SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
TOR THE HOU3E AND GARDE! 
THE HOUSE 
T his is a busy month for the householder; for 
while old Dame Nature is washing the 
winter’s dust oft' her face a surplus amount 
of water may leak in the roof or dampen the cellar, 
and when she shakes out her spring garments all the 
indoor furnishings will look dull and shabby in com¬ 
parison. Look out for the roofing, attend to the 
drains, see that the cellar is aired and free from 
dampness, but don’t make an uproar over house 
cleaning—do little by little, week by week, and before 
you know it the house will be in summer dress. 
Early in April have the storm doors and windows 
removed and the exterior paint or stone work cleaned. 
If your front porch is of stone, and you want it re¬ 
dressed be careful to employ only a skilled workman. 
This is one of the many cases where it is most 
economical to obtain the best. 
If painting is to be done have it done now, and if 
any important repairs or alterations are to be made 
which require carpentry or masonry have them 
begun without delay. They will cause less incon¬ 
venience at this time than later. 
As soon as the windows have to be opened take 
down the lace curtains and put up muslin ones in 
their place. The dampness which is in the air rots 
the threads and the dust which blows either out or 
in makes the process of laundering more hazardous. 
Never put a curtain away without washing, but do 
not allow it to be starched. See that all the curtains 
are rinsed well, but put them in the chest rough dry 
until fall and then pin them on the frames after w et¬ 
ting in very thin starch water. 
A great variety of pretty summer curtains come 
now—muslin, madras and other materials, which 
are far from costly and yet add much to the charm 
and comfort of a room. Linens, plain colored cotton 
goods, figured cretonnes and the like can also be effec¬ 
tively substituted for heavy inner curtains and 
draperies if desired. Possibly one will not wish to 
make the change in April, but even so it is well to de¬ 
termine upon materials at this time and have the 
curtains ready to go up when the warm days make 
them seem not only suitable but w^elcome. If one 
will give the time to searching or be on the outlook, 
excellent material for drapery can often be found 
among the summer dress goods which will be much 
cheaper than any to be had of a house furnisher. 
What one should aim for in all summer furnishing is 
coolness and comfort; the window^s do not by any 
means want to be swathed in muslins and draperies, 
but tbe light screened and the rooms made livable 
by freshness of material and pleasing color effects. 
Keep everything as simple as possible, do not un¬ 
necessarily multiply folds, and study the quality of 
the light with w hich you have to deal. 
It is an excellent plan in April to get the furniture 
covers made and in readiness for use. These can he 
very attractive if a little taste is exercised in the selec¬ 
tion of materials and do not need to be merely utilita¬ 
rian. To be sure it is best to procure a material 
which will wash and to test the braid before using in 
order to ascertain whether or not it is a fast color. 
The old-fashioned covers which resembled nothing 
but linen dusters made patriotic by bindings of bright 
red and blue braid doubtless served their purpose 
but they did not add to the charm of the home. 
Figured materials may now be had in low% quiet tones 
which are really beautiful and no less serviceable. 
Do not postpone having the rugs beaten or shaken 
and sunned, and see that the carpets are especially 
well sw'ept at this time; for it is now' that the moths 
do the most mischief. An ounce of prevention in the 
way of cleansing and care in the early spring is worth 
several pounds of camphor, moth balls and the like, 
used later. 
The fur rugs and garments especially should be 
put away as early as possible, being first carefully 
brushed and examined and then securely tied up in 
newspapers. If it is possdile to place them in cold 
storage for the summer it is of course safer, but if 
not, vigilant care wfill commonly prove effectual. 
There is no time when flowers wdll be more wel¬ 
come in the home or when they are much more readily 
obtainable. In tbe cities, street venders’ trays offer 
a tempting array and out of town the garden and 
roadside invite theft. Do not be content to let the 
outdoor world have all the blossoms, but do not, on 
the other hand, be prodigal in your decorations 
—a little bowl of violets, or a jar filled wdth arbutus 
set on a table wfill be enough for a room, and are 
sufftciently precious to deserve undivided attention. 
A few jonquils in a tall vase placed against tbe right 
background will give vastly more pleasure than a 
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