FROM DAY 70 DAY. 
A pretty corner bookmark is made 
from heavy water-color paper, a piece 
5x3 inches being turned over to form 
a triangle, which is slipped over the cor¬ 
ner of the page. The join is either 
gummed together by a little strip of 
paper slipped underneath, or is fastened 
by baby ribbon laced through perfora¬ 
tions. All the edges are gilded. A little 
design in water colors, or motto in gild¬ 
ing, may decorate the side opposite the 
join.* 
* 
Dainty accessories for the table now 
seen in the shops are pudding-dish col¬ 
lars. They are circular coverings of 
accordion-pleated paper, curving in at 
the top, and flaring out in a little flange 
at the bottom, so as to sit flat upon the 
table. The curve at the top fits over the 
rim of the dish, thus completely cover¬ 
ing the burnt edges. Japanese paper 
napkins, twisted or folded about the 
baking dish, make a pretty substitute 
for these collars. 
* 
When we were taught as children, the 
very first accomplishment was the learn¬ 
ing of the alphabet. It seems odd to us 
now to notice the children receiving 
their first reading lessons without any 
knowledge of the alphabet. They are 
shown a picture of some object, and with 
it the word ; then by sounding the word, 
they begin to understand what the signs 
are meant to represent. Bat, just as 
some children will learn the alphabet 
with little apparent trouble, there are 
cases where this picture reading appears 
confusing—where the child looks at the 
picture and looks at the collection of 
arbitrary signs we call the word, with¬ 
out being able to realize the connection 
between the two. All children cannot 
be taught in precisely the same way, 
and some home instruction is always a 
necessary adjunct to the schoolteacher’s 
work. 
# 
For cleaning silks that have luster, like 
taffeta, a correspondent of the New York 
Tribune advises a strong, lukewarm suds 
with white soap. Spread the silk, one 
piece at a time, on a large, smooth, clean 
kitchen table. Scour it with a soft 
sponge, using the suds, rubbing both 
lengthwise and crosswise, being careful 
to keep perfectly smooth after it is wet 
and not to rub a wrinkle into the silk. 
Then take it by two of the corners and 
dip it up and down in a tub half filled 
with lukewarm water (blued for the 
black), still being careful not to let the 
silk wrinkle, but to fold over in the 
water and pull the silk straight and taut 
between the hands. Rinse the table and 
lay the wet silk on it again, and rub it per¬ 
fectly smooth with the sponge until every 
part adheres to the table. Then allow it to 
dry without moving it. Do not iron or 
press; it will be perfectly smooth and 
ready to use. Care must be taken when 
rubbing the silk to the table to dry that 
the threads of the goods are straight and 
true. This may seem difficult, but it is 
very easily done and the silk dries 
quickly. 
to 
Many a housekeeper who prides her¬ 
self on her neatness would, after visiting 
a modern hospital, begin to wonder 
whether she had mastered the most 
rudimentary elements of cleanliness. 
She sees rooms scrubbed and washed to 
the vanishing point of extreme neat¬ 
ness, snowy linen and shining instru¬ 
ments, yet learns that, before using, 
the glittering knives must be boiled in 
soda, and the snowy towels baked for 
the destruction of lurking germs, or the 
operators will not consider them surgi¬ 
cally clean. As for the attendants, they 
must be scrubbed and scraped and 
brushed almost as much as the instru¬ 
ments, and it is only out of consideration 
for frail humanity that the surgeons re¬ 
frain from boiling and baking the nurses, 
too. We can hardly follow out hospital 
rules in our daily housework, but at this 
season of the year, it is especially neces¬ 
sary that the house and its surroundings 
be in the best sanitary condition, before 
cold weather begins. The cellar must 
be properly cleaned and ventilated, all 
waste matter removed, and any small re¬ 
pairs attended to. During cold weather, 
every small domestic inconvenience be¬ 
comes an additional source of discom¬ 
fort, and any necessary improvements 
should be made now. 
SOME KITCHEN CONVENIENCES. 
T O make a useful kitchen soap box, 
set an empty yeast-powder can 
upon a block of wood, and with some 
long, pointed instrument like a file, and 
the hammer or hatchet, perforate the 
entire bottom of the can like a coarse 
grater. Put a piece of soap in the can, 
and put on the cover. To use the box, 
hold it in the hand and plunge the lower 
part in the hot dishwater ; flirt it about 
a few minutes. The water enters the 
A CORNER BOOKCASE. Fig. 288. 
box through the perforations, takes 
sufficient soap for the dishwashing, and 
saves one the annoyance of burnt fingers, 
and of the soap getting clogged upon 
the dishes, as is the case when the bar 
of soap is dropped in the pan of water. 
All the bits of toilet soap that are too 
small for use in the house may be utilized 
in this kitchen soap box. Be sure to 
drive the holes from the inside of the 
can so that the little necks of tin will 
come on the outside. If the holes are 
driven from the outside, the necks of tin 
will be inside of the box, and prevent 
proper drainage. 
A cheap, serviceable kitchen rug that 
will lie straight and smooth upon the 
floor without the aid of tacks, and may 
be taken up and shaken at will, may be 
made as follows : A strip of thick, coarse 
bagging or carpet two or three yards in 
length is the best material. Cut two strip 3 
of zinc—the kind used under stoves— 
each strip about four inches wide, and 
in length the width of the bagging or 
carpet. Carefully fold each strip of 
zinc lengthwise, and place the end of 
the bagging well between the fold as 
you would bind with tape ; press the 
zinc firmly on the bagging by pounding 
it with a hammer, and to secure it in 
place, drive several tacks through both 
zinc and cloth, carefully beating down 
all points of tacks so that none will stand 
out in the way. Now cut a strip of col¬ 
ored drilling or calico, fold it over the 
zinc, and neatly stitch it to the bagging 
close under the edge of the zinc ; also 
stitch up the calico at each end of the 
rug, so that all the zinc will be covered, 
and no danger of tearing skirts upon it 
need be feared. 
If the spring scales have no plate— 
the cheap ones seldom have—a nice one 
can be made of the inside, flat cover of 
a lard can, by driving three nail holes 
at regular intervals around the edge and 
putting through each a stout cord or, 
preferably, the woven wire used for 
hanging pictures. Knot the ends of the 
wire at the nail holes and tie the other 
three ends together in a loop and hang 
on the hook of the scales, being careful 
to have the cords or wires of exactly 
equal length. As mats for the dining 
table, placed under hot baking dishes, 
and to be used on polished wooden wash- 
stands, these flat tins may be made to 
serve admirably if treated thus : Crochet 
loosely two white or ecru cotton mats, 
place the tin between them, and lace the 
two cotton mats together close to the 
tin to prevent its slipping about. Let 
the cotton mats be an inch larger all 
around than the tin. The lacing may be 
done with narrow ribbon or cord. Pol¬ 
ished surfaces are safer under these than 
under ordinary homemade mats, and the 
cord or ribbon lacing makes it possible 
to reverse or wash the mats when both 
are soiled on the outside. 
If the tops of old kid shoes are saved, 
they may be put to many uses. To make 
an excellent holder for the kitchen, cut 
the kid close down around the bottom 
of the counter at the heel of the shoe, so 
as to have the piece as large as possible. 
Cut off the buttons and ragged edges of 
the kid, place on the lining side several 
folds of soft news or blotting paper, and 
over the paper, several folds of dark- 
colored calico or drilling ; baste these to, 
and cut them the same shape as, the kid ; 
bind all around neatly with colored 
tape, and fasten a strip of leather across 
the drilling side, similar to the leather 
strap on brushes used for horses ; when 
using the holder, slip the hand through 
this strap ; it will be found a great con¬ 
venience. 
Durable cushions for chairs may, also, 
be made of kid shoe tops. Cut the pieces 
of kid diamond shape, as large or small 
as desired; bind each diamond with 
narrow, linen tape; stitch each piece 
neatly on the machine. Then with stout 
thread, whip the pieces together, using 
half diamonds around the edge to make 
the cushion square. Black, tan, and 
russet pieces put together in the shape 
of the old-fashioned box quilts, or black 
and tan squares arranged like a checker 
board, are very pretty ; or just one color 
will do if it is all to be had. If polish 
has been used on the shoes, remove it 
by washing off the kid with a hot, damp 
rag, then rub vigorously with sweet oil 
or lard, being careful to rub off all oil 
afterward. m. lank griffin. 
A CORNER BOOKCASE. 
HE corner bookcase shown at Fig t 
288, reproduced from the Woman’s 
Home Companion, is rather suggestive 
of an old-fashioned whatnot, but is 
more solidly constructed. It consists 
simply of six triangular shelves, fastened 
to the two wall plates. The top is 
finished by a strip of molding, and a 
slender brass rod holds the curtain, 
strung upon rings. This bookcase is not 
beyond the skill of a home carpenter, 
and may be finished either by staining, 
or painting with enamel paint. 
The same idea may be applied to a 
corner wardrobe for a bedroom, where 
closets are scarce. For this the case 
should be made without shelves, merely 
top and bottom. Hooks may be screwed 
at either side and, fastened firmly at the 
point of the triangle, at the same height 
as the hooks, one of those little towel 
racks consisting of three or more rods 
which may be spread apart. This is an 
admirable holder for skirts, jackets and 
waists. The skirts should always have 
two loops, which may be slipped on to 
the rod, while both waists and jackets 
should be hung upon coat hangers, which 
are hooked to the rods. It is a good 
plan to have such a rack in an ordinary 
clothes closet. It is far better for sus¬ 
pending skirts and jackets than placing 
them on hooks against the wall. Trousers 
are kept in the best shape possible by 
placing in a Btretcher and hanging on 
this rack. Careless storing away does 
quite as much to deteriorate the appear¬ 
ance of clothes as careless wearing, and 
proper brushing, folding and hanging 
are a necessity. 
If you want to 
Earn Money 
for Christmas 
You can do it by 
being a representative of 
The Ladies’Home Journal. 
You need not go away 
from home to earn the 
money, either. The plan 
is simple : the work pleas¬ 
ant and dignified. We 
ask little of you: we will 
pay liberally. 
The Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia 
Paying Virginia Farm-^STk'mS.r. 
all in good repair. Near town and depot. 1,181 acres 
level land, produces large crops of grain and grass. 
Fenced and well watered. Plenty fruit. Very healthy. 
Price, $18,000; easy terms. Send for full description 
and photographs. W. G. STEVENS, Lynchburg, Va. 
EVANGELINE FREE. 
Did you ever read that pathetic story of the 
Arcadian farmers as told by Longfellow in that 
famous poem, Evangeline 1 If not, you have a 
rare treat in store for yourself. The story of 
Evangeline, the farmer’s daughter, betrothed to 
Basil, the blacksmith’s son, separated on their 
native shore while being driven into exile by 
order of the English king, and wandering sepa¬ 
rately in search of each other through American 
forests, to meet again only on the brink of the 
grave, is a tale of pathetic and touching devotion 
that delights and fascinates every one who reads 
it. We have secured a handsomely bound illus¬ 
trated edition of this book, that we are going to 
give to every one who sends us one new yearly 
subscription. Send $1 with name and address of 
new subscriber, and we will send you this hand¬ 
some book postpaid by return mail. 
The Rubal Nbw-Yobkeb, New Yobk. 
