36 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



December, 



th. 



"^e Household 



Where do the Children Sleep? 



A friend noteil tor her good common sense, 

 tells about having been approached b)- an 

 anxious mother, concerning the iU-health of a 

 daughter of seventeen, when she in return asked 

 to see her sleeping room. The mother was sure 

 nothing could be w]-oug here, for servants had 

 attended it daily, to see that it was warm, and 

 that no dampness could enter. 



The room reached, it reminded the visitor of 

 the Catacombs: not a ray of simshine l)eing 

 ever admitted—' ' I^ight hurts Sarah's eyes " was 

 the excuse. The most noticeable thing in it was 

 a close, musty smell. When asked whether it 

 wasever aired, the answer was: only on sweep- 

 ing day. Ventilation at night being suggested 

 to allow the carbon exhaled by breathing to ^ 

 give way to pure air, the mother replied that 

 such a course would kill the girl, as she never 

 could bear tb-aughts and damp ail-. Our friend 

 gave the mother such wholesome advice, as we 

 are sure will prove a gi-eat benefit to that girl's 

 health, if it is heeded. 



This incident shows, what we have long no- 

 ticed with pain, that many parents are careless 

 as to the sleeping place of children and young 

 people. No doubt the same are careless of their 

 own sleeping rooms also, but bad effects from 

 such causes, tell less liard against the old, than 

 against the young. 



Dm-ing the whole period of growth in a child, 

 the constructive operations of the body ai-e 

 very active in sleep. This fact demands, that 

 if children are to lie healthy, the conditions that 

 surround them at night must be conducive to 

 tliis. It is of the gi-eatest importance that plen- 

 ty of fresh air be admitted at some of, if not 

 all, the tmie of the twenty-tom- hours. The 

 window or windows of the room, should be 

 throwii wide open soon after the hour of rising ; 

 the bedding be well exposed to the air; so to 

 remain for some hours at least. The children 

 may be taught to thi-ow back the cover them- 

 selves, when they get up. In all but the sever- 

 est weather, the year around, air should be ad- 

 mitted at niglit. 



A common and most grievous mistake, is to 

 have chilch-en sleep with aged persons. A sti-aw 

 pallet on the floor would be fai- better. During 

 the nutritive regeneration of the tissues, which 

 takes place during sleep in all persons, the 

 child would be the heavy looser, if lying in 

 sleep, close to a penson of declining years. In- 

 stances are not lacking to prove the truth of 

 this statement. No one has a right to rob a 

 child of the birthright of sound health, to grati- 

 fy the selBsh whims of aged persons, who are 

 often to blame for urging children to this 

 coui"se. 



As fai- as can be done, chilih-en should have 

 separate beds, even if two are in the same room. 

 It is both better for health, and more conducive 

 to sound, refreshing sleep which is much the 

 same thing. Pai-ents, as they regai-d the lives of 

 the young under theii- cai-e, should see to it 

 that they do not suffer during the important 

 period of early life, that is given to sleep. 



Air, hut don't sun, feather ticks and pillows; the 

 siiii ihaws the oil. making an unpleasant smell. 

 Regard the feelings of naturally shy children, 

 y realize agonies j-ou cannot understand. 



Brieflets. 



Lard should go into tin. 



Start the night with warm feet. 



Unsunned rooms, cause unsound health. 



Hang up the brooms: they will last longer. 



Keep tlie bedsteads away from the windows. 



Clogged wicks can he cleaned, by boiling tlieni 

 in so.iji suds. 



A part of dish washing thoroughly enjoyed— 

 haiiKing away the dish pan. 



If you have no dark place for the f i-uit cans, wrap 

 each one sepai'ately i" heavy paper. 



Drop potatoes or fruit as they are pared into 

 water, and the color will not change. 



Good dishes and bright silver or other tableware, 

 make iileasant work of housekeeping. 



In serving lunches or tea, a well-bred hostess 

 errs on the side of plainness, rather than on that of 

 ovrr-nnuiiticence. 



Much of the ordinary bother of washing lamp 

 chinmeys on the inside, can he saved hy using a stick 

 with a sponge tied to the end. 



Cocoanut Pudding. This is one of the most ac- 

 ceptable of easily -made puddings, brought to our 

 table. One quart of milk and tour eggs serves as 

 the foundation. To this is added one eup of dessi- 

 cated cocoanut, one slice of bread broken up finely, 

 and a small lump of butter. Sweeten to suit taste. 

 For frosting, keep out the white of one egg, beat to a 

 stiff troth, and add two tablespoonfuls of sugar, 

 spread tliis on top, return to the oven to brown. 



It's an honor to he a good housekeeper, but we 

 have known instances, where that honor was bought 

 at too dear a sacrifice of strength and health. We 

 know of one sensible woman who saves much of the 

 work of ironing, thought necessary by some, by 

 putting awayjnany things of the week's wash, clean 

 and very neatly folded, but not u-oned. In this Ust 

 are found, woolen tuiderwear and clothes, sheets, 

 towels and the like. Passing an u-on over these 

 things after folding will make them look remark- 

 ably well, iiroviding the folding was evenly done. 



, Dish 'Washing, and the Hands. A writer for 

 i the Hiiiisihold. who ought to know, claims, that 

 with a little care dish washing wiU aild to the 

 looks of the hand, rather than detract from its 

 beauty. She says: "My hands were swollen and 

 red but this lasts but a shoit time, with it they are 

 also pliable, soft and warm, rubbing them with 

 cream or vaseline at night keeps them so. Dora 

 Smith always wishes to practice on the piano after 

 washing dishes, because then her hand is in the 

 best order for the keyboard. The best work for any- 

 one troubled with cold hands is dish washing. 



Have you a Carpet Sweeper! Those housekeep- 

 ers who have not. can hardly realize what they are , 

 missing. The implement makes light of tlie daily 

 work of taking up the dust and dirt from carpets. 

 It can be rolled back and forth by a child or weak 

 person wdio cannot handle a broom. The dirt is 

 gathered up by a rotating brush, which receives its \ 

 motion from the movement of the sweeper. Another 

 point: little or no dust is stu-red up m the room to 

 settle again requiring later brushing or wiping up. 

 The revolving brush is enea.sed, and the gathered 

 dust is deposited in the case, in a way that saves it j 

 from being circulated and deposited agam, on car- 

 pets and furniture. Such a sweeper is far less I 

 wearing to a carpet than is a broom. An excellent 

 one can be bought for about |3. and will last for 

 years. j 



Catching Cold. Which travels the fastest, heat 

 or cold' runs the old conimchnmi. Answer: heat. ; 

 for you can catch a cold. It is very easily done. 

 Here are some directions how. all to be avoided 

 if yon would avoid colds. Go into cold rooms 

 when you are warm, without something over the | 

 head or additional wraps. Keep on wet shoes and 

 clothes after coming in on a rainy day. (io calling 

 with thinner shoes on than you wear at home, and 

 no over-shoes. Let children throw off their hats or 

 bonnets when heated from play in chilly weather. 

 Set in draft at an open window or door: a .street car 

 is a good place. Change from heavy wraps to light 

 ones in a hurry when you come in. If a man or boy, 

 let the hair lie cut and shampooed just when a 

 change is takmg place ui the weather. If a woman 

 go out on a windy day, ^^■ith your back hair done up 

 high, when you liave been used to wearing it low. 



Too Good. --^ thing or a person may come recom- 

 mended as having too many good qualities, to be 

 desirable. An acquaintance of the writer's, lately 

 turned off an agent who was tallving up a stove im- 

 plement, capable of doing a dozen things, with the 

 remark, that she didn't want it. it could do too many 

 things. The lady to whom Mrs. McNamara applied, 

 seeking a situation for her daughter, felt quite simi- 

 larly, as stated in the New Yurk Tinii-s: 



Lady— Is your daughter Bridget a good girl, Mrs. 

 McNamara? 



Mrs. McNamara— That she is. mum. She's a 

 dacint gtirnil. She goes to mass ivery marnin' at 

 H o'clock, and tnicet on a Smiday, an' she nathur 

 ates mate on Fridays, nor cooks it. mmn. an' she be- 

 laves in ebsarviu' the Sabbath day an' kapiug it 

 howly an' niver cooks imthin' on that day, mum, 

 an' confisses her sins i>ncet a wake, an'— 

 Lady— I am afi-aid she is too good, Mrs. McNam- 

 I ara. 



Notes on Dress and Home Art. 



Plainess for .lerseys. 

 Silks were never cheaper. 

 Jackets vary without end. 

 Flush is more in favor again. 

 Braid or cord lacing is much used. 

 Dishes "f cut glass are fashionable. 

 Bright Colors w ere never more popidar. 

 Green for gowns of rich fabrics, continues to hold 

 its place. 



Eed cloth jackets are favorites with young ladies 

 for driving. 



Eed is nmch used as a third color with brown and 

 blue c'.)stmnes. 



Underskirts of black next to the dress, are be- 

 coming very popular. 



Fur, and especially sable, is used f or trinuning all 

 kinds of cloth and velvet tlresses. 



Gray and pearl-color gloves, will be more woni 

 than they have been for many seasons. 



Bretelles the name for the V-shaped trimmings, 

 are nuicb in favor on dress waists and mantles. 



The colored glassware of the table now so often 

 seen is very pretty, but too gaudy for lasting good 

 taste. 



Spirits of Ammonia rnblwd over nickel orna- 

 ments, by applying with a saturated woolen cloth, 

 will keep them bright. 



For a stylish collar, the dog collar two inches in 

 height, made of velvet, lined with silk and adiM-iied 

 with beads or chenille, prevails. 

 Now the old-fashioned quilted skirts of our grand 



mothers, have been reached. For warmth, they de- 

 sen-e renewal after their long rest. 

 The hang across the nape of the neck is out of 



the back hair. 

 of the head, for 



style, but crinqjing is still applied to 

 before it is carried up to the crown • 

 coiling there. 



No one can object to the use of some bright rib- 

 bons about the parlor, on braided and other chairs, 

 baskets, frames and the like, but being easily ap- 

 plied the custom of using these is often carried far- 

 ther than good taste sanctions. 



On wool and velvet costmnes. a group of three 

 large buttons on each side of the corsage, anil of six 

 or eight on the skirt in the lengthwise pleats or 

 panels at the sides, is very fashionable. The but- 

 tons are metal and flat, with raised (lowers or other 

 figures, and of a color suited to the di-ess. 



Table-cloths. The latest departure in these, is 

 highly embroidered linen, with elaborate floral pat- 

 terns in crewel, cotton or washable silk, extending 

 from the hem far up into the center. Curious and 

 handsome doyleys of Turkish embroidery are put 

 trader the glass finger bowls. These being interest- 

 ing objects, give guests something to talk about. 



The fire-place is receiving more and more atten- 

 tion from builders of new houses, as years pass on. 

 It seems destined to again occupy much of its old- 

 time prominence and glory. The time was. when the 

 fire-pliice was the center of attraction in the home, 

 1 and much could be said for promoting it to this 

 ]50sition again. In the finer class of houses now 

 built, nearly every room has an open fh-e-place. ' 



Some Christmas gifts that are elegant, useful 

 and easily made, are the following: .\ visiting-card 

 case of olive velvet, lined with red, size five by seven 

 inches: in making, use some , stiff canvass between 

 the velvet and the lining: a silk pocket three inches 

 deep is set on the inside of each cover: on the up- 

 per cover should be embroidered in Japanese gold 

 thread, initials, a motto or other device. A stand of 

 wickerwork for music or drawings, may be pur- 

 chased, and if Uned with embroidered plush and set 

 oft with handsome fringe and ta,ssels, is an elegant 

 affau- for the parlor. Pincushions for the parlor, 

 the library or any other room, now so much in style, 

 are very appropriate as Holiday gifts. Some beau- 

 tiful designs for these are small bellows made in 

 cardboard covered with satin, or a doll dres.sed as 

 an undergraduate, in cap and gown, and a w heel- 

 barrow made after the same order, the cushion be- 

 ing located inside the barrow. Quite the newest 

 idea is a tin.v wooden sabot converted into a pin- 

 cushion, being stuffed inside. A perambulator is 

 also adapted to a work-case, reels of cotton forming 

 the wheels. A large silk, satin or plush sack is a 

 good notion for a pincushion. One of the prettiest 

 kind, however, is hung against the wall, covered 

 with velvet, having an appliiine of open brass work 

 on either side, taken from horses" harness, which 

 only now have been turned to this new purpose. 

 For bedrooms there is a new coronet pincushion, 

 made of an octagonal box of pasteboard and the 

 sides covered alternately in plush and satin. 



