UIXTS AXD HELPS. 517 



*To Clean Slarble. — ^Mix powdered chalk with pumice stone, each ono 

 part with two parts of common soda, into a paste with water, and rub it 

 thoroughly on the marble; or mix quicklime and strong soap lye to con- 

 sistency of milk, and lay it on the marble for twenty-four hours; in both 

 cases wash off thoroughly with soap and water. 



To Purify Butter. — The French purify their butter by-melting it iu pots 

 plunged into water heated to nearly lx)iHng point; and sometimes they mix 

 a pure brine with the melting butter, whereby they tlavor the subsidence of 

 the coagulated caseine and other impurities. The aupematant clear batter 

 should be drawn or poured off, and rapidly cooled. 



To 9Ioiint Cliroino«. — Take unbleached muslin and stretch it over a 

 wooden strainer; next dampen the back of the picture with paste, and lay it 

 on the canvas; then with a dry rag rub well the back of the canvas to pre- 

 vent blistering. If you use card or pasteboard, simply dampen the back of 

 the picture with paste and lay it on the board, taking care that it ia 

 smoothly laid on. 



How to Keep Citler Svv^eet. — The cider after it comes from the press ia 

 allowed to stand until the pomace settles. It is then put into a clean vessel 

 over a fire, and brought to a boil — in the meantime skimming off the scum 

 as it rises. It is then put into small kegs or bottles, and tightly corked or 

 sealed. By this process cider may be kept sweet for years. 



Excellent Pa4*e Blacking. —Half a pound of ivory black, half a pound 

 of molasses, half an ounce of jwwdered alum, one drachm of turpentine, one 

 ounce of -sulphuric acid, two ounces of raw linseed oil. The ivory black and 

 molasses must first be mixed together until thoroughly incorporated; then 

 add the rest of the ingredients. It keeps best in a bladder. 



To Color Floors AVninnt Tint— Apply with paint brush or rag raw 

 linseed oil, mixed with burnt umber. Wlien dry, apply a coat of boiled 

 linseed oil without color. Tlie quantity of umber depends upon the wood, 

 some requiring much more color to make a given tint, A small quantity of 

 the mixture well rubbed in, has the best effect and dries sooner. 



To Improve Pens. — When a pen has been used until it appears to be 

 spoiled, place it over a flame (a gaslight for instance) for, say, a quarter of a 

 minute, then dip it into water, and it will be again fit for use. A new pen, 

 which ia found too hard to write with, will become softer by being thus 

 heated. 



Vinegar. — A cheap and wholesome article of vinegar may be made of 

 water, molasses and yeast, say twenty-five gallons of water, four of molasses, 

 and one of yeast. This, when it ferments, will yield very good vinegar. A 

 fair imitation of white wine vinegar may be made of mashed raisins and 

 water kept in a warm place for a month. 



Sponges. — After long use sponges are liable to smell very badly unless 

 carefully cleaned every day. By rubbing a fresh lemon thoroughly into the 

 sponge and then rinsing it several times iu lukewarm water it will become 

 as sweet as when new. 



To Renovate the Tops of Kid BooU—Defaced kid boots will i,^ 

 greatly improved by being rubbed iceU with a mixture of cream and ink. 



