Repairing Electrical Devices 
Every woman who has once used elec¬ 
trical devices and appliances in her home 
finds them indispensable. Many farm 
homo© are now equipped with electricity, 
and, more women each year are enjoying 
the comforts which it brings, both for 
lighting the home and in labor-saving de¬ 
vices operated by its current. Rut elec¬ 
tric fixtures and appliances get out of or¬ 
der occasionally, and the delay occa¬ 
sioned by the wait for an electrician is 
most trying. The expense, too, always 
seems out of all proportion to the time 
spent in repairing the fixture, although 
not more than a trained worker should re¬ 
ceive. 
There is no “handy man” about my 
home, so I have learned to repair many 
things myself. When we first had elec¬ 
tricity installed in our home we sent for 
an electrician when repairs were needed. 
I watched him carefully, and in this way 
learned much about the work. I soon saw 
that much of the work was very simple 
indeed, and decided to attempt the job 
myself next time. My efforts met with so 
much success that I feel sure any woman 
can do the same, and thus save much an¬ 
noying delay and expense. The only tools 
I have used have been a screwdriver, a 
pair of pliers, and a knife or pair of 
scissors. 
Some day you turn on your electric 
switch as usual, but to your surprise no 
answering glow responds in the light bulb. 
If all the other electric light fixtures are 
“on the job” as usual, you can conclude 
that one of the little wires inside the bulb 
is broken, one of the wires of the cord 
is broken, or the fuse in the ceiling ro¬ 
sette has burned out. You can deter¬ 
mine whether the bulb is at fault or not 
by trying another one in the socket. If 
it is the bulb you may be able to mend it 
by knocking the bulb gently with the cur¬ 
rent on. If you are successful in getting 
the wires thrown together in such a po¬ 
sition that the electric current can flow 
through them unbroken, the light will 
flash on and you will know that your ef¬ 
forts are successful. It is not always 
possible to do this, but I have mended 
them in this way, and they have lasted for 
as much as six months afterward. 
It is rarely that the wires in the cord 
of a lighting fixture become broken, but 
it sometimes happens, and as they fre¬ 
quently break in the cord of an iron or 
similar device, I will give the method here 
of mending them. A cord usually breaks 
near the appliance end. for this is the 
place where the cord is bent and twisted 
the most. The cord should be cut above 
the break, and the covering removed from 
both of the wire ends for about one-half 
inch. This can be cut off with scissors 
or a sharp knife. Care must be used to 
cut only the covering and not the fine 
wires in the center of the cord. Twist the 
exposed ends of the wires tightly to¬ 
gether. It will be necessary next to take 
apart the lamp socket or appliance con¬ 
nection. whichever you are working with. 
Notice carefully just how the wires enter 
and how they are wound around and fas¬ 
tened under the screws or clamps. Re¬ 
move the old ends and put the new ones 
you have prepared in their places. Re 
sure that none of the fine wires stick out 
from the screws, and also that you have 
the screws tight. Loose screws alone will 
cause a disconnection and prevent the fix¬ 
ture from working. Re careful that the 
uncovered ends of the wires do not touch 
each other. Cut them short enough so 
that they will not. It sounds rather a 
complicated affair, but it is in reality 
very simple. The lamp sockets pull apart 
by removing the screws. 
If you are satisfied that the trouble is 
not in the bulb or cord, it is likely that 
the fuse in the ceiling is burned out. The 
ceiling plates, or rosettes as they are 
called, are in two parts. They can be 
separated by turning the lower part of 
the plate, or unfastening the screws, if 
they are held together by them. After 
separating the rosette you will find the 
cord attached to the lower part, and in 
this plate is the fuse. On each side you 
will see a little lead wire held in place at 
each end by a screw. If the trouble is 
here, one, or perhaps both, of the wires 
will be burned in two. Fuse wire can be 
obtained from any electrical dealer, and 
should always be kept on hand. It is a 
very simple matter to cut a piece the de¬ 
sired length and fasten under the screws. 
Replace the rosette and the job is done. 
If you are using any appliance from the 
lamp socket, such as an iron or washer, 
a heavier fuse ware should be used than 
if a light bulb only is used from the fix¬ 
ture. 
If three or four of the lights in your 
house are not working, and the rest are 
all right, you can be pretty certain that 
one of your fuse plugs is “blown out.” 
Somewhere in your house you will find, 
usually near the meter, a small enpboard- 
like box on the wall, or 6et in it. On 
opening the door you will see a number 
of little screwed-in knobs with fronts of 
mica. These are the fuse plugs. Ry 
turning on your lights and unscrewing 
different plugs in turn you will find which 
light each controls. It is well to mark 
this down on a card which you can hang 
on the inside of the door, thus saving time 
in future. Unscrewing the old plug and 
screwing in the new is as easily done as 
removing and replacing a light bulb. Sev¬ 
eral extra ones should always be kept on 
hand, or you may have the experience I 
once had. A fuse plug burned out in the 
middle of a washing when I was using 
my electric washer. I was not strong 
“Pie RURAL NEW-YORKER 
enotigh at the time to finish the washing 
by hand, and it simply had to wait until 
someone could go to an electrical dealer 
for a new 7 plug. Since that time I have 
never been without at least one extra 
plug kept on hand for emergencies. 
An amateur should never undertake 
changing of wires or an extension of them, 
for unpleasant results, such as a fire, 
might follow. It is absolutely safe, how¬ 
ever, for the most inexperienced to at¬ 
tempt what I have described. I have 
always, taken the precaution to turn off 
the switch before commencing w 7 ork on a 
fixture, for while experts assure us that 
it would be impossible to receive a serious 
shock from the voltage of a residence 
circuit, yet it might be decidedly unpleas¬ 
ant, and the precaution is very easily 
taken. 
I would like to set down one other ex¬ 
perience I have had with electrical tools. 
If any repair is needed I send directly to 
the manufacturer for it. I learned the 
wisdom of so doing from the following: 
My electric vacuum cleaner needed a new 
rubber comb. I inquired of the local 
dealer the price of same, and was informed 
that it would cost $1.85. I thought that 
seemed rather a large figure for a small 
article, and wrote the manufacturer. The 
reply came that it would cost 95 cents, 
postpaid. Of course, a dealer must be 
paid for his trouble, but I prefer to take 
the trouble myself and save the sum, 
whether it be large or small. 
MRS. CMART.ES JOHNSON. 
play, that is indeed a problem. Have 
they each a little shovel? Do they slide 
downhill on crusty days? When they 
must stay in the path, why not have them 
play horse? Tie a bell onto the lines, and 
how they will dance around and make it 
jingle (incidentally, keeping warm). 
Then have daddy get a few pine branches, 
evergreen, and also bare branches in a 
pile somewhere. Let the children mark 
out the path with rows of trees stuck in 
the bank of snow each side of the path. 
This will keep them occupied for quite a 
while. 
I believe this completes my list, and I 
hope there will be some suggestions that 
will be of use to some reader. 
MRS. F. L. B. 
I 19 
Notes frdm the Ginger Jar 
More Suggestions for Amusing the Little 
Ones 
I was interested in the article by Mrs. 
Olova Hustle on page 1742, and though 
I have had neither the experience of years 
nor of a large family (my first little baby 
is only eight months old), still I venture 
to send a few suggestions which I hope 
may be helpful. 
I think Mrs. Hustle has. indeed, the 
“right idea.” I know that, now I am 
married and away from home. I find my¬ 
self thinking a great deal of the years 
spent at home when I was a little girl. 
Mother was always very busy, but some¬ 
how she always helped us through the 
long Winter days at home. My twin 
brothers, six years younger than myself, 
were not old enough to be really com¬ 
panions for me, so it was harder to find 
amusements tr suit us all. Rut we al¬ 
ways had good times. 
We had a blackboard, and many an 
hour was whiled away with colored chalk, 
copying the figures across the top of the 
board and drawing and learning to write. 
In my earliest childhood I used that board 
and could spell many words at the age of 
four. It is a good investment, and not 
an expensive one at all. 
Then we used to amuse ourselves with 
erayolas and big pieces of wrapping pa¬ 
per. drawing wonderful pictures. When 
Christmas drew near we made colored 
paper chains and strung popcorn. 
It is great fun for the children to have 
a tea party. I think once a week is not 
too often. The dolls and animals should 
all be present. A little milk, a few sand¬ 
wiches cut very small, and perhaps a tiny 
turnover or little pie for each one, and 
all can have such a good time. 
Once in a while mother would let us 
have a great treat. She would mix up a 
whole bowlful of soapsuds, and get out 
our clay pipes, and all the afternoon we 
would blow bubbles. Children of all ages 
do so enjoy this. There is. of cou-se. a 
little “muss” to clean up. but it helps to 
solve the amusement problem. 
Nowadays one can send for a school 
supply catalog and find therein many 
very inexpensive, but nevertheless inter¬ 
esting. amusements for the wee ones. 
Sewing cards, I think, are fine, and are 
so cheap, too. Colored sticks, weaving 
mats, silhouette paper and many other 
things can be found at these places, and 
with a very little help from mother many 
pleasant hours can be spent. 
Mrs. Hustle spoke of stringing beads. 
I would just add that at the large mail¬ 
order houses one can purchase whole bags 
of multicolored beads for very little, and 
these would make a variety. 
At home we had a wonderful scrap¬ 
book. When mother could spare a few 
minutes she would help us paste in the 
pictures, we had cut out. If any of us 
were sick, that book furnished much 
amusement for us. and it also whiled away 
time on especially dreary days. 
I was in school part of the time and 
my little brothers, of course, spent hours 
with their blocks, spools, clothespins, etc. 
They each had a toy barn and many toy 
an:, .als (wooden), which an uncle had 
made on his jig-saw. 
Another idea which we used to good 
advantage is one that I derived great 
pleasure from when only a little girl. 
Mother found a large pasteboard box and 
divided it into “rooms.” From an old 
catalog I cut furniture, stoves, pictures, 
rugs, etc., and pasted them in place in the 
“rooms.” It took me many days to get 
it all furnished properly. This can be 
done again and again, using different 
shaped boxes and different catalogs. Gar¬ 
dens could be planted in the same way, 
either flower or vegetable, using an old 
seed catalog for the material. 
A sand table is easy to make, and much 
can be learned from using one. When 
the children have been read stories about 
the Laplanders or Eskimos, let them try 
next day to make houses like the pictures 
in the books, etc.' 
Then when they go out of doors to 
Experience in Rendering Lard 
On page 1923 I notice inquiry in re¬ 
gard to rendering lard, and having it 
white. I have learned by experience that 
if the lard is rendered in the oven, in- 
stead of on top of the stove, the product 
comes out better color, and is much less 
likely to scorch. Rut very little water 
need be put in kettle, and it requires but 
v ery little attention until ready to dip 
off. I have had it as white and clear as 
boughten” lard, and without straining. 
MRS. A. J. s. 
A few weeks ago I saw the question 
about lard-making. I would like to tell 
you what I learned from a butcher. Keep 
the leaf lard clean, and as soon as cold 
put through the food chopper (using the 
coarse knife), put in kettle on back of 
stove (without water) ; slowly heat, and 
when hot the scraps are almost melted, 
and you will be surprised how little there 
is of them. Strain, and you will find a 
very white, clear lard, with very much 
less work than the old way. I feel this 
such a help at butchering time I should 
like to pass it on to the busy farm 
women. mrs. w. d. ii. 
Dutch Roulitjes 
I notice a request for a recipe for the 
old Dutch dish called “roulitjes” (which 
I am quite sure is the correct spelling). 
My recipe, handed down several genera¬ 
tions. I think superior to the one given. 
After tripe is cleaned and cut to best 
advantage in about 12-in. squares, strips 
of beef (preferably from the flank, and 
some fat with it) are laid on the tripe, 
very highly seasoned with pepper and 
salt, then sewed corners turned toward 
center. Roil until you can run a straw 
through them in water just to cover. Re¬ 
move roulitjes from liquor, place them on 
large platters or trays and use heavy 
weights to press until cold. Then replace 
in liquor, to which you have added from 
one to two quarts of vinegar. As you 
use them slice very thin, as you would 
smoked beef, and cream in its own liquor, 
adding some fat which you have saved 
with _ the liquor. Thicken with flour. 
Delicious with buckwheat cakes. K. H. 
More About Scrapple 
On the home page recently, also once 
before this, there were recipes for making 
scrapple. The boiling of scraps of meat, 
etc., is all right to get the broth or liquor, 
but I have never heard of thickening it 
all together with cornmeal. The old- 
fashioned (and I call proper way) is to 
thicken it with buckwheat flour, ‘and not 
more than one-third cornmeal, unless some 
like the cornmeal taste better than the 
buckwheat flour, which is not often the 
case. “Roughten” scrapple is generally 
thickened mostly with cornmeal. as it is 
so easy to get, and buckwheat flour is not 
so easy to get, and dearer. MRS. L. c. B. 
Mocha Cake 
Cream 1% cups granulated sugar with 
72 cup butter. Add yolks of three eggs, 
beaten,. two squares unsweetened choc¬ 
olate, dissolved in five tablespoons boiling 
water, % cup milk, two cups flour, mixed 
with two teaspoons baking powder, a lit¬ 
tle salt, vanilla, and the whites of three 
eggs beaten and added last. Rake in three 
layers. For filling, use three small cups 
confectioners’ sugar, sifted with two 
tablespoons cocoa and two tablespoons 
butter, mixed in by hand, moistened with 
four tablespoons coffee. Add one tea¬ 
spoon vanilla, and melt all the ingredients 
together over 'boiling water. Use without 
further cooking. This is perhaps the most 
delicious of all chocolate cakes. G. A. T. 
Ragout of Liver 
Heat four tablespoons nice drippings, 
one tablespoon chopped parsley, one 
minced onion and five tablespoons of 
minced bacon in a frying pan until all 
are hissing hot; add liver, cut into strips 
about the size and length of the middle 
finger, and fry brown, turning often to 
cook thoroughly and brown evenly. Take 
out liver and place in covered dish set in 
hot water; strain gravy, rinse frying pan 
thoroughly and return to the fire with the 
gravy, to which has been added one table¬ 
spoon of butter into which has been 
worked tw 7 o tablespoons browned flour 
until smooth ; thin gradually with y> cup 
water and the juice of half a lemon. - Add 
one teaspoon minced pickle and a scant 
half teaspoon curry powder, wetted with 
cold water. Roil all well together; pour 
over the liver, cover closely; pour fresh 
boiling water into the under dish and let 
ragout stand 10 or 15 minutes before 
serving. jessie. 
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