UFHUi J, 108
11
The Commoner.
itlie contents of one bor of potash
concentrated lye). Have previously
Missolvcd In one quart of the "water
ready measured, four ounces eacn
borax anq sal soda, and wnen me
m haa boiled until it "ropes" off
Ithe paddle on being lifted, (usually
iabout half an nour, out oe sure 10
feivo it plenty of time) add the borax
and soda, stirring wen, ana Lnen
gradually stir in the remaining five
ftuarts of the cold water. This must
ia thnrnnerhlv stirred into the soap.
ifhon nmir tho rorti into any vessel
&bc mold and allow it to cool, when
felt can bo cut into barn or "cnunks
food allowed to dry thoroughly in tne
Bar, The soap should not oe usea lor
reral weeks, until it has nad time
"ripen."
can be stained by mixing red lead and
quicklime, equal parts, with very
strong soapsuds; lay this on with a
small brush to obtain a mottled ap
pearance, lot dry and repeat several
times. Or lay for several hours in
a solution of vinegar and alum, quite
strong, wash in clean water and dry
without handling. Then polish and
varnish. S. E.
Some Rhubarb Recipes
Rhubarb is not used as much as its
lfiHts deserve, nerhans because so
ffiw housewives know that it can be
Served in other ways than in pies and
Bailees. Here are some good recipes
Kent in by the "Helping Handers:"
THmhnrh find Rice PUttQint?. 13011
.wn teaeunfuls of washed rice with a
little lemon juice in the water until
the rice is nearly done, drain ana
flrv. Line a Dudding dish witn tins
rice, reserving some for the top; fill
'up the basin with rnuoarD cut into
small pieces, and sprinkle with plenty
iof sugar and a little spice, ginger or
r lemon; cover with the remainder of
'the rice, put into a steam cooker or
an old fashioned steamer ana steam
for an hour. Serve with custard,
"cream or rich milk.
Rhubarb Jellv. Wash the stalks
Liwell and cut into small pieces, put
into a nreservinE kettle witn a very
1 scant supply of water, cover the ves
tsel and boil until soft, then strain
ithrough a jelly bag without squeez
ing. To the drippings add sugar,
cupful for cupful, after having heat
tin thn siicnr in the oven, boil brisk-
E ly until it bellies on the skimmer. If
the juice of an orange is added to
each quart of the jelly it will im
prove it.
Rhubarb Shortcake. One-half
pound of flour, three or four ounces
of butter and lard mixed, one des
sertspoonful of castor sugar, a pinch
of hakinc nowder. 'and water to mix.
'TVTW tho. flour, salt and bakine nowder
land sugar in a basin, rubbing the
L shortening, lightly Into tlie nour, ana
fmix with water. to a stllf paste; turn
oit on a floured board and without
kneading, roll out quite thin, and
divide into three equal parts, rouna
!or small squares. Spread one Hght
!ly with butter and lay on greased
tin; place the second part, lightly
buttered, on this and tne tnira piece
,on ton. and bake in a auick oven.
"When done, separate the layers,
Knread with the cooked rhubarb, as
I layer cake, press the layers together,
sift sugar over tne top and serve
hot.
Ventilation of Rooms
If you would sleep well and awak
en refreshed in the morning, do not
fail to let plenty of fresh air into
your sleeping rooms, not only during
the night, but throughout the day as
well. If tho weather is severely cold
or stormy, the window opening may
not be so large as to let in too much
frost and storm, but there should be
an opening of more or less size. A
room that is kept closed during any
part of the twenty-four hours is more
than apt to have "the bedroom smell"
attached to everything that is in it.
Not only the bedding and covers, but
the garments that are usually hung
in tne room, give on a disagreeable
odor. This odor, in time permeates
even the carpets, hangings and up
holstery. Sometimes the odor is
carried about by tho person who
sleeps in the room. Be sure to air
everything often.
tor; bring to a boil and boil until
tho water has a greenish tinge. Wash
tho linen In this water, rinse in tho
same, using no soap, and mix tho
starch with some of tho water. A
tablespoonful of black pepper may bo
added to tho water in washing, as
this helps to sot tho color. If soaked
in a pailful of water for fifteen min
utes in which a teaspoonful of either
sugar of lead or beef's gall is mixed,
it will not fade.
Salad and "Smelly" Herbs
In tho days of our grandmothers,
no kitchen garden was without Its
complement of herbs for flavoring
dishes and perfuming tho linen
closets. These are all easily rr.Isod,
and many of them, onco started, will
seed themselves, while others still,
onco established, only need a little
attention in tho way of mulching
through tho hot months and protect
ing through tho cold, yielding their
store of leaves, buds and blossoms
freely, and far superior to any of
tho commercial "dried" things or
tinctures. In making out your order
for seeds, it would bo well to in
clude an assortment of those. Many
of them would bettor bo ordered as
plants.
Celery, even where not blanched,
is flue for soups and salads, and tho
seeds, sown In boxes early, gormlnato
readily. Transplant as the seedlings
become crowded, clipping off tho top
as they grow to prevent their bo
coming spindling. The large plants
may bo blanched by wrapping with
thick paper.
Water cress, peppergrass, parsloy
should all bo grown; chives, looks,
tarragon are grown from bulbs, and
used for favoring soups and salads;
sorrel, mustard, dandelion, chervil,
are grown for salads while mints,
sage, thyme, summer savory, sweet
marjoram, sweet basil, dill, caraway,
and many other things aro usod in
various ways for seasonings for
meats, gravies, pickles, catsups, sum
mer drinks and tho like.
To Polish Horns
Have the horns perfectly dry, and
old ones polish better than those
from young animals. Horns recently
taken from the head should be boiled
in strong lye to remove the pith. A
little carbolic acid or chloride of lime
should be put in the cavities, then
fill the horns with dry earth and
bury them in the ground to remove
all smell. When they are ready,
place in a vise and with a draw
shave remove the rough part from
around the top, but be very careful
not to cut too deeply or gash the
horn. With a piece of glass, scrape
the horn until it is quite smooth, and
care must be taken to hold the glass
so there will be no scratches, as
these scratches must be removed.
When the horn is quite smooth, and
even, a very fine sand paper must be
used to bring out the polish, and a
coating of white varnish must be ap
plied to give it a gloss. The horn
Gooseberries and Currants
In some regions it seems impos
sible to grow the currant, while in
others it does finely. For successful
growing, the soil should have plenty
of soluble mineral matter, and its
need for organic matter Is not so
crreat as that of some other fruits.
It is, however, necessary to have a
liberal amount of decaying vegetable
matter in the soil in order to render
the mineral element soluble. On
clayey ground, a liberal amount of
old rotted manure should.be applied
several years before planting the
bushes, and this should be well in
corporated with the surface soil.
Currants repay good cultivation.
For gooseberries, the ground
should have been well enriched .some
years before setting the plants, but
if this has not been done, the soil
can be removed from an area large
enough for the growth of the bush
and rich soil filled in, adding well
rotted manuro to tho surface every
year, and thoroughly incorporating it
with the soil as far as the roots of
the plant extend. Good, rich corn
land is good soil for the gooseberry
bush. In planting either currant or
gooseberry, try to get sorts suitable
to vour recion. and kinds that bear
well. Many of the most excellent
varieties, while doing well in one re
gion, will be a rank failure in anoth
er. Very early in the spring time,
or after the leaves have fallen In the
autumn, the plants may be set, but
if you have failed to set them until
the first of April, do not despair. Try
to have a few plants anyway. They
fill in corners profitably, and the fruit
"comes handy" at all times.
I
Latest Fashions for Readers of
The Commoner
When the children are first turned
out "to grass" in the early spring
days, they are apt to over-do. in the
matter of romping, running, climb
ing and jumping, and at night tho
little feet and ankles will bo full of
aches and pains, which will result in
much discomfort to more than the
suffering child. Make a strong solu
tion of salt and hot water, and bathe
and rub the feet and legs well with
this, rubbing dry with a coarse towel.
If there is indication of a sprain,
bathe with diluted arnica slightly
warm, after the salt bath, and wrap
with flannel moistened with arnica.
Ecru Linen
For washing linens so they will
not fade, fill a ten-quart kettle with
good, clean, well-cured timothy hay,
chopped fine, and cover with soft wa-
2319 Ladles' Tucked Shirt
with a Removable Chemisette
or model much worn this season
sizes 32 to 42.
hlrt-Wafst, P"
Le. A tall- I
mson. Six I
1530 Ladles' Nlnc-Gorcd Plaited
Skirt. A nnltnhlo model for duck.
linen, cotton voile or khaki cloth. I
Seven sizes 22 to, 34.
2300 Girls Apron. Cheeked, or plaid
chambray, dimity In plain or cross
barred effect is used for this model.
Four sizes C to 12 years.
,,.."
i murtrrmew f
230C "Misses' Coat. A suitable model
for covert cloth, serge or flannel. Four
sizes 14 to 17 years.
1
MW
2065 Ladies' Kimono Dressing Sack.
Flowered or plain organdie or lawn is
used with good effect in this model.
Seven sizes 32 to 40.
232C Misses' Threc-PJcco Skirt.
Striped or plain linen, serge or flannel
is used for this model. Thrco sizes
13 to 17 years.
2290 Girls' Jumper Dress, ' with
Gulmpc. Checked or plain cotton voile
Is an excellent material for this frock.
Four sizes C to 12 years.
2290
o
2311 Ladles' Work Apron. Plain or
figured chambray makos up well in
this style. Four sizes 32, 36, 40 and
44.
23I1J
THE COMMONER will supply its readers with perfect fitting, seam
allowing patterns from the latest Paris and New York styles. The de
signs are practical and adapted to the home dressmaker. Full direc
tions how to cut and how to make the garments with each pattern. Tho
price of these patterns 10 cents each, postpagc prepaid. Our large cata
logue containing the illustrations and descriptions of 1,000 seasonable
styles for ladies, misses and children, as well as lessons in home dress
making full of helpful and practical suggestions in the making of your
wardrobe mailed to any address on receipt of 10 cents.
In ordering patterns give us your name, address, pattern number
and size desired.
Address THE COMMONER, Pattern Dcpt., Lincoln, Neb.
VJ
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