Seo. 25.] EXCERPTA OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE FOIi HOUSEWIVES. 



417 



very clieap article — upon most farms— of beef-gall to take out stains ujjoii 

 carpets, as well as many other things. 



The clarified gall of the ox i.s also nuicli u.sod by scourers for renovating 

 the delicate colored silks and satins. In its natural state it contains green- 

 ish coloring matter, and is then only applicable for restoring the brightness 

 of dark materials. It is de-colored thus: Take one pint of gall, boil and 

 skim it, tiieii divide into two parts; to one half pint add half an ounce of 

 salt, to the other add half an ounce of powdered alum ; each part is to bo 

 heated till the additions are dissolved; then \unir into se])arate bottles, and 

 allow them to stand in a (iuiet place, and clear for a month or eight weeks, 

 even longer if not bright. The clear portions of both are then to be poured 

 gently oti' the sediments and mixed together; the coloring matter coagu- 

 lates and falls, from whicli tlie tran.-parent gall is finally separated by filter- 

 ing through blotting-paper. In this state it will keep any length of time 

 with its qualities nnimi)aircd, and free fi'om odor. 



If the stain upon silk or satin is produced by an acid, such as from fruits, 

 and that upon black or dark colors, the best re-agent is liquid ammonia (strong 

 hartshorn) rubbed in till it disappears. For jilain and figured silks, of 

 delicate colors, we can not give a general nde, and therefore leave them 

 to be operated upon by the professional dttjruisseurs. To obliterate greasu 

 spots from white silk or satin, we may proceed as directed for colored ^ilks; 

 but fruit, ink, and glove marks retjuire a ditferent treatment. These nnirks 

 are generally removed by dampening the i)art with oxalic acid dissolved in 

 water ; about the eighth part of an ounce in a wine-glassful of water is strong 

 enough. The common salts of lemon in water also answer well. Collie- 

 stains, mud-splashes, etc., Mill mostly give way to the use of soap and water. 

 Curd soap should be applied for this purpose. 



For grease spots upon cloth and all kinds of woolen goods, soap and water 

 may be used without fear, i)rovided it is well wiished out afterward. Ful- 

 ler's earth or powdered French chalk, nnide into a paste with water, and 

 laid upon the part, is, however, the best application, to bo brushed out wluu 

 dry. 



Faint marks are removed with turpentine, the smell of which may be 

 quickly dissipated by hanging the article upon a lino in the air. 



Silk articles shotdd not be kept folded in white paper, as the ohiorid of 

 lime used in bleaching the paper will probuldy inqiair the color of the silk. 

 Brown or blue paper is better; the yellowish, smooth India paper is best of 

 all. Silks intended for dress should not be kept long in the house before 

 they are nnide iq", as lying in the folds will have a tendency to inqmir ira 

 durability by causing \i to cut or split, particularly if the silk has been 

 thickened by gum. Thread-lace vails are very easily cut. Articles of vel- 

 vet should not be laid by with any weight upon them. If the nap of ii ihiii 

 velvet is laid down it is not ]>os8ible to raise it up again. Man! silk should 

 never be wrinkled, because tlie thread is easily broken in the crea*«>, and it 

 never 'can be rectified. The way to take wrinkles out of silk scarlii and 



