. Ground Glass.-The frosted appearance of ground glass may be very nearly imitated by gently dabbing the glass over with a piece of glazier's putty, stuck on the ends of the fingers. When applied with a light and even touch, the resemblance is considerable. 323. Family Clocks ought only to be oiled with the very purest oil, purified by a quart of lime water to a gallon of oil, in which it has been well shaken, and suffered to stand for three or four days, when it may be drawn off. 324. Neat Mode of Soldering. -Cut out a piece of tinfoil the size of the surfaces to be soldered. Then dip a feather in a solution of sal ammoniac, and wet over the surfaces of the metal, then place them in their proper position with the tinfoil between. Put it so arranged on a piece of iron hot enough to melt the foil. When cold the surfaces will be found firmly soldered together. 325. Maps and Charts.-Maps, charts, or engravings may be effectually varnished by brushing a very delicate coating of gutta percha solution over their surface. It is perfectly transparent, and is said to improve the appearance of pictures. By coating both sides of important documents they can be kept waterproof and preserved perfectly. 326. Furniture made in the winter, and brought from a cold warehouse into a warm apartment, is very liable to crack. 85 ounces; nitre, one drachm and a half; mucilage of tragacanth, sufficient quantity. Reduce the substances to 8 powder, and form into a paste with the mucilage, and divide into small cones; then put them into an oven until quite dry. 329. Easy Method of Breaking Glass to any required Figure.-Make a small notch by means of a file on the edge of a piece of glass, then make the end of a tobacco-pipe, or of a rod of iron of the same size, red hot in the fire, apply the hot iron to the notch, and draw it slowly along the surface of the glass in any direction you please; a crack will follow the direction of the iron. 330. Bottling and Fining.— Corks should be sound, clean, and sweet. Beer and porter should be allowed to stand in the bottles a day or two before being corked. If for speedy use, wiring is not necessary. Laying the bottles on their sides will assist the ripening for use. Those that are to be kept should be wired, and put to stand upright in sawdust. Wines should be bottled in spring. If not fine enough, draw off a jugful and dissolve isinglass in it, in the proportion of half an ounce to ten gallons, and then pour back through the bung-hole. Let it stand a few weeks longer. Tap the cask above the lees. When the isinglass is put into the cask, stir it round with a stick, taking great care not to touch the lees at the bottom. For white wine only, mix with the isinglass a quarter of a pint of milk to each gallon of wine, some whites of eggs, beaten with some of the wine. One white of an egg to four gallons makes a good fining. 331. To Sweeten Casks.-Mix half a pint of vitriol with a quart of water, pour it into the barrel, and roll it about; next day add one pound of chalk, and roll again. Bung down for three or four days, then rinse well with hot water. 332. Oil Paintings hung over the mantel-piece are liable to wrinkle with the heat. 338. Mending.-When you make a new article always save the pieces until "mending day," which may come sooner than expected. It will be well even to buy a little extra quantity for 333. To Lousen Glass Stop-ing, as to have their regular turn and pers of Bottles. With a feather rub term in domestic use. a drop or two of salad oil round the stopper, close to the mouth of the bottle or lecanter, which must then be placed before the fire, at the distance of about eighteen inches; the heat will cause the oil to insinuate itself between the stop-repairs. Read over repeatedly the "Doper and the neck. When the bottle or decanter has grown warm, gently strike the stopper on one side, and then on the other, with any light wooden instrument; then try it with the hand: if it will not yet move, place it again before the fire, adding another drop of oil. After a while strike again as before; and, by persevering in this process, however tightly it may be fastened in, you will at length succeed in loosening it. This is decidedly the best plan. 334. Lamp Wicks.-Old cotton stockings may be made into lamp wicks, and will answer very well. 335. The Best Lamp Oil is that which is clear and nearly colourless, like water. 336. China Teapots are the safest, and, in many respects, the most pleasant. Wedgwood ware is very apt, after a time, to acquire a disagreeable taste. MESTIC HINTS" at page 239. These numerous paragraphs contain most valuable suggestions, that will be constantly useful if well remembered. They should be read frequently that their full value may be secured. Let your domestics also read them, for nothing more conduces to good housekeeping than for the servant to understand the "system" which her mistress approves of. 339. Cleansing of Furniture. -The cleaning of furniture forms an important part of domestic economy, not only in regard to neatness, but also in point of expense. 340. THE READIEST MODE indeed consists in good manual rubbing, or the essence of elbows, as it is whimsically termed; but our finest cabinet work requires something more, where brilliancy of polish is of importance. 341. THE ITALIAN CABINET-WORK in this respect excels that of any other country. The workmen first saturate the surface with olive oil, and then apply a solution of gum arabic in boiling alcohol. This mode of varnishing is equally brilliant, if not superior, to that employed by the French in their most elaborate works. 337. Care of Linen. When linen is well dried and laid by for use, nothing more is necessary than to secure it from damp and insects; the latter may be agreeably performed by a judicious mixture of aromatic shrubs and flowers, cut up and sewed in silken bags, to be 342. BUT ANOTHER MODE may be interspersed among the drawers and substituted, which has less the appearshelves. These ingredients may conance of a hard varnish, and may always sist of lavender, thyme, roses, cedar be applied so as to restore the pristine shavings, powdered sassafras, cassia lig- beauty of the furniture by a little nea, &c., into which a few drops of otto manual labour. Heat a gallon of water, of roses, or other strong-scented per- in which dissolve one pound and a half fume, may be thrown. In all cases it of potash: add a pound of virgin wax, will be found more consistent with eco- boiling the whole for half an hour, then nomy to examine and repair all washable suffer it to cool, when the wax will articles, more especially linen, that may float on the surface. Put the wax into stand in need of it, previous to sending a mortar, and triturate it with a marble them to the laundry. It will also be pestle, adding soft water to it until it prudent to have every article carefully forms a soft paste, which, laid neatly on numbered, and so arranged, after wash-furniture, or even on paintings, and care WHEN THE HAND IS CLEAN IT NEEDS NO SCREEN. fully rubbed when dry with a woollen rag, gives a polish of great brilliancy, without the harshness of the drier var nishes. 343. MARBLE CHIMNEY-PIECES may also be rubbed with it, after cleaning with diluted muriatic acid, or warm soap and vinegar; but the iron or brass work connected with them requires other processes. 87 A dog's-eared carpet marks the sloven as well as the dog's-eared book. An English gentleman, travelling some years ago in Ireland, took a hammer and tacks with him, because he found dog's-eared carpets at all the inns where he rested. At one of these inns he tacked down the carpet, which, as usual, was loose near the door, and soon afterwards rang for his dinner. While the 344. POLISHED IRON WORK may be carpet was loose the door could not be preserved from rust by a mixture not opened without a hard push; so when very expensive, consisting of copal var- the waiter came up, he just unlatched nish intimately mixed with as much the door, and then going back a couple olive oil as will give it a degree of of yards, he rushed against it, as his greasiness, adding thereto nearly as habit was, with a sudden spring, to force much spirit of turpentine as of varnish. it open. But the wrinkles of the carpet 345. CAST IRON WORK is best pre-were no longer there to stop it, and not served by the common method of rub-meeting with the expected resistance, bing with black lead. 346. IF RUST HAS MADE ITS APPEARANCE on grates or fire-irons, apply a mixture of tripoli, with half its quantity of sulphur, intimately mingled on a marble slab, and laid on with a piece of soft leather. Or emery and oil may be applied with excellent effect; not laid on in the usual slovenly way, but with a spongy piece of the fig-tree fully saturated with the mixture. This will not only clean but polish, and render the use of whiting unnecessary. 347. BRASS ORNAMENTS, when not gilt or lackered, may be cleaned the same way, and a fine colour given to them, by two simple processes. 348. The FIRST is to beat sal ammoniac into a fine powder, then to moisten it with soft water, rubbing it on the ornaments, which must be heated over charcoal, and rubbed dry with bran and whiting. 349. The SECOND is to wash the brass work with roche alum boiled in strong ley, in proportion of an ounce to a pint; when dry, it must be rubbed with fine tripoli. Either of these processes will give to brass the brilliancy of gold. a 350. Carpets.-If the corner of carpet becomes loose and prevents the door opening, or trips every one up that enters the room, nail it down at once. the unfortunate waiter fell full length into the room. It had never entered his head that so much trouble might be saved by means of a hammer and half a dozen tacks, until his fall taught him that makeshift is a very unprofitable kind of shift. There are a good many houses in England where a similar practical lesson might be of service. 351. Cleaning Carpets.-Tako a pail of cold water, and add to it three gills of ox-gall. Rub it into the carpet with a soft brush. It will raise a lather, which must be washed off with clear cold water. Rub dry with a clean cloth. In nailing down a carpet after the floor has been washed, be certain that the floor is quite dry, or the nails will rust and injure the carpet. Fuller's earth is used for cleaning carpets, and weak solutions of alum or soda are used for reviving the colours. The crumb of a hot wheaten loaf rubbed over a carpet has been found effective. 352. Beat a Carpet on the wrong side first; and then more gently on the right side. Beware of using sticks with sharp points, which may tear the carpet. 353. Sweeping Carpets.-Persons who are accustomed to use tea leaves for sweeping their carpets, and find that they leave stains, will do well to employ fresh cut grass instead. It is better than tea-leaves for preventing 88 A WAITING APPETITE KINDLES MANY A SPITE. dust, and gives the carpets a very bright, fresh look. 354. A Half-worn Carpet may be made to last longer by ripping it apart, and transposing the breadths. 355. A Stair Carpet should never be swept down with a long broom, but always with a short-handled brush, and a dust-pan held closely under each step of the stairs. 356. Oil-Cloth should never be scrubbed with a brush, but, after being first swept, it should be cleansed by washing with a large soft cloth and lukewarm or cold water. On no account use soap or hot water, as either will bring off the paint. 357. Straw Matting may be cleaned with a large coarse cloth dipped in salt and water, and then wiped dry: the salt prevents the matting from turning yellow. 358. Method of Cleaning Paper-Hangings.-Cut into eight half quarters a quartern loaf, two days old; it must neither be newer nor staler. With one of these pieces, after having blown off all the dust from the paper to be cleaned, by the means of a good pair of bellows, begin at the top of the room, holding the crust in the hand, and wiping lightly downward with the crumb, about half a yard at each stroke, till the upper part of the hangings is completely cleaned all round. Then go round again, with the like sweeping stroke downwards, always commencing each successive course a little higher than the upper stroke had extended, till the bottom be finished. This operation, if carefully performed, will frequently make very old paper look almost equal to new. Great caution must be used not by any means to rub the paper hard, nor to attempt cleaning it the cross or horizontal way. The dirty part of the bread, too, must be each time cut away, and the pieces renewed as soon as it may become neces 360. Ottomans and Sofas, whether covered with cloth, damask, or chintz, will look much the better for being cleaned occasionally with bran and flannel. 361. Dining Tables may be polished by rubbing them for some time with a soft cloth and a little cold-drawn linseed oil. 362. A Mahogany Frame should be first well dusted, and then cleaned with a flannel dipped in sweet oil. 363. To Clean Cane-bottom Chairs.-Turn up the chair bottom, &c., and with hot water and a sponge wash the canework well, so that it may become completely soaked. Should it be very dirty you must add soap. Let it dry in the open air, if possible, or in a place where there is a thorough draught, and it will become as tight and firm as when new, provided it has not been broken. 364. Alabaster.-For cleaning it there is nothing better than soap and water. Stains may be removed by washing with soap and water, then whitewashing the stained part, letting it stand some hours, then washing off the whitewash, and rubbing the stained part. 365. To Clean Marble.-Take two parts of common soda, one part of pumice stone, and one part of finely powdered chalk; sift it through a fine sieve, and mix it with water; then rub it well all over the marble, and the stains will be removed; then wash the marble over with soap and water, and it will be as clean as it was at first. 366. Glass should be washed in cold water, which gives it a brighter and clearer look than when cleansed with warm water. 367. Glass Vessels, and other utensils, may be purified and cleaned by rinsing them out with powdered charcoal. 368. Bottles.-There is no easier method of cleaning glass bottles than putting into them fine coals, and well shaking, either with water or not, hot SOME HOURS WE SHOULD FIND FOR THE PLEASURES OF THE MIND. 89 or cold, according to the substance that fouls the bottle. Charcoal left in a bottle or jar for a little time will take away disagreeable smells. 369. Cleaning Japanned Waiters, Urns, &c.-Rub on with a sponge a little white soap and some lukewarm water, and wash the waiter or urn quite clean. Never use hot water, as it will cause the japan to scale off. Having wiped it dry, sprinkle a little flour over it; let it rest a while, and then rub it with a soft dry cloth, and finish with a silk handkerchief. If there are white heat marks on the waiters, they will be difficult to remove; but you may try rubbing them with a flannel dipped in sweet oil, and afterwards in spirits of wine. Waiters and other articles of papier mache should be washed with a sponge and cold water, without soap, dredged with flour while damp, and after a while wiped off, and then polished with a silk handkerchief. 370. Papier Mache articles should be washed with a sponge and cold water, without soap, dredged with flour while damp, and polished with a flannel. 371. Brunswick Black for Varnishing Grates. -Melt four pounds of common asphaltum, and add two pints of linseed oil, and one gallon of oil of turpentine. This is usually put up in stoneware bottles for sale, and is used with a paint brush. If too thick, more turpentine may be added. Cost: asphalte, 1s. per pound; linseed, d. per pint; turpentine, 8d. per pint. 372. Blacking for Stoves may be made with half a pound of black lead finely powdered, and (to make it stick) mix with it the whites of three eggs well beaten; then dilute it with sour beer or porter till it becomes as thin as shoe-blacking; after stirring it, set it over hot coals to simmer for twenty minutes; when cold it may be kept for use. 373. To Clean Knives and Forks. Wash the blades in warm (but not hot) water, and afterwards rub them lightly over with powdered rottenstone wet to a paste with a little cold water, then polish them with a clean cloth. 374. Where Painted Wainscot or other woodwork requires cleaning, fuller's earth will be found cheap and useful; and on wood not painted it forms an excellent substitute for soap. 375. Boards, to Scour.-Lime, one part; sand, three parts; soft soap, two parts. Lay a little on the boards with the scrubbing brush, and rub thoroughly. Rinse with clean water, and rub dry. This will keep the boards of a good colour, and will also keep away vermin. 376. Charcoal.-All sorts of glass vessels and other utensils may be purified from long retained smells of every kind, in the easiest and most perfect manner, by rinsing them out well with charcoal powder, after the grosser impurities have been scoured off with sand and potash. Rubbing the teeth and washing out the mouth with fine charcoal powder, will render the teeth beautifully white, and the breath perfectly sweet, where an offensive breath has been owing to a scorbutic disposition of the gums. Putrid water is immediately deprived of its bad smell by charcoal. When meat, fish, &c., from intense heat, or long keeping, are likely to pass into a state of corruption, a simple and pure mode of keeping them sound and healthful is by putting a few pieces of charcoal, each about the size of an egg, into the pot or saucepan wherein the fish or flesh is to be boiled. Among others, an experiment of this kind was tried upon a turbot, which appeared to be too far gone to be eatable; the cook, as advised, put three or four pieces of charcoal, each the size of an egg, under the strainer, in the fish kettle; after boiling the proper time, the turbot came to the table sweet and firm. 377. To Take out Stains from Mahogany Furniture.-Stains and spots may be taken out of mahogany furniture with a little aquafortis or |