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The Commoner,
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 41
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Conducted try
Wolen Watts Mc&
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Tlio Best Friend
I am the beat friend I have got;
I liko to sit with Mo;
I Hko to sit and toll Mysolf things
confidentially.
I often stop and ask Mo if I shouldn't
or if I should,
And find that My advico is always
pretty good.
'I never got acquainted with Mysolf
till hero of late,
Just found 'Myself a bully chum!
Sinco then it's simply great.
I talk with Mo; I walk with Mo; I
show Mo right from wrong;
:And really, now, you'd bo surprised
how well wo get along.
I never try to cheat Myself; I'm
honest as can bo;
No matter what may como and go,
I'm on tho square with Me.
Its great to have a pal that is, ono
that is all your own;
To be such company for yourself
you're never left alone.
You'll try to shun the masses, and
you'll think tho crowd a joke,
If you treat yourself one-half as
good as you treat other folk;
Tve made a study of Myself; have
. compared Me with quite a lot,
To roach this one conclusion I'm
tho best friend I havo got.
W. S. Meagher, in Blue Jacket.
natures to stuff our stomach,
us reform.
Lot
The Dark Days
The tasks of the housewife vary
with the seasons, and now that the
worries of the summer aTe past, wo
turn to tho comforts of the indoor
life. The excessive heat of tho past
summer has left too many of us feel
ing debilitated and with little energy,
and wo feel that wo lost something
of the summer's pleasures because
of tho remorseless heat. We should
try to mako up for it in the social
life of the winter season. It is not
necessary, to really enjoy our
friends, that wo go to great expense,
or worry ourselves with "much serv
ing." If we could only make up our
minds to meet as often as possible,
and. lot tho "entertaining" take care
of itself, I am sure that life would
bo moro delightful to every one of
, us. Why must wo eat, if we gather
at the house of a friend for a few
hours? Or if wo must bo "served
refreshments," why must the menu
fee elaborate? A sandwich and a cup
of tea; or a platter of fruit to be
taken from or loft, as we choose, is
as much as any ono could ask. By
thus doing, wo could havo our
kostess wijtti us all the time, and if
we aro the right kind of people, she
will be glad to see us, and feel re
freshed by the visit. The mental and
social natures of most women starve
more than tho physical, and this is
beginning to be realized and planned
for. An old-time custom with our
mothers and grandmothers Was, when
they knew tho work pressed heavily
on the shoulders of some neighbor,
and knew that she could not obtain
the necessary help, to got together
and help her out. Sewing circles are
a good thing, if only a few congenial
friends take hold of tho work basket
and the machine and try in earnest
to help out, rather than for a crowd
to gather and spend the afternoon
gossiping and visiting, one witn an
other, expecting a big "tea," or sup
per as a reward for our goodly inten
tions. Many old-tlmo customs may
be profitably revived. We live too
much alone, and wo starve our social
Washing Flannels
It la now "flannel" time, and a
great many people do not know how
to wash flannel garments so they
will remain soft .and not shrink.
They should be washed on a bright
day and dried as quickly as possible.
Before wetting thom, shako all the
dust and lint out of thom. Have
prepared two tubs of water as hot as
the hand can bear comfortably, and
put enough dissolved soap, or some
good washing powder, in one to make
a strong suds, allowing tp every .three
gallons of water one tablespooriful
of borax or two tablespoonfuls of
household ammonia. The borax,
however, is best,, and Just as inex
pensive? ammonia is apt to leave a
yellow tinge; put the flannels into
the suds, and wash by sopping up and
down, squeezing and punching, rather
than rubbing. When tho water shows
that the dirt has come out, squeeze
the garment or piece out as dry as
possible (do not wring), and put into
tho second tub, which must bo as
hot as the suds. Repeat tho squeez
ing, pounding and sopping about
until the piece is clean, then put It
into another tub of clear water of tho
same temperature; to this laot, a
little bluing may be added before
putting in the flannel. After sozzling
about in this water to got out the
remnant of tho soap, put tho flannel
through the wringer and dry in the
open air. Before quite dry, take off
the lino, fold and pack in a clean
cloth and iron as soon as possible
with a moderately hot iron.
For colored flannels, have fresh,
hot suds, and proceed as you did
with the white ones, always having
the temperature of each tub of water
the same. Some people object to
hanging the flannels in the sunshine,
as they should not dry in heat; but
the heat from now on in the sunshine
will not hurt the finest flannels.
Yellow soap must not bo used on
flannels, because yellow soap contains
resin, and this is damaging to flannel
or woolen goods. It will pay to use
a good white soap, and there aro
plenty of them on the market very
cheap.
starchless kind that will both wear
and wash well. Do not use too much
openwork embroidery, or the coarse,
cheap laces that look well in the
store, but are ruined as soon as sent
to the laundry.
Whoro the materials are not in
clined to fray at the cut edges, pink
ing is a quick, neat finish for tho
seams, and is much neater than fell
ing or French seaming. Binding is
apt to pucker the edges and make
thom bulky. A pair of sharp scissors
aro necessary for the pinking.
For the underskirts, adjust the
fullness to the figure by machine
stitched side plaits, and instead of
strings, tapes or buttons, use the
rust-proof hooks and eyes. Do not
buy muslin underwear that has button-hole
embroidery finish, for unless
well done, it soon gets ragged A good
way is to stitch the buttonholing on
tho machine and thus strengthen the
edge.
on the hooks and eyes; cover the
canva on tho right hand side with
facing of silk; sew, an underlap of
material an inch and a half wide.,
finished, to tho left side edge, and
bind the raw edge of the lap with
seam binding. A few lessons from a
good dressmaker would mako thingB
clear.
It Is a difficult matter for one
person alone to "even" the bottom
of a skirt. Tho skirt should bo
finished, all but the bottom, and if
the figure varies a little from tho
average proportions, attention must
be paid to having the bottom even.
Put the skirt on, and stand on tho
table, or some elevation, and let some
one measure with a tape line, or yard
stick, tho number of inches wanted
from the floor, marking tho skirt
with small pins or a bit of tailor's
chalk. After it is measured, take tho
skirt off and turn up tho bottom to
tho line of pins or chalk marks, basto
it with rather close stitches, close to
the line of the fold, then at the top
of tho hem; try it on again, and if
it hangs perfectly, , finish the hem
with stitching, or if it'is to be faced,
trim off tho nnevenness and faco
neatly.
For tho Sewing Room
For marking, tailors use a hard
chalk which gives a distinct line that
doeB not so readily rub off in hand
ling, as the soft chalk used in the
school room. Ask for tailor's chalk
when you go to buy.
In making garments for the grow
ing child, cut the sleeves and waist
as long as possible, regardless of
cuffs and belt, When making up, set
the cuff on tho bottom of tho sleeve,
and sot tho belt on the bottom of the
waist; when tho child grows, or the
goods Shrink, the cuffs may be
ripped off and slipped down to the
end of tho Bleeve, and in like man
ner the belt may be sot down on the
bottom of tho waist.
Make generous seams under and
over the arms, and generous hems on
the closing at the back. Make the
button holes in a fly and set under
Gleaning Garments
Almost any stain can bo removed
if rubbed at once witn a mixture of
equal parts of ammonia, alcohol and
water; after cleaning, brush and
dry, and lay on the pressing table or
board, tacking down the plaits or
folds with a very fine thread; then
cover tho skirt with a' piece of dark
woolen goods, dampened thoroughly,
but not wet, and press with a
moderately hot flat iron. There is
a difference between pressing and
Ironing. The pressing is done with
an iron which will not scorch, and
the -Iron is moved slowly over the
goods, pressing as heavily as neces
sary as the iron is moved.
A brush should not be used for
cleaning the dust from silk, as the
bristles will in time cut the fabric.
Wipe with a piece of velveteen; this
will remove the dust without injur
ing tho silk. Silk or ruffled Bkirts
should be hung away upside down,
as this prevents the sagging of the
skirt from the weight of the ruffles,
and keeps the ruffles from- drooping.
Wash frocks should be put into
boxes, trunks or drawers, as in hang
ing them up, they become stringy,
out of shape, and quickly lose their
freshness.
When coming In from tho street,
shake the garments well before hang
ing away, and if there are any mud
splashes on them, put where it will
get thoroughly dry. then rub the dust
from the material. Let tho dust or
dirt get perfectly dry beforo touch
ing It.
Query Box
A Correction Mrs. A., who sent
In the cough (not ""dough") remedy
recipe, published in the Home De
partment of October 13th, makes the
following correction: "Use one
half pound, instead of one-half ounce,
of licorice root in the recipe. Dose,
one to one-and-a-half teaspoonfuls,
according to age." She recommends
it highly.
Mrs. S. K. Silver that hais be
come blackened should be cleaned
by boiling about half an hour in two
quarts of water containing two table
spoonfuls of Bal soda.
Elsie M.A pinch of salt should
be added to the whites of eggs when
beating, as this causes' the mass to
stiffen quicker and stand better.
J. M. For the damp boots, use
blacking to which a few drops of
paraffine oil (not wax) havo been
added; this will give a quick polish,
and prevent cracking of the leather.
"Glazier" To perforate the glass,
bank it with a wad of putty whete
you want tho hole; make a hole in
the putty down to the glass of the
size wanted; into the hole pour hot
lead, and the piece will drop out.
rMrs. L. J. All tho vinegars usea
for flavoring are easily made . by
steeping the aromatic herbs in good
vinegar until strong enough for use.
Mint, .tarragon, and o.ther leaves in
the dried state can be purchased at
the drug-store, or the market stalls
fresh in their season. They are used
to flavor sauces, and as appetizers.
Answers to Correspondents
Tho holes for the eyelets used for
lacing openings in garments are first
made with a stiletto, or embroidery
punch, which leaves a perfectly
round hole. Outline the hole with
a running stitch far enough into the
material to keep It firm, and mark
tho lino or depth for the button
holing, which should cover tho run
ning, or staying stitches.
The skirt which closes in front, or
to one side should be finished with
a rflacket and hooks and fves. or with
tho hem, and thus the goods is not loops for the hooks, In the serge
wo Rtrirr. mmco a narrow Btrin or canvas
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damaged, and me waist can
widened, as well as lengthened, if
necessary.
Have plenty of tucks Jn the little
skirts, and turn in the ends, of tho
belt, stitching with a fine needle and
fino thread. Do not buy coarse,
sleazy muslins, but get the soft,
along each odgo of the opening, with
tho edge of the canvas three-eights
of an Inch from the edge of tho ma
terial; turn the edge of the material
back on the canvas and catch it into
position with small stitches; stitch
the edge as desired, and then sew
Roof and Floor
Answering a reader's request for
Information, we give the following,
furnished us by one who knows:
For painting a felt roof, take gas
tar, 100 pounds; lime, 15 pounds;
grind the lime fine and sift It, out
do not slack. Boil the tar, adding
the lime slowly to prevent boiling
over; when thoroughly mixed, apply
to the felt, while still very hot. The
lime and tar form a chemical com
bination that is reasonably fire-proor,
makes a smooth, glazed roof, ana.
will not "run" in the hot sunshine.
For a cellar floor, use sifted coai
ashes, five parts, and Portland ce
ment, one part; mix well in a dox
with water enough to mako a .gooa
mortar, and work quickly; spread
this over the bottom of the cellar
about two Inches tntcK, or "
thicker, and rub down smootn ana
solid with wooden blocks, and when
smooth and even, finish with a coat
mado of equal parts .of Portland
comont and clean, sharp sand, mix
ing as wanted, as it sets very auicWy.
to a thin mortar with water, ana
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