Ingenious 
Devices 
LABOR-SAVING SCHEMES AND SHORT CUTS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE GARDEN 
Tj'REQUENTLY 
in planning a 
dining - room 
there are two op¬ 
posing factors to 
be taken into con¬ 
sideration. One is 
the need for plenty 
of window space 
so that the dining- 
r o o m may be 
bright and cheer¬ 
ful. The other is 
the need of wall 
space for side¬ 
board, china or 
glass - cabinet and 
serving-table. I n 
the adjoining illus¬ 
tration these two 
needs have been 
cleverly satisfied 
by raising the level 
of the middle sill 
of a group of win¬ 
dows so that the 
sideboard did not 
make necessary six 
feet of blank wall. 
Incidentally, the 
brilliant lighting 
makes even more attractive the silverware 
that furnishes this sideboard top. 
Rain Conductor Troubles 
A SEMI-FLUID composition can now 
be procured which will most effect¬ 
ually stop leaks in tin-work. I have seen 
it used with the best success in leaks where 
the chimney passes through a tin roof, and 
in rust holes in gutters. As it is quite 
inexpensive its use will often save the 
replacement cost of new material. 
In this connection it is well to remem¬ 
ber that leaders and gutters are subjected 
to much wear, and the best material is an 
economy. If soldering repairs are neces¬ 
sary, the acid should be immediately 
washed off as its corrosive effect induces 
rust. F. 
Unfinished Table Tops 
A DINING-TABLE top that does not 
need constant care to preserve it 
from acquiring white marks from hot 
dishes is a comfort to the housewife. 
Some tables are sold with unstained 
and unfinished tops. These remain free 
from all permanent marks or spots. They 
can be washed if necessary and need no 
especial care, except an oiling once a 
month, rubbing the wood well. I recently 
saw one of these tables — a reproduction 
in mahogany of an old Southern model, 
that had been in use for a year. The top 
The necessity for sideboard wall space and the desirability of brilliant lighting for the dining¬ 
room were successfully accomplished here 
is already taking a fine color, while its 
owner assures me that one of the worries 
of her life is removed. The highly fin¬ 
ished top usually seen, needs careful treat¬ 
ment, and is especially difficult to insure if 
there are small children in the family. 
Yet the natural wood top is said to be 
rather unpopular with women buyers, a 
fact perhaps due to our national dislike 
of waiting for results. 
A Serviceable Caster 
TN these days of polished floors one is 
glad to find a caster that can be eas¬ 
ily applied and that while invisible will 
make it possible to move chairs, as well 
as all heavy articles of furniture, over the 
floor silently and easily. The casters 
work equally well upon carpets and obvi¬ 
ate all wear and tear upon floor cover¬ 
ings. They sell at 15 cents for a set of four. 
Home-made Butter 
E VERY family can now make its own 
butter. The simple churn is easily 
cleansed and readily put together. The 
glass jar with the inside rib and the por¬ 
celain dasher make it especially sanitary. 
It will make butter in one minute, and 
the churn will also whip cream in twenty 
seconds and mix delicious mayonnaise 
dressing in thirty seconds. The family 
size is $2.50. 
V *7 HEN your 
* * lamp fails to 
give a good, 
clear light and be¬ 
gins to burn dimly, 
it is a sign that the 
burner wants boil¬ 
ing ; any attention 
to the oil or wick 
will make little or 
no improvement. 
Take the lamp 
apart, remove the 
wick and then boil 
both burner and 
wick in hot water 
into which has 
been thrown some 
washing soda. 
When every part 
has been thorough¬ 
ly cleaned and 
dried, put in the 
wick, trim it, fill 
the lamp with oil 
and you will find 
it will burn as well 
as ever. 
Many house¬ 
keepers throw 
away the wick, 
sometimes the burner too, and buy new 
ones, when really all that is necessary is 
just to boil them out a little. J. J. O. 
System in the Kitchen 
T HE systematic housekeeper will wel¬ 
come the kitchen lid rack that holds 
covers of any size or shape. These racks 
are in general use in the kitchens of the 
orderly hausfrauen in Germany. 
Sanitary Dust Cloths 
D USTING cloths that are chemically 
treated, not only dust clean and 
polish thoroughly, but they absorb the 
dust. They are sold in various sizes from 
15 cents upwards. Broom covers of this 
dustless cloth are ideal for cleansing 
walls and can be had for 35 cents. 
An Efficient Mop 
A NEW mop that really scrubs a floor 
is made of heavy twisted cotton 
which is held together by a plate into 
which the handle fits tightly. This mop 
will easily go under heavy furniture and 
radiators, and is, therefore, sanitary. It 
can be used under the faucet, thus fur¬ 
nishing the clean water essential to thor¬ 
ough cleaning. It is also an ideal mop 
for cleansing and polishing hard wood 
floors. The ordinary family size sells at 
50 cents. 
In Planning the 
Dining-room 
A Better 
Light 
(37o) 
