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A -WORD TO YOUNG MOTHERS ABOUT 
BABY-CLOTHES. 
If there is ever a time when sewing becomes a 
luxury it is in preparing the layette outfit, as it is 
now generally termed, of the first baby. Every tiny 
garment is a study of beauty, and we do not envy 
the mother who does not find the fashioning of the 
dainty garments a positive delight which could not 
be given up to hireling hands. 
Everything that is for a baby’s use should be deli¬ 
cate in fabric and in color, where color is introduced 
at all, and above all should be well made. Some 
persons will not have anything made upon the 
machine ; but this is an extreme of fastidiousness. 
Machine-sewing, when really well done, is as elegant 
and even more so than hand-sewing; the idea that it 
is less so originated, we think, in its being carelessly 
executed; but of course on fine work all the finishing, 
hemming down, etc., should be done by hand. Em¬ 
broidery, now so much in vogue, is nevermore appro¬ 
priate than upon infants’ clothing, but it should be 
upon wash materials, as the garment can then be 
preserved a long time with reasonable care, and 
when baby assumes short dresses, as is now the 
and piped with white satin ; and these aro very ele¬ 
gant. Very fine pique cloaks are elaborately em¬ 
broidered, and are trimmed with hand-crocheted 
lace. Caps are made of real Valenciennes or Italian 
lace insertings or edgings. The baby’s dress should 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Garden Stand. 
always be white and soft mulls; India muslin, and 
fine undressed cambrics are pretty. No thick mate¬ 
rial should be used, and the trimming should never 
be of heavj r or thick embroidery.' 
In sacques, hoods, and shawls bright colors are ad¬ 
missible, and as much variety as is desired, but keep 
to the tints of spring flowers. It will be time enough 
by and by for rich colors. Scarlet looks well in 
coral, but turquoise clasps are much prettier and 
turquoise blue for ribbons. 
Shoes are made of fine cashmere embroidered in 
forget-me-nots or tiny rosebuds. The christening 
robe is of linen cambric, and should be simply made 
to be in good taste; shoulder-knots tied without bows 
and with long ends, and a sash of white ribbon, com¬ 
plete the dress. At the ceremony a card with the 
baby’s name is presented to the clergyman. 
Baby-baskets are now a delight to the eyes ;• they 
are either square or circular, wide but not deep, 
lined with sheer muslin over pink or blue. The 
cover is elaborately embroidered either in white or 
in color corresponding to the colored lining. White 
is, we think, decidedly the prettiest, and for those who 
have not time or skill to embroider transferred work 
cut from some old-fashioned collar, and neatly laid 
down, makes often quite as handsome a finish. The 
edge of the basket may be finished either with a 
quilling of satin ribbon, a fall of lace, or more simply 
by a deep-plaited ruffle. There should be nooks in 
the basket for every article of the toilet, not forget¬ 
ting a bag lined with oil silk for soap, and one for 
sponge, and a case for small scissors, needles, and 
thread, should any accident make a stitch necessary. 
The finest sponge should be selected, and one well 
rounded. Safety-pins should be provided in abun¬ 
dance, and the smallest sized English pins. Combs 
and brushes fit for fairies may be had in all styles 
and plain wood to carved ivory and pearl. 
Dinner-Table Flower-Holder. 
fashion at six months, be laid away uninjured. 
Please tell how to make a rustic cross for wax 
flowers, and how to color wax black ? 
Answer.— Take small, straight branches of grape¬ 
vine, the size and length you desire, and strip entire¬ 
ly of bark; form the cross, smooth a little with knife, 
and varnish with only one coat of thin varnish. Let 
the cross lean a little to one side. Color wax black 
by melting it with ivory-black, and a little balsam of 
fir. If you wish it in sheets, pour it quickly over a 
sheet of window-glass. 
Mrs. L. T. Lyon. 
How should Scrap-Books be arranged 1 
M. H. 0., Victoria, Texas. 
Answer.— Differently, according to the object in 
making them. If merely to preserve occasional clip¬ 
pings the easiest way is to paste in as they are made ; 
it saves time; but if you wish to preserve many real¬ 
ly valuable things, as it is possible to do from the 
admirable papers now published, classify according 
to subjects with a running title, thus: Poems, 
Literary Notes, Household Matters, Fun. Mark 
Twain’s Scrap Books require no paste or gum. They 
are very convenient. Simply wet the gummed 
lines with a brush dipped in clear water, and press 
the paper upon it. Picture scrap-books are best 
quite large, as you then have room for a wide mar¬ 
gin, which gives a handsome appearance to the 
volume. For use merely, an old ledger with eight or 
ten leaves cut out here and there at intervals makes 
an excellent and serviceable scrap-book. Every one 
should keep several such books, they are of the 
greatest use, if made systematically, - as books of re¬ 
ference for those who cannot afford large libraries. 
I A gentleman was disturbed from his rest in the 
Baby- j middle of the night by some one knocking on the 
street dooi. “Who’s there?” he asked. “A 
robes are made with French yokes and long sleeves 
made of fine material, with delicate rather than pro- friend,” was the answer. “ What do you want ?” 
fuse embroidery. Cloaks are made of white cash- j “ I want to stay here all night.” “ Queer taste 
mere, for summer simply lined with silk, and corded ; stay there by all means,” was the benevolent reply. 
Bustio Wood Garden Vase. 
Paraffine Solution.—W. II. B. asks: Can 
you inform me what will keep a solution of paraffine 
with linseed oil in a liquid state, and not destroy 
its drying qualities ? —Answer. Turpentine spirits, 
since in it paraffine is soluble. 
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