6o 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



February, 



^e Household 



Home Upholstery. 



The covers of well-made chairs, sofas and 

 other upholstered fiirnitirre, yield to wear and 

 tear long before other parts do; the woodwork, 

 ill fact, should outlast a number of covers. It 

 is less of a job to re-cover such furniture than 

 some would suppose, and many a dollar could 

 be saved by frugal housewives, with littledetri- 

 ment to the appearance of the work, if they 

 would uudertake the doing of this themselves. 



The old cover, carefully removed by di'awing 

 the tacks, and laid out on new fabric , at once 

 furnishes a perfect pattern for the new cover. 

 So of any linings, back-covers, etc., that ought 

 to be replaced. Care should be taken to maj'k 

 the place of the buttons on the new cloth 

 before it is brought into position for fastening. 



Fsually, but not in all cases, the springs will 

 need to be changed for new ones. You can 

 procure such of any upholsterer at about the 

 price he would charge if he was to put them in 

 himself. Buttons, tacks and other trimmings 

 can be picked up at dry goods and furnitui-e 

 stores ; as a general thing the expense for these 

 is very small. The cloth ma3' be procured 

 from the same source. In choosing a fabric do 

 not be misled into taking one of poor quality 

 because the price sounds low. The best is the 

 cheapest here in the long run, always. 



One of the best fabrics for covering furni- 

 ture is mohair plush. It is handsome, and in 

 point of durabilitj' can hardly be excelled by 

 any other material. Do not confound this with 

 the more showy and equally expensive silk 

 plush; the latter will not begin to give equal 

 satisfaction to the other. 



Ready for the work, put the springs, linings, 

 and so on in place precisely as thej- were be- 

 fore. The outside cover should be exactly the 

 same shape as the old one was. This brought 

 in place, should first be secured by buttoning 

 down. For this use a long darning needle and 

 double linen cord. Push the needle up from 

 the under side, string on the button and return 

 the needle a little to one side of the stai-tiug 

 place. Then tie the threads tightly. 



After the buttoning is eveiilj- done all over, 

 tack down the edges. Do not start at one 

 place and finish completely as you go, but fii'st 

 stretch out the cover and drive in a stay tack 

 here and there, all around, first. After tack- 

 ing, trim off the edges of the cloth where 

 needed, and finish with upholstering braid, 

 either fastening this with ornamental tacks or 

 sewing it on with a crescent-shaped needle. A 

 coat of furniture varnish or oil over the wood- 

 work, will complete the job. 



Behavior Towards the Sick. 



Sickness is one of the conditions of our error- 

 committing humanity: every home, sooner or 

 later, sees more or less of it. But with an ad- 

 vancing civilizati(m the knowledge of how to 

 treat the sick, and how to render them more 

 comfortable, is on the increase, while less of 

 drugs are in use than ever before. 



We have asked a proficieut nurse, a graduate 

 from the Buffalo (Teneral Hospital Training 

 School, to prepare a few notes on the subject 

 at the head of this article, for our columns, to 

 which she very kindly responded as follows: 



" Convince any patient under youi' charge of 

 your willingness to serve, then allow her to do 

 about all the asking as to whatever will add to 

 her comfort. When leaving the room it is 

 jjroiJer enough for the nurse to inquire whethei' 

 ' anything more ' can be done, thus making it 

 easier for the patient to ask for the little ser- 

 vices which, while often important, might 

 otherwise be passed by. 



" Never appear fussy in the sick room. Never 

 appear hurried, for no sick person can feel 

 comfortable in requiring aid from an attendant 

 who is 'flying around" as if she had no time 



to spai-e for her. Never hurry a patient in 

 making up his or her mind; weak or aching 

 heads often think slowly. 



"Creueral visitors, as a rule, ai'e the di-ead of 

 every good nurse, and sometimes the death of 

 the patient, I verily believe. Why persons 

 who are interested in the recovery of a .sick 

 friend should persist in fatiguing that friend 

 by a visit, when every effort is being made to 

 add strength to strength for her recovery, is 

 one of the mai-vels. While injudicious visiting 

 is to be condemned, let not tlie well neglect pay- 

 ing attentions to the sick; it really is a gi-eat 

 comfort to those who are afflicted, to know that 

 their friends in the busy world remember them. 

 This can be done by making inquiries, men- 

 tioning your name and regards, or by sending 

 a s.vmpathetic note or message, or an occa- 

 sional bunch of flowers, books, fruit or little 

 deUcacies which it has been ascertained can 

 be eaten. All these attentious are in order and 

 will afford helpful pleasure without exhausting 

 the strength that is being so carefully hus- 

 banded. A golden rule for all friends of sick 

 persons should be this : ' Consider your own 

 satisfaction secondary to the welfare of the 

 patient.' 



"Convalescents, chronic cases, and some sur- 

 gical cases, usually enjoj' visitors. But even 

 then, as a rule, visits should be short and only 

 by members of the family or intimate friends. 

 They should not follow each other so closely 

 as to preclude the needed rest between." 



convulsions from having overloaded the stomach, 

 an instantaneous remedy is a heaping teaspoonful 

 of common salt and as much ground mustard, 

 stirred rapidly in a teacup of water. It is scarcely 

 down before it begins to come up, bringing with it 

 the remaining contents of the stomach. Lest there 

 be any remnant of poison, however small, let 

 the white of an egg and sweet oil or butter or 

 lard— several spoonfuls — be swallowed immediately 

 after vomiting, because these very common articles 

 nullify a larger number of vu*ulent poisons than any 

 medicines in the shops. 



Brieflets, 



Weighed in their own scales— fish. 



Dry lli>- lin dishes before puttiug away. 



Good sleep and good health go together. 



Blue for table-ware does not harmonize with white. 



Use a « arm knife in cutting warm bread and the 

 like. 



A layer of leather in the ironing liulder makes it 

 cooler ti) use. 



In changing dinner com-ses have the plates 

 removed from the right side. 



Celery has two good qualities on the table; strictly 

 useful, strictly ornamental. 



Unaired and unclean cellers are very unhealthy. 

 It the emanations from them do not kill in a night, 

 they frequently do undermine the health of families 

 in the comse of time. 



Prunes. They are not appreciated as the.v de- 

 serve. The}' are easily digested, and wholesome 

 even to stomachs that will not bear much variety. 

 They are refreshing and healthful to all; the}' are 

 inexpensive. They are conveniently prepared. 

 Stew slowly for two hours. 



Soup, It is said that " many cooks spoil the 

 broth,'" but instances have occurred where one cook 

 has not succeeded in making good soup. Here are 

 thi'ee fundamental principles in the art: Start with 

 the meat in cold water; don't salt it until after the 

 skhnmiug: boil slowly, or better yet, keep it at a 

 simmer. 



Don't whine about your real or imaginary com- 

 plaints. As a common thing people who always ap- 

 pear well and happy are the most popular. When 

 asked about your health, make a favorable reply if 

 at all possible. It doesn't make you feel any worse, 

 and your interlocuter will go away in a better frame 

 of mind than if you had given him a full and de- 

 tailed account of j'our many aches and pains. If 

 yon must tell your internal troubles go to the doc- 

 tor, who is paid for listening to just such matters. 



To Cook an Old Hen. I killed a hen. more than 

 six years (■Id, liut in good condition. Cooked in 

 the onliuary way she would have been uueatably 

 tough. Instead. I gently stewed her about four 

 hours. I cannot guarantee to the maintenance of 

 the theoretical temperature, having suspicion of 

 some sunmering. After this she was left in the 

 water until it cooled, and on the following day \\ as 

 roasted in the usual manner. /. c, in a roasting oven. 

 The result was excellent; as tender as a full grown 

 tender chicken, roasted in the ordinary way. and of 

 quite equal flavor, in spite of the very good broth 

 obtained by the preliminaiy stewing. A writer in 

 Clientistri/ of Cooking. 



Worth Knowing. A medical journal, the name 

 of which we cannot now command, gives the fol- 

 lowing simple anti'lote for home use: If a person 

 swall<iwsany poison whatsoever, or has fallt-n into 



Notes on Dress and Home Art. 



Light tan-color for gloves. 



" Home spun " fabrics continue in vogue. 



Clocks mounted on helmets is a late device. 



Odd and new colors are sought for in velvets. 



Black is the favorite color for dress trimmings. 



Marbled note paper is the latest English novelty. 



"Velvet with a'sbort, thick pile is better than that 

 having a long, showy nap. 



Horse-chestnut foliage and buri-s. appearing as 

 on a branch. aff«jrd a favorite design for embroider- 

 ing. 



Short women should wear long slender wraps 

 covering the wearer from neck to foot, and length- 

 wise trimmings 



For spring dresses pretty, soft shades will be 

 worn, not ci-xide hai-sh colors. Delicate greens will 

 be among these. 



A new photograph album is designed, with a 

 place in the cover for the last picture received, here 

 to remain on view until another coiner arrives. 



Why are the tailor-made suits so satisfactory, it 

 might be asked. Because they are plaiulj- made, 

 and the material is usually good wf)Ol— two ster- 

 ling qualities combined- 



A rule rarely to be departed from in dress-mak- 

 ing where two fabrics are used, is to select a plain 

 material for the most important parts, and figured 

 stuff or stipes for the accessories. 



To Clean Engravings. Pin the paper at the 

 four corners on a board, and tilt it an angle so the 

 water ma.v run off; pour boiling water over the sur- 

 face untilitisclean. So directs the Art Interchange. 



Thank common sense, the attempt to introduce 

 low-necked and short slee\'ed frocks for babies is 

 not successful. They are allowed to be attired in 

 tnU yoke dresses gathered at the neck, with long 

 lace-edged sleeves. 



If velveteen is to be the material of your cos- 

 tume, be sure to choose the best. You will be quite 

 in good style and have the satisfaction of having a 

 garment that will wear much better, and keep its 

 original shape much longer. 



Crepe "Veils and Health. Ur. Robert B. Morison, 

 of Baltimore, is >>f the opinion that the long thick 

 crepe veil is very injurious to the complexion and 

 health of those wearing them. The rough crepe, 

 he sa.vs, in rubbing the skin takes in the poisonous 

 matter into the circulation in that way, as well as car- 

 ries it into the lungs in breathing. Such a veil worn 

 for two consecutive years seldom fails to produce 

 evil results. Similar goods about the neck, and 

 black silk and black cotton goods, also produce bad 

 effects. Paris has a feather dyer's disease, produced 

 from the dye in which the feathers are dipped. 



Portieres or hangings for doorways and walls 

 continue to be a favorite adornment for parlors and 

 other rooms. A set of these of exquisite appear- 

 ance is thus described: The ground was pale-yel- 

 low silk canvas wrought in crewels, with a great 

 branch of bor.se-chestuuts. This branch showing 

 the foliage of autumnal coloring, and accompanied 

 by great bristling burrs from a border of deep terra- 

 cotta plush on the right hand side of each section. 

 The plush was also carried across the bottom in a 

 much deeper band than the upright one. Rising 

 from this deep plush dado, were a tangle of grasses 

 and ferns embroidered boldl.v in greens, reddish 

 greens, reddish bi'owus and so on. 



Bemedying Shiny Clothes. No one enjoys 

 .seeing his or her best clothes come to the point of 

 wearing shiny, and few can indulge themselves by 

 then casting them aside. "We find in theSc/cHf //*(-■ 

 Atneririin tlirections for remedying this trouble, 

 which coming from such a i eliable source, we gladlj' 

 print: Take of blue galls bruised 4 ounces, logwood, 

 eopiJeras, iron filings free from gi-ease. each 1 ounce. 

 Put aU but the iron tilings and copperas into 1 

 quart good vinegar, and set the vessel containing 

 them in a warm water bath for twenty -fom' hours: 

 then add the uon filings and the copperas, and 

 shake occasionall.v for a week. Keep in a well 

 corked bottle, and apply to glossy or faded spots 

 with a soft sitonge. 



