yj pi en'!*' ^M' i**,-'<,;...-,:;k;.:-'' ■•■'y ;*-rv-.jv/^/'3;''^<,-,. ■; s^ • ^^■ ^^ -^ct-. <1^ '81 " > z 1. - '^ 7 aO' D' -"''cs^ V * ^' .v^^^,^r^2^ vOO "e-.'^ONO^'^o 1^^ ^0' ,. ^- ^ .^^' . A\ ^ n c . -^^ ■.X "' °.:, \ «, f « 9 .k e^ > vO o ^'^' <•- _ <. " /"-Wf^ ft ■>^. (^ A l"^' "^ .^ ^ '^^ •^. Vbi«^ ^ .^ \ w^^/^ -^^^^'^ ^1 ^ "^ V^ A' -'J-' X'^ '^ -v* '^^ ^ 0^ ,^' t?' ."^ ^ v'<' ■■>) ^ 'r-^ -^^ y . . ^O 0^ Household Wisdom A Collection of the Very Best and Most Helpful Hints and Practical Suggestions for the Home Price - - - 50 Cents Compiled by The Eluto Publishing Co. Washington, D. C. ^p^-i e^ Introduction "HOUSEHOLD WISDOM" A Little Book With Big Results The following practical suggestions will enable one to solve hundreds of perplexing problems that confront the would-be happy home maker, and gain information gleaned from reliable sources that will be of incalcul- able value in the care and management of the home. AUG 25 Copyrighted 1916 . by Charles G. Eluto IP Household Wisdom. ACID ON CLOTHES. If you drop acid on your clothes, the im- mediate application of ammonia will prevent damage. FOR AILING PLANTS. As an antidote for fungous diseases as well as scalicide, lime mixed with a little sulphur and stirred into the soil about plants is excellent. This should be used frequently and when the soil is rather dry. ANTS ARE KILLED BY GAS. A dime 's worth of moth balls, a nickel 's worth of sugar and a glass of water with a bottle — that's the *' secret" of the asphyxiating ''gas" of a farmer in his war on the armies of Argen- tine ants. A two-gallon bucketful of the insects, so deadly to vegetation, was the toll of the ''gas" 4 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. in the trenches on the truck farm of G. L. Ricks, near the race track, bordering on Algiers, Louisiana. Ricks estimated that there were something like forty billion ants in the bucket he exhibited. Ricks says he soaks the moth balls ten min- utes in sugared water, and places the balls in a bottle with both ends broken so the air cir- culates freely. A sweet, sickening odor comes from the bot- tle. Ricks puts a bottle to the bottom of the vines or trees and the ants are attracted hy the sugar. The odor of the moth balls and sugar makes the ''gas." Ricks says the ''gas" makes the insects in- sane and then they kill each oth^r. MEANS OF ERADICATING ANTS. From U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology. Excellent success has been had in destroying ants with the use of bisulphid of carbon applied in their nests. The method consists in pouring an ounce or two of the bisulphid into each of HOUSEHOLD AVISDOM. 5 a number of holes made in the nest with a stick, promptly closing the holes with the foot. The bisulphid penetrates through the under- ground tunnels and kills the ants in enormous numbers, and, if applied with sufficient liberal- it3^ will exterminate the whole colony. Whenever the nests of any ants can not be located, there is no other resource than the tem- porary expedient of destroying the ants wher- ever they occur in the house. The best means of effecting this end is to attract them to small bits of sponge moistened with sweetened water and placed in the situations where they are most numerous. These sponges may be collected several times daily and the ants swarming into them destroyed by immersion in hot w^ater. It is reported also that a syrup made by dissolving borax and sugar in boiling water will effect the destruction of the ants readily and in numbers. The removal of the attracting substances, wher- ever practicable, should always be the first step. Ants are attracted to houses by food materials 6 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. or scattered sugar left about by children, and the nuisance of their presence can be largely eliminated by keeping all food products in a pantry or storeroom and limiting the amount of such products as strictly as possible to daily needs. That it is possible to drive ants away from household supplies by the use of repellent sub- stances, particularly camphor, has been asserted. The use of most repellent substances in connec- tion with food supplies would be impracticable. Gum camphor has recently been the subject of a careful test by Dr. William T. AVatson, of Bal- timore, who found that while having slight repel- lent properties, it does not bring any really practical benefit. ASBESTOS PADS FOR THE TABLE. Get enough asbestos paper to cover the table with double thickness. From a couple of old sheets cut two pieces the size of the table. Baste the asbestos paper between them and quilt it on the sewing machine, using a long stitch. This HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 7 is necessary^ as the paper tears and pulls apart easily. Put this pad under the silence cloth and there will be no marks from hot dishes. No. 1.— AUTUMN LEAVES TO PRESERVE. To preserve autumn leaves and their natural colors, make a solution of paraffin in benzine, apply, and allow it to dry on the leaves. No. 2.— AUTUMN LEAVES TO PRESERVE. Dissolve two ounces of white shellac in a gal- lon of alcohol and dip the leaves in the solution, then hang them up to drain and dry. This latter is only advisable when preserving a lot of them for decorative purposes. REMOVING AXLE GREASE. Spread one tea.spoonful of butter or lard even- ly on the spot, and let it remain there until the axle grease has become thoroughly soft and greasy. Then wash out in soft, soapy water and the stain will come out, and there will be no mark left. This will be found valuable for children's delicate frocks. 8 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. BAKEPANS, SAUCEPANS, KETTLES, ETC, NEED A GOOD EXTRA BATH. Bakepans, saucepans, kettles, etc, need a good extra bath occasionally, even though the daily care is of the best. So fill your boiler with water, dissolve a pound of washing soda in it, put in the utensils, and let them merrily simmer away until they look bright and new again. REFRESHING BATHBAG. Cut a circular piece twelve inches across from loosely woven crash or Turkish toweling, hem or bind it neatly and run in drawing tapes long enough to let the bag lie flat. When ready to use, put a cake of soap, a handful of salt, or any bath mixture, as soap and almond meal or oat- meal, soap and powdered orris root, or wheat bran and salt, for a tender skin, inside the bag, draw it up and use it as a sponge. Empty it, rinse and dry after you use it. The bag saves the annoying loss of soap and prevents HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 9 any clogging of drainpipes. For a perfumed bag, make the bag of cheesecloth or swiss mus- lin, fill it with fresh rose petals or stemless vio- lets, with shreds of dry orange peel scattered through, and let it soak in the bath water from ten to fifteen minutes. TO bathp: a kitten. To bathe a kitten, wash it with tar soap ; rinse this out of her fur with a decoction of green pennaroyal leaves, or pennaroyal oil and warm water. This should rid her of fleas. TO CLEANSE ENAMELED OR PORCELAIN BATHTUBS. To cleanse enameled or porcelain bathtubs use kerosene, which is better for the surface of the enamel than gritty powders or sand soap. GETTING RID OF BEDBUGS, From U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology. That the bedbug may be destroyed in houses by fumigating with hydrocyanic- acid gas has 10 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM; been fully demonstrated during the last few years. The gas penetrates every crevice in the house or room where the bedbugs conceal them- selves and has an immediate effectiveness which gives it an important recommendation, especial- ly when the infestation is considerable or of long standing. The gas treatment for houses is de- scribed in full by Dr. L. O. Howard in Circular 46, U. S. Department of Agriculture. The old remedies, which follow, are effective enough, though at a greater cost of time and personal effort, yet will often be of service for slight infestation or where the employment of the more poisonous cyanide is objected to or is impracticable. The bedbug, on account of its habits of con- cealment, is usually beyond the reach of powders, and the ordinary insect powders, such as pyre- thrum, are of practically no avail against it. If iron or brass bedsteads are used, the eradica- tion of the insect is comparatively easy. With large wooden bedsteads, furnishing many cracks HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 11 and crevices into which the bugs can force their flat, thin bodies, extermination becomes a matter of considerable difficulty. The most practicable way to effect this end is by very liberal applica- tion of benzine or kerosene or any other of the petroleum oils. These must be introduced into all crevices with small brushes or feathers or by injecting with small sj^ringes. Corrosive sub- limate is also of value, and oil of turpentine may be used in the same way. The liberal use of hot Avater, wherever it may be employed without danger to furniture, etc., is also an effectual method of destroying both eggs and active bugs. Various bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale, most of them containing one or another of the ingredients mentioned, and these are fre- quently of value. The great desideratum, how- ever, in a case of this kind, is a daily inspection of beds and bedding and of all crevices and loca- tioiis about the premises where these vermin may have gone for concealment. .A vigorous cam- paign should, in the course of a week or so at 12 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. the outside, result in the extermination of this very obnoxious and embarrassing pest. MAKING BEDS. To make up a bed so that it will be smooth, tuck the clothes in, one piece at a time, at the sides, and complete the work all but tucking the clothes in at the foot. Now draw the clothes down, one piece at a time, as taut as possible, and tuck them in at the foot. The bed will be far neater looking than would be otherwise pos- sible. If the bed is of iron or brass, which does not permit of tucking in the coverlet, tuck in the other clothes as directed, placing the coverlet over all. A new way to make beds is as follows: Sew two short loops on one end of each covering, these loops being the distance apart of the width of the bed and equally distant from the corners of the coverings. Then take a brass rod cut just as long as the bed is wide, and cover it with a thin padding of cotton and some durable HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 13 material. This rod is run tlirough the loops of the bed coverings and tucked in at the foot of the bed. When the bed is put to air, the bedclothes may be readily thrown back without becoming separated. This device is especially adapted to children's beds, or is good to use when there is illness in the home. TO CLEAN BED SPRINGS. Take an old dish mop and dip in kerosene oil, wring it out and use in each small space of the springs. It will save your hands many a scratch, remove all dust and at the same time prevent your springs from rusting. YOUR BIRTHSTONE. Month Stone Meaning January Garnet Fidelity February Amethyst Sincerity March Bloodstone Courage April Diamond Innocence May Emerald Happiness 14 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. Meaning Health Love Conjugal bliss Wisdom Hope Friendship Prosperity Month Stone June Agate July Ruby August Sardonyx September Sapphire October Opal November Topaz December Turquoise TO BLEACH COTTON GOODS. To take all of the color out of a faded colored cotton garment, or to bleach a yellowed white garment, boil it in cream of tartar water and it will come forth a beautiful white instead of being a dingy white or useless faded color. TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS. Soak in salt and water for some hours, then wring out and rub in a fresh supply of salt and water. Next wash m the ordinary way, with soap and warm water, boil, rinse and dry in sunshine. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 15 TO CLEAN WHITE BLOUSES. Perspiration stains may be removed from white blouses without any trouble if they are soaked before washing in cold water, to A\'^hich a little carbonate of soda has been added. TO PREVENT ANY SHADE OF BLUE FROM FADING. To prevent any shade of blue from fading, soak two hours in a pail of water to which one ounce of sugar of lead has been added. Dry before washing and ironing. CLEANING BOTTLES. To clean bottles fill them with scraps of torn newspaper and a little soapsuds, shake vigor- ously till the paper is dissolved to a pulpy mass and rinse thoroughly. You will be surprised how the dirtiest bottle will become clear and shining. REMOVING LABELS PROM BOTTLES. Wet the face of the label with water and hold it for an instant over any convenient flame. 16 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. The steam formed penetrates the label at once and softens the paste. THE BOTTOM CELLAR STEP PAINTED WHITE. The bottom cellar step painted white often saves a tumble. BRAN FOR CLEANING. Pew people seem to know the value of dry bran for cleaning purposes. You may keep a wool suit or coat in the best condition for a long time by simply rubbing down with dry bran. Rub the spots harder than the rest, then brush it all off, saving the cost of sending to a cleaner. WHEN BRASS NEEDS CLEANING. When brass needs cleaning do it in this way : Put an ounce of alum into a pint of boiling water. Cool it and use. It can be bottled for future use. It does not hurt the hands and it does not hurt the brass and it will remove the stains that are so troublesome on this metal. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 17 TO CLEAN BRASS FLOWER POTS. To clean brass flower pots or trays rub them with a piece of lemon ; then pour boiling water over them, and finally polish with a soft, dry cloth. TO CLEAN BRASS THAT IS VERY DISCOLORED. To clean brass that is very discolored iiib well with lemon; then clean with metal polish. This applies especially to gas brackets that are burned. TO CLEAN BRASS LAMP BOWLS. To clean brass lamp bowls, rub them with salt and vinegar (mixed in equal proportions) and then rub with a good silver polish. TO CLEAN BRASS THAT HAS BEEN EX- POSED TO THE WEATHER. To clean brass that has been exposed to the weather, make a paste of salt and common vine- gar; rub the brass with the mixture and leave for ten minutes. Then clean in the usual way. 18 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. TO CLEAN BRASSES QUICKLY AND ECO- NOMICALLY. To clean brasses quickly and economically, rub them well with vinegar and salt or oxalic acid and salt. Wash immediately after the rub- bing and polish with tripoli and olive oil. Un- less the acid is washed from the brass at once it will tarnish more quickly and be further harmed. PRESERVING THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET. The roses of the bride's bouquet are preserved by pressing them into beads and forming a neck- lace that she can keep to pass down in the future to her children and grandchildren as an heir- loom. TO CLEAN BRONZE. Dip the bronze object into boiling water and rub with a flannel cloth dipped in a soapsuds made from yellow soap. Dry with a soft cloth, and then polish off with a chamois. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 19 TO CLEAN BRONZE ORNAMENTS. To clean bronze ornaments, first brush out the dust, then apply a very little sweet oil all over the article. Polish first with a soft duster, finally with a wash leather. TO CLEAN BRONZE STATUARY. To clean bronze statuary, or bronze ornaments in the fine lines where dust has collected, wash with weak soapsuds or aqua ammonia. TO KEEP BROOMS IN PROPER SHAPE. To keep brooms in proper shape, souse them about in the suds, after boiling the clothes on wash day, bending them into shape as you do this; then rinse, shake well and stand to dry upside dow^i. BROO]\rS TO LAST LONGER. A new broom will last longer if the strands are tied together and put into a pail of boiling water and soaked for two hours. Dry thorough- ly for two hours. 20 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. BROOMS, BRUSHES AND MOPS CAN BE HUNG UP. Screw eyes placed in the tops of handles of brooms, brushes and mops, so they may be hung on hooks in a closet, Will allow a neater arrange- in ent of cleaning utensils. BROWN LEATHER BAGS, TO POLISH. Brown leather traveling bags or any other brown leather goods can be polished by rubbing them well with the inside of a banana skin and then polishing with a soft dry cloth. TO CLEAN BRUSHES. Clean all brushes carefully, by dipping the bristles in warm water to which has been added a few drops of ammonia. Remove any bits of hair or fluff from them, finish off by dabbing bristles in clear, cold water and hang up the brushes in the air to dry. BRUSHING A ROOM. When brushing a room, sweep toward the fire- HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 21 place, otherwise the draft from the chimney draws the dust in that direction. CAMPFIRE REMNANTS. Always be sure to destroy all remnants of the eampfire and to burn rubbish of every sort. What will not burn can be buried or else neatl.y jjiled under leaves or a rock. At any rate, leave the woods and fields through which you travel in as nearly the same condition in which you found them as possible. CANDLE SHADES MADE TO SUIT THE OCCASION. You may easily make candle shades to suit the occasion. Cut out a circular foundation from white bristol board, then cover this with crepe paper. It will be smoother if stitched on the machine, rather than fastened with paste. Make a narrow ruching of crepe paper on the machine and sew at the top and bottom of the shade while flat; then fasten the ends of the shade together. For a bridal shower, cut four 22 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. hearts one inch in size at equal distances apart out of the bristol board, but not through the crepe paper. For a card party use spades, dia- monds, etc., for the cut-out design. With the numerous shades of crepe paper you can use class or club colors and have an effective shade at a small cost and A^ery little labor. CANDLES TOO BIG FOR THE HOLDER. If the candle is too big for the holder, plunge the end of it into hot water and it will accom- modate itself to the socket speedily. If the candle is too small for the candlestick, apply a match to the end, and, Avhile the grease or wax is dripping, place it in the socket. The melted grease or wax will harden and hold it firmly in place. CARPET CLEANING. For cleaning a carpet, try a mixture made by boiling half a pound of (shaved) soap in a quart of water until it is dissolved and then add to it a gallon of hot water and one ounce of salts of tartar. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM, 23 ]\Iix this cleanser thoroughly and scrub the carpet with it. using a stiff brush. It should lather freely and clean the carpet without mak- ing it very damp. Wipe each breadth (hard) with a cloth wrung out of cold water as you clean it. Where there is much green in the car- pet, put a cup of vinegar in the cold water into which 3^ou dip your wiping cloth. This is an old and reliable method and this quantity of cleanser is sufficient to clean a large carpet. TO BRIGHTEN SHABBY CARPET. Cut an ounce of yellow soap into small squares and make into a lather with a pint of boiling water. Add to this a quart of water and one ounce of borax and bring to a boil. When quite cold add an ounce each of alcohol and ammonia and half an ounce of glycerin. Wipe over a small portion of carpet at a time with this mix- ture, rubbing vigorously with a clean flannel which should be turned as it ffets soiled. 24 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. TO REMOVE GREASE SPQTS FROM CARPETS. To remove grease spots from carpets, rub on each spot a mixture of Fuller's earth, oxgall and water; then rinse this out with clear water, and rub as dry as possible witli a dry cloth. WHEN GREASE OR OIL IS SPILLED ON THE CARPET. When grease or oil is spilled on the carpet, spread fine meal over the spot ; it will absorb the grease. CARPET OR RUG, TO SWEEP. Before sweeping the carpet or rug, scatter small bits of newspaper dampened in water, to which a spoonful of borax and one of ammonia have been added. This will not only greatly lessen the dust, but will brighten and disinfect your carpet. TO CLEAN A CARPET SWEEPER. A very coarse scrubbing brush will be found the best thing for removing the threads, hairs, HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 25 etc., which are so hard to get out of the brushes of a carpet sweeper. CAYENNE PEPPER, ENEMY OF MICE. Cayenne pepper is excellent to rid cupboards of mice. The floor should be gone over carefully and each hole stopped up with a rag dipped in water and then in cayenne pepper. HOMEMADE CEMENT. There are many good prepared cements on the market, but there are equally good homemade ones. The cement, however, is not everything. One must know how to go about mending. JMost women know the edges to be joined must be clean, and so they often rub so hard as to remove the roughened surfaces. This lessens the chance of a successful repair, because the cement can not sink into the smooth edges as it would Avere they irregular and all in little crevices, as it were. Next, the edges must be thoroughly dry before the cement is applied. It is a good plan when there are several pieces to be jointed to 26 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. inend one at a time and let each get thoronglily dry and hardened before applying the next. To mend, first heat the edges and then apply the cement to both. Bring together and hold until it begins to harden, pressing firml3\ Then the article may be put away. An excellent cement for mending glass and china ware is simple and inexpensive. Isin- glass dissolved in its own weight of whisky, gin or alcohol applied as directed will hold and the joint be scarcely visible. One of the finest and most delicate of cements made is a mixture of one ounce of isinglass and one-half ounce of gum arable covered with a good alcohol. This should be put into a bottle, loosely corked and set into a kettle of hot water until thoroughly dissolved. This cement can be used for mending the finest woods, as a piano chipped, or to set pieces that may have broken loose from an inset table top or other piece of furnitvire. Jewelrj^ is also sometimes repaired with this cement, and so is polished steel. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 27 Another simple homemade cement calls for materials always on hand in the house. It is just the white of an egg mixed into a paste with flour. This is good for common earthenware. If iron filings are added to the mixture a cement for mending broken parts of iron is the result. A good cement which w^ill hold labels to metal is made by dissolving one part of borax to five of gum shellac in one quart of boiling w^ater. Boil until the whole is clear. Before applying wash the metal in hot water containing common washing soda and warm the cement before using it on the labels. Those who have been unsuccessful in finding a cement that will fix paper to metal should try this formula. CLEANING CHAMOIS SKINS. To clean chamois skins soak them in a w^eak solution of washing soda, then in weak soap- suds for a few hours. Rinse thoroughly in water and dry. 28 HOUSEHOLD AVISDOM. CHIGGER AND A WEAPON TO COMBAT HIM. The chigger is the "gooseberr^^ bug" in Eng- land, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and under other names he carries on his butcher trade in all the countries of Europe. He lives also in the West Indies, throughout Central and South America and in the orient. " There is one thing which the chigger will not endure. It is sulphur. Here is the hint for mankind. It is man's ally or weapon against the cruel and insidioiLS mite of a chigger. Give him suphur and he will perish. One need not bother about furnishing him with brimstone. Just hand him sulphur. If you will dust a little flower of sulphur into your shoes, you can go unafraid and unharmed among millions of these dreadful creatures. And remember also, that if after picnicking in the woods or fields you will take a wash after getting home, you may drown the chigger before he has had time to intrench. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 29 TOUGHENING CHIMNEYS. Wash your lamp chimneys in soapsuds as hot as you can bear your hands in ; then stand them up and slowly pour boiling water over them. You will scarcely have to polish them at all, and the boiling water toughens the glass. CHINA BRIC-A-BRAC, DUSTING. Before wetting any species of china bric-a- brac carefully remove the dust. CARE OF CLOCKS. Get into the habit of winding your clocks reg- ularly. Probably in the houses where a man comes once a week to wind the clocks at a certain time they go with nnich more regularity than in other house.s. But anybody can get into the habit of winding a clock at a regular time every week. So, before you expect your clocks to keep good time, learn to wind them regularly. . CLOCKS, TO CLEAN. Often clocks stop going just because they need cleansing, and the offices of a clock repairer are 30 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. not needed to clean them, either. A bit of ab- sorbent cotton soaked in kerosene placed under the clock will usually effect a thorough cleaning. The cloth or cotton after a few days will be found black with dust and dirt, which the kero- sene has freed and collected. CLOCKS WITH LUMINOUS HANDS. One of the clocks with luminous hands is a convenience, especially to an invalid or anybody else who is awake in the night a great deal. Another sort of clock that is good in the dark is one with a little electric bulb attached, which can be pushed on to show the time. CLOCKS FOR TRAVELING. The woman who travels about nuich will find a small traveling clock, in a substantial case, well worth while, for this sort of clock is especially, made to stand the jolts and jars of traveling. There are little leather cases for watches, that make of the watches admirable traveling clocks. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 31 and simplify the number of things the traveler must carry. FOR A CLOSETLESS BEDROOM. When one has a bedroom without a clothes closet a very satisfactory substitute may be made with two shelves the same size— about twelve inches wide and as long as desired. One should be placed just at the top of the baseboard, the other about fifty inches above it. A narrow board to hold the hooks should be fastened to the lower side of the upper shelf where it comes against the w^all, also making the hooks more secure. Hooks made to hang from the ceiling can also be screwed to the under side of this shelf, utilizing all the space. It should be fin- ished with two curtains, which meet in the cen- ter and slide on a rod both top and bottom. When the curtain must continue around the end of the shelves that part can be tacked fast, as there is no need to open it there. If desired, a third shelf may be placed about a foot above the upper one and finished with a short curtain. 32 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. This makes a good place to keep hats, etc., while the lower shelf makes a convenient place for shoes. TO PRESERVE CLOTHESPINS AND CLOTHESLINES. To preserve clothespins and cloth aslines and keep them flexible and durable, boil them a few minutes and then dry them quickly. This should be done twice a month. TO EXTERMINATE COCKROACHES. From U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology. Roaches often seem to display a knowledge of the presence of poisons in food, and, notwith- standing their practically omnivorous habits, a very little arsenic in baits seems to be readily detected by them. One of the most effective simple means of rid-, ding premises of roaches is dusting with com- mercial sodium fluorid, either pure or diluted one-half with some inert substance such as pow- dered gypsum or flour. With the use of some dust gun or blower the sodium fluorid can be HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 33 thoroughly dusted over the shelves, tables, floors, and the runways and hiding places of the roaches. The immediate effect is to cause these insects to come out of their retreats and rush about more or less blindly, showing evi- dence of discomfort, to be eventually followed in the course of a few hours by their death. These dead or paralyzed roaches can be swept up and burned, and complete extermination is effected within 24 hours. COCKROACHES, TO TRAP. A simple and practical method of trapping roaches in large numbers was devised by a cor- respondent in Brockton, Mass. He took several tin bread pans with nearly vertical sides about 8 inches in height, greased the bottoms and sides with a little rancid butter, and placed them where the roaches were numerous. Each pan in the morning cantained hundreds of the pests unable to climb out because of the greased sides. The roaches were shaken out into hot water, and 34 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. the pans were again ready for nse, without re- greasing. COFFEE AND FRUIT STAINS. Spread the stained surface over a bowl or tub. Pour boiling water through it from a height, so as to strike the stained part with force. COFFEE STAINS ON CUPS AND SAUCERS. ■ You can remove coffee stains from cups and saucers if you rub hard with baking soda and a damp cloth. TO MAKE A COLD BOX. Where it is not possible to have a refrigerator, this box will be found to be a great convenience. Get a good strong box, without any cracks or crevices, the size you need, and pack tightly with layers of newspapers for four or five inches all around the sides and at the bottom, then fit asbestos paper tightly around this packing. Make the packing as tight as a drum, so that no air can get in. Place cold food in large stone jars and pack HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 35 them side by side in the box. They should touch each other. Have good stoneware covers, and place a pail of ice water or very cold water in the box. Put several inches of layers of news- papers on top, then on top of all this place a very tight cover. Keep the box in the coolest place possible. Ice cream \W11 keep for hours when packed in ice and salt and placed in such a box. Any food which does not require to be stirred, but only frozen, may be put in and kept cool until needed. The same with all cold drinks which on a hot day get warm so quickly. The box will keep milk from souring, butter from melting and ice water from getting warm. To keep let- tuce and all other green things deliciously fresh, first wet with cold water, shake off as much as possible, then seal in glass jars and place in the box. Another good substitute for an ice box is made from a box three or four feet square, filled four or five inches deep with clean, coarse salt. 3G HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. Keep the salt well dampened, and put the food, milk and butter in this homemade refrigerator. Butter may be kept cool in this way : Put it on a dish which has been placed in a shallow vessel of cold water and cover with an inverted new earthenware crock or a flower pot. The pot should rest in the water. Place in a cool spot. RESTORING COLORS TO COTTON. Where colors have been faded by acids, am- monia will restore them. FABRICS COLORED WITH ANILINE DYES THAT HAVE FADED. Fabrics colored with aniline dyes that have faded may be restored by sponging Avith chloro- form. TO LENGTHEN THE LIFE OF A COMB. To lengthen the life of a comb, wash it in soapy w^ater before using it. and when it is dry rub it with a little olive oil. HOUSEHOLD WISDOI\I. 37 COOKING UTENSILS, TO CLEAN. Kettles which have been burned black, as they will be sometimes, are restored by pumice stone to their pristine smoothness and polish. A piece of pumice stone lasts a very long time, and no chain dishcloth can ever approach it. No one who ever tries it will be without it. COPPER CAN EASILY BE CLEANED. Copper can easily be cleaned by rubbing with a cut lemon dipped in table salt, then rinsing with clear water and polishing with a soft, dry cloth. COPPER COOKING VESSELS, TO CLEAN. Copper cooking vessels of all sorts, brass and- irons, candlesticks and trays are best cleaned with vinegar and salt. CORKS IN THE HOUSE. Every housekeeper needs a box of assorted corks, such as are supplied by housefurnishing 38 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. departments. It 's a very orderly house that can supply a cork of required size without more or less prolonged search and preparation, unless there is such a box at hand. Another useful addition to the kitchen is the glass cover that is supplied with grooves which fit it to any size dish. This puts the makeshift sauce plate and saucer, with their inconvenient edges, back into their ligitimate place. CORKS THAT ARE TOO LARGE. If you have a small bottle which no cork will fit, try boiling any cork which is handy five min- utes, and when it is soft it can be molded to fit any bottle. CORKS MAY BE ]\rADE AIRTIGHT. Corks may be made airtight and watertight by keeping them immersed in oil for five min- utes. CORKS A SUBSTITUTE FOR GLASS STOPPERS. Corks steeped in vaseline are excellent sub- HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 39 stitutes for glass stoppers. Acids can not affect them and chemical fnmes do not eat them. CORKS FOR SCOURING KITCHEN KNIVES. Cork stoppers do the Avork of scouring kitchen knives far better than a rag, and are cleaner to have around. TO CLEAN CORRODED WATER PITCHERS. By rubbing potato juice on the water pitcher which has become corroded from letting water stand in it the stains will immediately disap]3ear. COTTON FILLING THAT IS DAMP. A young woman who was making some sofa cushions and comforts found that the cotton filling that she was using had become slightly damp. This made it difficult to thrust the nee- dle through in tying the comfort, so she placed the cotton in the oven to dry and become slight- ly browned. As a result it became very light and fluffv and held its fluffiness. Treated this 40 HOUSEHOLD WISDO^L way it holds its resilience, and does not mat and pack down. WHEN MAKING COTTON FLANNEL BROOM BAGS. When making cotton flannel broom bags, make them four or five inches longer than is really necessary. Then, as the bottom wears out, run a new seam across the bottom, making practically a new bag with a single sewing. CRACKED WALLS. When a plaster wall or ceiling is so badly eradked that it will not do to paint or even paper the surface, cover it with strong muslin or light canvas. Use a strong paste made of flour in the ordinary way with a little glue added to give it stronger holding qualities. Press out any air bubbles that may occur and make the surface quite smooth. Either water or oil colors, as well as paper, may be applied to this surface, and it will make a very smooth and a sure job. HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 41 USES OF CREPE PAPER. A table center of green or pink crepe paper is dainty and pretty at night. It should be laid in a strip down the center, the edges ruffled by being drawn between the thumb and fmger and puffed at intervals. Lamps or candles should be shaded with the same color as the centerpiece. Very effective lamp decorations are made by artificial flowers composed of crepe paper, as the texture of crepe paper lends itself admirably to the formation of petals and leaves. Tiger lilies and similar flowers which have sta- mens should have fine wire gummed over with thin slips of the paper inserted between the petals, in order to perfect the illusion. The stem of each flower should be tightly covered with green paper in order to avoid the appear- ance of fullness. Flower pots are effectively brightened by hav- ing ruffled or pleated 'crepe paper pinned or tied round, with a band of ribbon to match or contrast. 42 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. A summer use for crepe paper is as a lining for a fire screen. It is quite as effective as silk. CROCHETING HINT. A bill file with its point protected with a cork is a useful little object to hold a spool of carpet warp for crocheting. KEEP THE CRUETS CLEAN. Everybody knows how difficult it is to clean, cruets and decanters that become discolored and stained. This is a good way to clean them. Roll up in small pieces some soft brown or blot- ting paper ; w^et them and soap them well. Put them into the decanters about one-ciuarter full of warm Avater ; shake them well for a few moments, then rinse with clear, cold water ; wipe the outside Avith a nice dry cloth, put the de- canters to drain, and when dry they will be almost as bright as new ones. CUFF PROTECTOR. Take paper napkins and fold each diagonally. Fold one of these napkins about either cuff, and HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. 43 fasten them with cuff pins. They are soft and pliable and will stay in place beautifully. CUSHION FOR TRAVELINa. Every woman who has spent long days on a train knoms that therfe is a spot in her back that is never comfortable. If she is wise, she will take with her next time a little round pillow two feet long, and twenty inches in circumfer- ence. The ticking should be well filled with feathers, so that the cushion will be firm rather than squashy, and the cover be dark colored. It tucks easily under the arm in going from one train to another. DECORATE CANDLES. Plain white wax candles may be decorated prettil}'- with various figures cut from colored prints. If these are heated at the fire on the wrong side they will stick nicely to the wax. DINING ROOM FURNITURE. In the dining room good, strong furniture is cheapest in the end, since the chairs and the 44 HOUSEHOLD WISDOM. table must always expect to put up with a cer- tain amount of wear and tear. DISH MOPS CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Handled dish mops bought for 5 cents may be used for purposes other than dish washing. ITse one for dusting chair rounds, table legs and earners ; another for cleaning the top of a hot kitchen stove, and a smaller size for washing lamp chimneys. DISH WASHING SUGGESTIONS. Here is a dish-washing suggestion. Take a tin can the size of a tomato can. Hammer down the rough edges where the can has been opened. Punch holes in the other end with a tenpenny nail. Use this as a ''catch-all" for all the odd bits of soap which are alwaj^s left when the bar is nearly used up. Keep this convenient on the sink shelf, and if the paper-scraping process of cleaning the dishes of food is observed the hot water poured through this will be f