240. _To bleach Straw Hats, &c._--Straw hats and bonnets are bleached by putting them, previously washed in pure water, into a box with burning sulphur; the fumes which arise, unite with the water on the bonnets, and the sulphurous acid thus formed, bleaches them. 241. _Method of Bleaching Straw._--Dip the straw in a solution of oxygenated muriatic acid, saturated with potash. (Oxygenated muriate of lime is much cheaper.) The straw is thus rendered very white, and its flexibility is increased. 242. _Varnish for Straw or Chip Hats._--Powder half-an-ounce of black sealing-wax, put it into a bottle with two ounces of spirits of wine, and set it in a warm place. Lay it on warm with a soft hair-brush, before the fire or sun. 243. _Straw Bonnets._--If a straw bonnet is not worth the expense of properly cleaning, it may be greatly improved both in comfort and appearance, by washing it with soap and water, applied by means of a bit of flannel or sponge. Afterwards rinse with clean water, and dry quickly in the air. When dry, wash over with the white of an egg, finely beaten. The wire had better be removed before washing, and put on afresh. There is no great art in reducing a straw bonnet for a child. Take off all the ribs of straw that form a sort of border by going round the edge; as many also of the straight ribs as will leave the front nearly of the depth required. From the remaining front ribs cut off a little at each end; fasten the ends securely, and again set on the border ribs. Unpick the sewing of the head-piece, till two, three, or more of the top rounds are taken off, so as to bring it to the size required. Then sew again as many as will bring it to a proper depth. It is not intended to say, that a person who never learned the art of straw bonnet-making, and has not the proper blocks, &c., will do it as well as one who has; but any notionable needle-woman may do it, so as to look much better than a large bonnet on the small head of a child. A bonnet-shape of pasteboard or buckram may be renewed by laying it between two sheets of damp paper, and ironing with a hot iron. The wire must be previously removed and afterwards put on afresh. To clean silk and ribbons, wash in cold rain water with a very little soap. Avoid squeezing and wringing. If very dirty, two waters may be requisite; the second may be slightly blued, unless the color of the silk forbids it (as yellow or red). Spread on a clean towel, and while damp, iron with a piece of clean paper placed between the silk or ribbon and the iron. 244. _Paste._--Take two table-spoonfuls of flour and stir it into a half pint of cold water until the lumps are all broken, then pour this into a pint of boiling water, stirring while doing so; afterwards let it boil up once or twice, and take off.