SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 
,FOR THE H0U3E AND GARDE] 
THE HOUSE 
A ccording to the calendar, September is 
the first of the fall months, but in truth, it 
is a part of summer. North and South 
come now some of the loveliest days, full of sunshine 
vigor, and warmth. Nature at this time seems to 
put forth her best effort, realizing apparently, that 
she has almost run a season’s course, and there is 
commonly a prodigality of beauty. Why then shut 
out the outdoor world, or turn to thoughts of winter ? 
Postpone autumnal cleaning (if you still hold to the 
tradition of your grandmothers and have a semi¬ 
annual domestic upheaval), as long as possible, 
and make as few changes as you can in the appear¬ 
ance of the house until October. The winter is 
long enough as it is, and wear and tear will he saved 
by waiting until after the windows can be closed to 
get out the winter furnishings. 
There are, to be sure, many little things which 
can be done in September that will greatly expedite 
matters. Such, for example, as having the curtains 
laundered, the carpets and rugs got down and care¬ 
fully gone over, and mended, if need be. It is taken 
for granted, of course, that the lace and muslin cur¬ 
tains have all been washed when they were taken 
down in the spring, and have been put away rough 
dry, in which case all they now need is to be starched 
and stretched. Beware of putting too much starch 
in the water in which they are dipped, and take the 
utmost pains to see that the frames upon which they 
are placed are perfectly straight, for a curtain which 
is stiff will not hang nicely and one which is askew is 
a perpetual vexation. 
At the last of the month it is advisable to have the 
awnings taken down, carefully folded and stored, 
as the sun’s rays are no longer sufffciently direct to be 
unpleasant, and the late September storms are apt 
to do them injury. Be sure to see that they are 
perfectly dry when they are packed away and thus 
guard against mildew. In some localities screens 
can also be dispensed with at this time, hut it is wise 
to retain them as long as the windows are kept con¬ 
tinually open. 
It is in September that the first cool nights come, 
and the first frosty evenings; when a little fire on the 
sitting-room hearth is genuinely welcome. It behooves 
one, therefore, to have the chimneys attended to, 
and to have the heating plant completely over¬ 
hauled. Don’t wait until the furnace smokes, or 
the kitchen range refuses to burn, before having 
them attended to. Make sure now that your chim¬ 
neys are free, that the flues are in repair, and the 
drafts working, before the necessity for use is at 
hand. This will mean a saving in actual cost, m 
inconvenience and dirt. 
It is at this time, also, that the winter’s supply of 
fuel should be got in, if it has not been already, and 
the cellar should be put in readiness for its reception. 
Have it re-whitewashed at this time by all means— 
see that the rubbish which has accumulated during 
the summer is removed — and have the drains 
attended to. If in the evening you want a little fire 
to give cheeriness and take the chill off the air, try 
crushed coke in the grate—it is excellent for such 
purposes and comparatively inexpensive. 
Perhaps it may be advisable also to have the chim¬ 
neys pointed up, the putty around the windows 
renewed, the catches holding the shutters back seen 
to, and any shortcomings in the roof made good,, in 
order to be prepared for the autumnal wind and rain 
storms. Window cords may also need renewing— 
faucets in the kitchen and the laundry require new 
washers. 
And why not give special thought to the laundry 
at this time When the cellar is being gone over, it 
will be easy to do so. The walls should he repainted 
or whitewashed, the stove, the tubs, and the drier, 
examined and tested. See particularly that the floor 
is not damp and that the ventilation is good. These 
things affect both the health of the laundress and the 
quality of her work. 
If any plaster is loose, any ceiling cracked, it 
should be replaced, or repaired immediately, before 
the carpets are down or the covers removed from 
the furniture. There is no dirtier work than this, 
and nothing more destructive to the floors and 
hangings than the plaster dust. 
When the carpets are taken out of the storeroom 
and before the awnings and screens are put in have it 
thoroughly cleaned—the walls wiped down and well 
scrubbed, the cracks filled and the shelves dusted. 
This will eradicate chance moths as well as dust and 
dirt which is bound to accumulate during the summer. 
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